Page 159 of Giddy Up, Daddy

Kennedy

I could not get comfortable no matter what I did. Tossing and turning for hours left me drained and exhausted. Glancing at my phone, I confirmed that it was three-fifteen in the morning as if I hadn’t been scrolling on social media and known how late it had gotten. It would do my body no good to start the day exhausted. Taking a breath, I steeled my nerves and got out of bed. Alden wouldn’t be annoyed at me for asking to sleep with him. I might be annoyed with myself later, but he’d promised to take care of me. I opened his bedroom door, standing in the entrance for longer than appropriate.

“Are you okay, darlin’?” he drawled, his voice thick with sleep.

“I can’t seem to get comfy.”

“Come here.”

Shutting the door behind me, I crossed to his bed. Getting under the covers before I could think about what a colossally bad idea this might be helped shut off the thoughts swirling through my brain.

“I’ve missed you so much, Alden.”

Oh well. So much for not telling him what was on my mind. Alden rolled to face me, his profile outlined by the moonlight filtering in through the windows. He touched my cheek, rubbing his fingers along my jawline.

“I’ve missed you too, Kennedy. I have to be honest about something. Wyatt and I are talking about a relationship.”

My heart clenched. I should have known that after all these years the two of them would get together. I had missed my chance. Letting anger spew seemed more appropriate than talking.

“Why the hell did you invite me into your bed?” I snapped, shoving the blankets off.

“Kennedy–”

“Save it. Why would you act like you wanted to spoil me, pamper me, take care of me?”

“Let me–”

“Wait. I misunderstood. I’m so stupid to think that you meant something more. Sorry for that.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. Slowly it dawned on me. I’d read into something he hadn’t said.

Alden tugged the blankets back over us. “Are you done spouting about what you think is happening here, Kennedy?”

“No. As usual I didn’t clarify. That’s on me. Sorry for thinking that we could actually… that you’d ever–”

“Can you shush for a minute?”

I pushed the blankets off again, vacating the bed. He followed me, but I wasn’t ready to cave. “I’ll leave in the morning. Later I mean. After I get a few hours of sleep.”

“Not that I’m surprised, but you’re not listening at all.”

“I’m sorry for waking you up.”

“Lay down. If you go back to an empty bed in an empty room you’ll let your anxieties spiral instead of–”

“No!”

He shook his head, one hand planting on my hip. “Whether or not you’re hearing a word I’m saying, you need rest.”

“Good night!” I stomped out of his reach and out of his room, slamming the door behind me. It was petty and childish. I made it to the middle of the hallway before Alden caught up. He wrapped one arm around my waist pulling me into his body, his breath hot against my ear. Everything he did turned me on.

How annoying!

“Listen here, little girl. It is the middle of the night. You were injured on my ranch. Turn your petulant behind around one hundred eighty degrees.”

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll pick you up and carry you to my bed.”

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