Page 43 of Daddy, Sir

“I mean, you’re not wrong.”

“Seriously, guilt is the last thing you should be feeling,” he muttered. “If I thought you wouldn’t bash me in the head with your sledgehammer, I’d order you to go no contact with her and your parents.”

Her laughter burst free, making her curse him again. How dare he say all the right things to make her want to give in? “You’re not the first to tell me that.”

“Why haven’t you?”

“I don’t know.” She contemplated the question and tried to sort her thoughts into order while they walked into the motel and made their way to the guest wing. “I guess I keep hoping they’ll change into reasonable humans, but I’m pretty sure that ship has long sailed.”

Daniel’s lips curved into an evil smile and his blue eyes glittered, making her hold back an involuntary shiver of trepidation mixed with lust. It was a Daddy Dom look ofdetermination and control if she’d ever seen one, and she couldn’t help wondering what it would be like if she let herself be his babygirl.

“If you’re not ready to go no contact, delegate. Let Daddy Bear answer their calls.”

“Not sure that will work, but I appreciate the offer.”

“You doubt the all-powerful Daddy Bear?” He used a keycard to open the suite closest to the door leading to the pool and held it open for her before giving her the card.

Wondering what the hell was wrong with her, she laughed again and hated how it felt so good to know he was listening to everything she hadn’t told him. The Daddy Bear persona really did fit him.

He’d only gotten the one story about her tenth birthday party and still managed to piece together a picture of her life with a narcissist and the parents who enabled her.

Would it be so wrong to accept his offer? After a lifetime of wondering what it would be like to trust someone to care for her, she could let him show her. And so what if it didn’t last beyond one night? If she hated it, no harm, no foul, but she wouldn’t know for certain unless she tried.

After all, he’d already passed thenotsleeping with Bethanytest. Even better, she hadn’t warned him in advance, so his reaction was completely unprompted.

“I—”

“I have a question first.” Daniel put the towels in the bathroom, then unfolded sheets to make the bed. “Has your sister called you a c-word before tonight?”

She frowned at the non sequitur and helped him spread out the bottom sheet, duplicating his tight hospital corners. “I don’t think so, but I usually tune her out whenever she opens her mouth. Why do you ask?”

“Just curious.” He hesitated as he unfolded the top sheet. “When did you send that eviction notice?”

“I taped it to her door the day before yesterday. She has five more days before I file the complaint.” She stilled and blinked at him. “You don’t think she’s the one who vandalized your house, do you?”

“I don’t know.” He passed her a pillowcase. “With the way she keeps her nails, I could see her doing the spray paint, but I’m not seeing her bust down a brick retaining wall.”

And how had Bethany known where she was working in the first place? Her project schedule wasn’t exactly a state secret, but she didn’t share it with anyone who didn’t need to know.

When she didn’t immediately reply, he added, “She also knew about the eviction before the vandalism happened.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time she destroyed something I made.” She shoved a pillow into its case with more force than necessary. “Or just stole it.”

In fact, installing a lock on her bedroom door when she was twelve was the first construction-type project she’d ever done. Her parents pitched a fit, but it kept Bethany from ruining her stuff. She’d long suspected they only fussed because Bethany had a screaming meltdown when she couldn’t indulge in her favorite hobby.

Then again…

Frowning, she remembered the time Bethany lost her keys. Instead of asking the neighbors for the spare, she broke a sliding glass door with a rock. Maybe it wasn’t so difficult to imagine her taking down a retaining wall—especially when the mortar wasn’t completely cured.

“Bethany also tried to hit you with her car,” he reminded her. “She had to have seen you. We were under one of the floodlights.”

Christ. Why was she even still talking to those people?

She sighed and sat on the bed. Wishing his words didn’t ring with uncomfortable truths, she rested her elbows on her knees. “Maybe it wasn’t Jim, but he also called me a c-word.”

Or maybe she had two vandals. Bethany with the spray paint, and Jim with the retaining wall. Hiding a sigh, she wondered how many other people she’d pissed off recently.

“I’m not placing blame on either of them without evidence, but it caught my attention when she called you that.” Daniel sat next to her, and she didn’t fight when he pulled her into his lap for a cuddle that felt way too good. “I’ll do my best to abide by your wishes if you say no, but I need to keep you protected and safe. Will you let me?”

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