Page 29 of Big Daddy Mountain Man

She ran to him and thrust her body against him, forcing him to hug her and her stuffies.

When he rested his chin atop her head, she couldn’t help the “Mmm” that escaped her lips.

Her day was certainly turning out to be wonderful.

Runaway truck and all…

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Sawyer carried the large pot up onto the Collier cabin’s porch and called in through the screen door, “Amber?”

He was glad to be back there.

He’d gone home that afternoon and worked around his place, spending about three hours checking his trees and taking care of a few other chores. Then, he made a pot of stew. Enough for Amber to have a few meals out of that. She wouldn’t be going hungry on his watch.

“Hey!” she called out. “The door’s unlocked. Come on in.”

He didn’t like that and told her as much. “Amber, anyone could just barge in here with you leaving that door unlocked.” Not that the screen door would stop anyone even if it was latched securely, he realized. Maybe she should just have the heavy, wooden door closed and locked at all times, too.

“I would hear their car pull up, Sir. I heard yours.” She looked at him from the kitchen where she looked to be preparing dinner. “I’m not meaning to argue or be disrespectful, Sir.”

Sawyer was about to respond when the sight of the dinner she was prepping grabbed his attention.

There, on the table before where she stood, was a sleeve of crackers and a jar of peanut butter.

“Honey,” he said. “Is that all you’re eating tonight?”

He instantly regretted the question when a look of embarrassment flashed across the sweet Little’s angelic face. “It’s all I want,” she said, though she didn’t sound very convincing. “I have plenty. Just…” She shrugged and looked away, and Sawyer wondered if it was to hide the fact that a tear was sliding down her cheek.

“Well, I brought this big ol’ pot of stew. I always make too much and end up throwing some away.” He walked to the stove and sat it on there. “But if you just want the crackers, no pressure.” He fired up the burner beneath the pot so it could heat for a few minutes.

“It smells delicious!” she said a moment later. “I’d love a bowl, Sir. If you’re sure you have enough.”

“Enough?” he replied. “You’ll be eating on this for days if you want to. I will, too. I saved some for myself at home. You’d be doing me a favor by taking this off my hands. I also brought some cans of vegetables. They’re in the back of the Bronco. I’ll grab ‘em in a bit.”

“Like, from the store?”

He shook his head. “Nope. I grow my own stuff and can it. Gets me through until the next harvest. I have a bunch extra, so I’d appreciate it if you took it off my hands, too.”

He turned around to look at her and that’s when, for the first time, he noticed what she was wearing.

The pretty pink frilly dress he’d bought her. The matching ruffled panties were slightly visible, too, and he felt his stomach muscles clench tightly as desire swirled in his core.

He’d been so caught up in the fact that the front door had been unlocked, and by her measly meal, that he hadn’t even paid attention to her outfit.

But he sure saw it now.

Damn, the little cutie looked so stunning he was almost swept off his feet. It had been a long time since a woman had given him that reaction. Now, it felt both good and… scary.

He was laying it on thick with Amber. There was no stopping himself, it seemed. Bringing her food, buying her the outfits and the stuffie. It was as if he couldn’t control those impulses to care for her.

Those Daddy impulses.

But could anything come of it? He’d screwed up so bad the first time he’d tried this. Was it worth trying again?

Those questions would have to be pondered later. Right now, it was all he could do to stay upright, because the cuteness he saw standing before him was still threatening to knock him over.

Trying to recover and not make a complete fool of himself, he stiffened his back and said, “Let me get you some stew. Where are the bowls?”

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