Page 24 of Big Daddy Sheriff

Meaning she couldn’t stay long.

That didn’t mean Little Rock was her best option, though. While she’d been born and raised there, she couldn’t go back as long as Lana was free.

She told herself to stop thinking about all that right now. It wouldn’t do any good, and it was starting to feel overwhelming. So, she returned to coloring her picture. Just seeing the pretty, pink-dressed princess made her smile.

So did the thought that it would be hanging on Quinn’s refrigerator.

“Grace gets back today, right?” she asked.

“She’s supposed to. Now, I’ve known her and Theo to have so much fun that they stay an extra day, but I bet they’ll roll in later. Especially as hot as it is. My guess is they’re ready to get back to some air conditioning.”

The electric griddle sizzled as the batter hit it. Quinn formed six perfectly round pancakes and then put the bowl down. He looked across the bar at Alyssa and smiled. “Has anyone told you you’re cute?”

She giggled. “You did. Last night. But you’re the first.”

He turned around, got two glasses from the cabinet and milk from the fridge. He poured her a glass and put it in front of her.

“So, you’ve never had a Daddy?” He gave it a second and then said, “I hope I’m not being nosy. No pressure to answer.”

“You’re not being nosy,” she said. She kept her eyes on the picture and applied a red crayon to part of the princess’ jewels. “I’ve never had a Daddy. I’ve looked into going to some events—you know, at a kink club or something—but never had the courage to actually follow through with it. How about you? Have you ever had a Little?”

“No,” he answered, concentrating on the pancakes he was cooking. He waited a few moments, until there were just the right number of bubbles in the center and flipped them. “I dated some women before I came here. They were Littles, but they justdidn’t feel right. And since being here, I’ve even gone to some events down in the Dallas area, looking to meet someone. Long distance wouldn’t be ideal, but it wouldn’t be bad either, if I met the right person. Anyway, I never did.”

“I find that hard to believe,” she said.

He chuckled. “And why is that?”

“Because you’re hot!” She dropped her crayon and gasped, realizing what she’d just said.

She didn’t dare look at him, but she could feel his eyes on her. She could also sense that there was something he wanted to say but was holding back.

Part of her was thankful.

The other part wanted to know what was on the tip of his tongue.

“Well, thanks,” he finally said. “I don’t know about that. But I appreciate the sentiment.”

“Where are you from?” she asked, eager to change the subject.

“Not far from here. Durant. It’s closer to Texas, so south of us. But the mountains down in this corner of Oklahoma are all I’ve ever known.”

He used the spatula to flip three pancakes on a plate. “Breakfast is ready. There’ll be more, if you want them, but this should get you started.”

Alyssa finally gathered enough courage to look up at Quinn.

He was grinning. He didn’t address her earlier comment about him being hot any further. Thankfully. Instead, he said, “What do you like on your pancakes?”

“Do you have peanut butter?”

“You bet.”

“Peanut butter and syrup, please.”

“Coming right up,” he said. He applied the toppings and then cut the pancakes into bite-sized pieces.

I could sure get used to this,she thought.

“There you go,” he said, sliding the plate across to her. “Like I said, there’s more if you want ‘em. You just eat all you can handle.”

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