Page 53 of Giddy Up, Daddy

There was shocked silence from everyone. Even from Stafford himself, it seemed.

Her boyfriend? What was he talking about? He wasn’t her boyfriend.

“How can you be her boyfriend?” Kiesha demanded. “She came here for Daddy Speed Dating. She never said that you were her boyfriend. Doesn’t make sense.”

“Perhaps we should hear from Blakely,” Harry said.

Oh,nowhe was the voice of reason.

“Stafford, put me down,” she demanded. She really was feeling queasy.

“No. And this has nothing to do with the two of you,” Stafford told them. “Get out of my way. I’m taking Blakely home.”

“Blakely?” Harry asked. “Is that what you want?”

“Um, well, I . . . actually, what I’d really like is to be put on my feet before I vomit.”

Stafford immediately drew her over his shoulder and set her down. The blood rushed out of her head and made her feel dizzy. She swayed and Stafford grabbed her hips.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were feeling ill?” he demanded. “Do you still feel like you’re going to vomit? You didn’t take a drink from anyone in there, did you?”

Huh?

“Well, just from Noah.”

“Noah wouldn’t spike her drink,” Harry said firmly. “I think she’s just ill from you holding her upside down. Is that right, Blakely?”

“Yes, that’s right.” She was still lightheaded, but she wasn’t sure if that’s because she was being held over Stafford’s shoulder or because of what he’d just said. “Boyfriend?”

“Is he your boyfriend, Blakely?” Kiesha asked as she eyed Stafford with suspicion. “Because you really should have said something before I tried to matchmake you with half the town.”

“Half the town?” Stafford yelled. “How many people touched you?”

“No one was touching me!” she told him. What the heck did he think she was doing in there?

“That asshole was.” Stafford glared down at her.

“I told you, he’s a physiotherapist,” Kiesha said.

“He can be both,” Stafford pointed out. “How many men did you introduce my girl to?”

“I’m not your girl, though,” she said, starting to get angry and more and more confused. What was going on here? Why was he calling her his girlfriend?

This made no sense.

“You are my girl.”

Blakely raised her hands into the air. “Says who?”

“Me.”

“And I don’t get a say?” She went up onto her tiptoes to attempt to get into his face.

“No,” he replied.

Harry cleared his throat. “Sounds like the two of you have some things to talk through.”

“I’ll say,” Kiesha said. “He thinks she’s his girl. She thinks she’s looking for a Daddy. Are you a Daddy, Stafford? I always got a bit of a vibe.”

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