Page 65 of Daddy By Design

“You’re too early,” I said through the window.

“Get out of the car. You’re embarrassing yourself.” He looked over his shoulder and shot a middle finger at the guy who had been honking at me.

“I’m fine. I don’t need your help.”

“Obviously, you do.”

I slapped my steering wheel with the heel of my palm. “Move or I’ll run over your stupid foot.”

He bent down to look into my window. “Try it.”

I growled and put my car in park and flung open the door. I took some satisfaction at watching him jump back.

He grabbed the door and crowded into me. “Keeping that name alive, man. Now move.”

“Why do you always have to growl at me?”

“Because you make me nuts.” He glanced down at the deep vee of my dress and his jaw did that tic thingy. “Get on the sidewalk, for God’s sake.”

“Fine.” I skirted the back of my car and hopped up onto the sidewalk out of the way.

I could hear him swearing as he folded his big body into my Honda Civic. I crossed my arms over my chest as he smoothly backed in and parallel parked perfectly on the first shot.

“You suck!” I shouted as he opened the door.

His eyebrow arched above his sunglasses. Unfortunately, that was a very true statement in a different context. He opened the back door and grabbed my bag as well the handled paper bag from The Honey Pot. “Is this it?”

“I’ve got it.” I rushed back around the car.

“Just go.”

I huffed and marched across the street. “Thank you,” I muttered over my shoulder.

“What was that? Couldn’t hear you.”

I stepped up on the sidewalk and twirled around, the wraparound dress showing a hell of a lot of my leg. His eyes were hidden behind dark lenses, but I could feel them on me. “Thank you, all right?”

“Welcome.” He passed me and held open the building door. “After you.”

I seethed my way past him. “Again, why are you here so early? I’m not set up yet.”

“I was already in town for another meeting that went quicker than I thought.”

I paused and turned back to him again. “What kind of meeting?”

“None of your business.”

I stepped into his space. “Was it another design studio?”

“Maybe.”

I sucked in a breath. Why that felt akin to betrayal, I didn’t want to examine too closely. Especially since he’d been inside me just a few days ago. Not that it had anything to do with my talent. Well, my talents in design.

Dear God, brain. Shut UP.

“That’s fine. Good, even. You’ll see how amazing my designs are.” I took the handled bag from him and crossed to the conference table. “Have a seat. Have a hot cross bun and some coffee.”

“Stop giving me orders, woman.”

---