Page 27 of Until Daddy

“You’re a complete idiot if you think Jamison is going to walk away after a month. He’s a great guy, Carissa. If he’s doing this, offering everything to you like this, it’s because he’s into it. He’s not a bedroom only Dom if he’s interested in a girl.”

“But he has jumped from girl to girl, right?”

“No more than any other guy looking for the right one. He’s going to take care of you, and you’re going to have to start letting him in. Whatever you learned from your mother’s bad love life, you’ll have to forget it.”

Leave it to Jade to bring her mother up. While most mothers were teaching their daughters to be chaste and look for the gentlemen, Carissa’s mother had taught her how to peg a guy for a keeper or a loser. Though she never seemed to get it right—she always seemed to keep the losers.

“He’s going to be here soon, I better go. I still need to get in a run before I shower.”

“It’s already two in the afternoon!”

“I know. I wanted to sleep in, but I knew he was coming over.” Carissa laughed.

“Just give him the benefit of the doubt. You know, like you told me to do with Garrick. Jamison’s not going to let you down. But you have to give him the chance to prove that first.”

“Okay. I’ll think about it.” The coffee finished brewing and the arousing scent of the brew filled the kitchen. “I better go. Talk to you later.”

They ended their call and Carissa fixed herself a cup of coffee and brought it to the bedroom with her. She’d gulp down the caffeine while squeezing into her running gear. The energy from the coffee would help her get at least a good mile in before he arrived.

Chapter 8

“Who’re you?” an elderly man with bushy, dark gray eyebrows called over the railing to Jamison as he reached Carissa’s door. She’d mentioned the man living above her was extremely nosy.

“Hello. You must be Mr. Buschmann. I’m Jamison Croft.” He craned his neck to look up at the man and gave him a welcoming smile. Nosy or not, he was her neighbor.

“You here to see Carissa?” The man gripped the railing and leaned a little further over.

“Yes.”

“She’s not there. She went for a run about half an hour ago and isn’t back yet.”

Well, at least Jamison didn’t have to worry that no one was looking out for her when he wasn’t around.

“Do you know how long she runs for?” The man probably had a plethora of information for Jamison.

“Long enough.” The man sniffled, looking annoyed.

“I’m here. I’m here,” Carissa called, running up the steps. “Hello, Mr. Buschmann.” She waved at him, but Jamison could see the effort she put into being pleasant with the man.

“Hmmph.” The man sniffled again and turned away from the railing. His door closed a moment later.

“Old bugger.” Carissa shook her head. “Hi!” She gave Jamison a brilliant smile.

“Hi?” He looked her over. Her red hair was pulled up into a messy bun, exposing her bright red ears. Her nose and cheeks were equally crimson. The running pants and jacket couldn’t have given her much protection against the winter air. “It’s not even twenty degrees outside. What were you doing?”

Her smile dropped, but she didn’t respond. She pulled out her key from inside her jacket and opened the door to her apartment.

“I went for a run, like I do every day,” she said when they were inside and the door was closed.

“You aren’t even wearing earmuffs, or gloves!” He couldn’t believe the intelligent woman before him wasn’t even wearing gloves.

Her lips screwed up into a wry pout and her fingers flexed at her sides. “Are you mad at me already? You just got here.”

He sighed. “I’m not mad, Carissa. I just don’t understand why you won’t take care of yourself. I bet if I open your fridge I won’t find much in there, and if I ask, you’ll tell me you didn’t have time for lunch today either, and now here you are, half frozen in front of me.”

She began to wring her hands and a drop of sweat made its way down her temple. The flush on her cheeks deepened under his stare.

“I’m sorry, Daddy.”

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