Page 62 of On His Ranch

They were nearly done milking—true to his suggestion, they’d both worked quietly, lost in their own thoughts—when he came to a decision. Sometimes, people took on more than they were ready for before they were ready for it. But when it came to Piper, how could he not? Whether he’d wanted to or not, he’d come to care for her.

“Good work today.”

She looked up from the bucket she was holding. “Really? Thanks.”

“Sure thing. And, ah… Senior won’t be back ‘till mornin’ and Ma took a third shift tonight.”

“Oh, okay.”

“What I mean is we’ll talk tonight, at dinner.”

Piper’s eyes widened as the news sank in. Then she smiled, and it made whatever doubts he had fade away.

Patti, ever the hostess and homemaker, had left them a chicken pot pie since she wouldn’t be home to cook for them. Hearing Chase come in behind her, Piper took another deep inhale of the savory pie. “Your mom thinks of everything.”

“Yeah, she tends to at that. Want me to serve us up some?”

Surprised by the offer, Piper took a seat and watched while Chase put great big heaping spoonfuls of chicken pot pie over egg noodles for each of them. Her surprise doubled when he also put an ice-cold beer in front of her.

“What? You’re old enough to drink, aren’t you?”

The question made her laugh. “I’m twenty-two, but thanks, I think?”

“Welcome.” He took a seat across from her. “So, what’s with the face?”

“You’ve just never given me alcohol before, is all.”

His grin flashed. “Is that a twang I hear?”

She rolled her eyes, but then realizing her faux pas, quickly busied herself with eating.

“Ma is funny about it, so I keep it away if she’s home.”

“You’re a grown adult,” she pointed out between forkfuls.

“It’s called respect, which frankly, you’d do well to learn more of.”

Something changed when he said that. The air felt charged, and as delicious as dinner was, she set down her fork and sat up straighter.

Chase took a swig out of his bottle, then set it down and looked her square in the eye. “I will be your daddy.”

Instead of the gratitude or relief she expected to feel, the muscles in her belly knotted.Somehow, I don’t think it’s going to be that simple…

Chase immediately proved her right by adding, “I mentioned before that if you were my little girl, there would be more rules.”

She swallowed hard. “Yes, sir.”

But instead of answering, he arched a brow and locked gazes with her in the most intense version of a staring contest she’d ever had.

“What… what are the rules, Daddy?”

There was no missing the way his lips quirked when she called him that. “Remind me of the ones you already have.”

“Obey, respect, danger.” She ticked them off her fingers.

“Y’know what, that’s pretty good. I’m impressed.”

Piper took a sip of her beer, feeling pleased with herself.

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