Page 58 of Daddy's Little Matchmaker

Tessica laughed.

Gwen added, “But I have to admit I’m a tiny bit jealous of you. Conner is a great Daddy.”

Tessica agreed, but that didn’t make her less nervous about their upcoming evening together. She’d done a good job of throwing herself into her work so she didn’t have to think about it, and she planned to continue with that until it was time to meet him. Focusing back on her conversation she said, “Someday you’re going to find your forever Daddy. I promise.”

“I hope so.”

“I know so.”

“My lunch break is almost over,” Gwen said, “so I ‘ve got to go. But thanks for the pep talk.”

“Oh, hold on a sec. Connor says he’s going to adopt Butch, so we’ll need a health certificate for him. Can you stop by later today or tomorrow morning first thing to sign one for him?”

“I can’t today, but I can be there tomorrow morning around seven.”

“Perfect. Thank you.”

“Talk to you later.”

A few minutes later when Tessica pulled up to Fur-Ever Friends, she saw a young Asian woman sitting on the porch steps. Once Tessica parked, she walked over the woman and asked, “Can I help you?”

The woman stood. “I’m Kelly. I was told you have a job opening.”

“I do have a position available.” Tessica unlocked the front door and waved Kelly inside. “Come on in and I’ll give you an application. Then we can schedule an interview for tomorrow.”

“Sounds great. Thank you.”

Tessica fed the animals and sent Kelly off with an application after scheduling an interview for the next day. She was going over the interview questions she wanted to ask when her phone buzzed announcing a text. She glanced at it and smiled when she saw the message was from Connor.

When she opened the text, her smile faded.

Where are you?

Frowning, she checked the time. Her stomach sank. I couldn’t possibly be five-fifteen already. She checked the clock on the wall to confirm it. “Shit.”

She did a quick calculation of her hours in her head and her face flushed with shame. It had been so nice of Connor to tend the animals for her that morning, and how had she repayed him? By starting work early instead of having a relaxing morning likehe’d suggested, and then working over the agreed upon nine hours for the day.

Ashamed of herself, she texted him back.

Still at the shelter. Lost track of time. Unintentionally worked fifteen minutes over my nine hours. Sorry.

Okay, we’ll deal with it when you get home. I’m waiting.

“Fuck.” Her stomach twisted. She shoved her paperwork under the front counter, turned off the lights, and rushed out the front door, locking it behind her.

Uncomfortable guilt followed her all the way home, and Connor’s words ‘we’ll deal with it’ kept going through her head. An excruciating fifteen minutes later, she pulled up in front of her apartment. Connor was leaning against her front door with his arms crossed.

She didn’t know if it was his intention or not, but it certainly made her feel younger than usual to see him there with a stern expression waiting for her to come home so he could ‘deal’ with her.

She got out, locked her car, and walked over to him. “Sorry.”

“I’m sure you are,” he agreed and moved off the door so she could unlock it.

Swallowing hard, she stepped inside, shut the door behind them, and locked it. She set her purse and keys on the little table she kept by the door and looked up at him.

“How many hours per day did we agree you could work?”

“Nine.”

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