Page 47 of Giddy Up, Daddy

“Your employment contract.”

“Pfft. That’s just a piece of paper. And if I ever need to dispute that, I’ll just get my lawyer onto it. I know a good one.”

“Oh. Yes. I guess you do.” Blakely smiled at Harry.

“Oh, not Harry. Nah, I’m talking about his business partner, Gwen. Total girl boss.”

Harry sighed. “Ed’s right. I don’t spank you enough.”

“Hey! Don’t go taking advice from Ed! He’s a total bore. He always insists that we have to stick to the law. Can you believe that?”

“Um, well, isn’t he the sheriff?” Blakely asked.

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean he has a license to be boring.”

Blakely was starting to feel a bit sorry for Ed.

“Don’t worry,” Harry told her kindly. “Ed loves Kiesha like a little sister. And she loves him back.”

“Well, of course I do,” Kiesha said. “Was that in doubt? Now, we gotta go inside because I’ve gotta pee. You shouldn’t have let me have that second soda, Daddy.”

“I didn’t let you have that second soda. I specifically said no,” he said sternly.

Whoa.

Okay.

So Harry was a Daddy? Blakely hadn’t really sensed that until he’d used that stern tone. But now she could see how they worked. Kiesha seemed full of energy and she said what she thought. Harry was more reserved. Thoughtful.

But opposites could attract, and Blakely bet he was the steadiness that Kiesha needed.

“Oh, did you?” Kiesha said innocently. “Come on, Blakely, I’ll introduce you to some people. Although you’re going to have to tell me where you’re from and what you’re doing here.”

“Well, actually, I’m not sure about this. I’ve never done a Daddy Speed-Dating Night.”

Kiesha paused. Then she turned to look at Blakely, then up at Harry. “A what?”

“A uh, Daddy Speed-Dating Night? I’m in the right place, aren’t I?”

“Oh, so you’re a Little?” Kiesha asked. “I knew it. My Little radar went wild, but Harry said that I’m not allowed to ask people that anymore since I apparently got it wrong with this older woman I asked. But I still stand by the fact that she’s a Little. She’s just in denial.”

“Who told you about the Daddy Speed-Dating Night?” Harry asked carefully. “And, Kiesha, she didn’t even seem to know what a Little was.”

“Pfft,” Kiesha said.

“Well, uh, the man I sort of work for,” Blakely said, answering Harry’s question.

“Who’s that?” Kiesha asked.

“Jack Hill.”

“Whoa, you’re working for Jack?” Kiesha asked. “What are you doing for him?”

“Just some housework.” And keeping the older man company, but no one needed to know that part.

“Wow. It’s about time he hired someone. Isn’t Stafford taking care of Maple Grove Ranch now?” Kiesha asked.

“Yes, that’s who hired me.”

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