Page 109 of Giddy Up, Daddy

“Alittlefib? Charlie, you must have spent… I dunno, thirty thousand on a pretty truck I can’t even do any work with.”

She straightened and lifted her chin. “Actually, I got areallygood deal on it. Way under market value, and if you don’t like it… I’m sure we can sell it, and even make a profit.”

“Wait… really?” His gaze flicked to the truck and then back to her. “How good of a deal did you get?”

With an eyeroll, she snorted. “I’m not telling you that. But it was less than most people are selling them for… by at least five thousand.”

He narrowed his eyes. “What about transport fees?”

A smirk tilted her mouth up at one side. “None. Seller was local and he needed the money fast. He drove it over.” There was a sense of triumph in stumping him.

She could see he was trying to figure out the right question to ask next, and she had a trump card that she hoped would get her out of trouble. “Daddy, didn’t we agree that I could spend my money on whatever I wanted?”

From the start, Sam had insisted that her finances were her own, and he didn’t want any of the inheritance her father had left her. They split the income from the ranch, and each contributed to the household bills, but otherwise everything was separate.

“Not on me!”

She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at him. “Why not? I love you. Who else am I going to spend money on? I’ve got more than enough, and I didn’t even touch the investments.”

“But Charlie, this is…” His eyes shifted back to the truck and his jaw softened. He took a few steps and touched the glossy red paint. “It really is beautiful,” he admitted, in a soft voice.

“Daddy, listen, you never would have bought it for yourself. I want you to have it. Even if it’s not useful. Even if all you do is sit in it and listen to the radio.”

“Well...” He opened the door and looked inside. A long, low,ahhhhhhof pure delight escaped him as he examined the interior. “I think the floor mats are original.”

That was, she assumed, a good thing. A warm fuzzy kind of joy filled her. Making Sam happy was all she ever wanted. “That’s great. So, it’s the right one?”

“Hell yeah. I mean, I’ve been fantasizing about this stupid truck for so long, I really didn’t think the reality could ever match the dream, but damn.”

She moved up behind him, going up on her toes to look over his shoulder. They just looked like normal floor mats to her. “So, does that mean I’m not in trouble?”

Sam snorted. “You’re in so much trouble. I hope you’re not planning on sitting for a while, darlin.”

Charlie’s face twisted into a scowl, and she quickly stepped back. “That’s not fair. You can’t spank someone for getting you an awesome present.”

“I could, because I’m the boss around here, but I’m not. I’m spanking you for lying to me. This is absolutely the most extravagant thing you could have bought.” He sighed as he closed the door and turned to look at her. “You realize I will never be able to top this, right?”

“What?” She squinted. “What do you mean?”

“Charlie… this truck has been on my wish list since I was thirteen. You just fulfilled a lifelong dream. I really don’t think my little Valentine’s surprise is going to come close.” He didn’t sound sad, but there was definitely a touch of resignation there.

Oops.Suddenly her happiness started to fizzle. She hadn’t actually thought of it like that, and guilt began creeping up on her. “Oh, Daddy. It’s not a competition. Whatever you got for me… I’m going to love it. You know I will.”

Sam sighed and pulled her into his arms. He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “I know that, sweetheart. It’s just… well, this isprobably the grandest present in the history of Valentine’s Day gifts.”

“I just wanted to give you something that would kind of show how much I love you. Because you… mean everything to me, Daddy.” She tipped her head back and grinned. “But if you really want to say thank you, you can skip the?—”

He cut her off with a firm, “Nope.”

“You didn’t even let me finish!”

“I know exactly what you were going to say. You lied to me, and you’re getting spanked for it. And actually, since I’m in favor of letting the punishment fit the crime, it’s only fair to make the truck part of it.”

Charlie’s brow furrowed and she squinted at him. “What? How are you going to punish me with a truck?” That didn’t even make sense.

“Notwith.” He walked around to the back end and pulled the tailgate down flat. “On. Or in, depending on how you look at it.” He sat on the ledge and patted his lap. “C’mere, Brat.”

‘Daddy! Not out here,” she protested, knowing, even as she said it, that it wouldn’t do any good.

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