Page 10 of Tame Me Daddy

"Easy," Hank chuckled. "Boss doesn't bite."

But Grant Warwick was already changing course, heading directly for our table. His eyes – brown, I now saw, a deep, rich shade like coffee – found mine across the shrinking distance between us. The corner of his mouth twitched, not quite a smile, but an acknowledgment. He'd caught me staring, and now he was coming over, and my brain was short-circuiting like a doused electrical panel.

"Get up," Maya hissed. "Shake his hand."

I scrambled to my feet, knocking my knee against the table's underside. Pain shot up my leg, but I barely noticed it through the thundering of my pulse. Grant Warwick stood before me now, taller than I'd realized, topping my five-foot-four frame by at least a foot. I had to tilt my head back to meet his gaze.

And suddenly, I felt small. Not just physically, but in that other way – that secret part of myself I'd promised to keep buried. The little girl inside me wanted to hide behind Maya, to speak in a higher voice, to seek approval from this man who radiated authority. I balled my hands into fists at my sides, fighting the urge.

"Mr. Warwick," Maya said, "this is Cherry Morgan, our new ranch hand."

Grant extended his hand, his expression neutral but attentive. "Welcome to Warwick Ranch, Miss Morgan."

I forced my arm to move, reaching out to take his offered hand. His palm was warm and dry against mine, the calluses on his fingers catching slightly against my skin. His grip was firm but calibrated – strong enough to convey confidence, gentle enough not to overwhelm. My smaller hand disappeared in his, and for a fleeting second, I didn't want him to let go.

"Thank you, sir," I managed, trying to inject professionalism into my voice. "I appreciate the opportunity."

His eyes narrowed slightly, studying me. I had the unsettling feeling he was seeing more than I wanted to show. "It’s great to have you here."

There was a timbre to his voice I hadn't expected – deep and resonant, but with an underlying gentleness that contradicted his imposing presence.

"I hope Maya's shown you everything you need," he continued, finally releasing my hand. I resisted the urge to flex my fingers, to preserve the feeling of his touch.

"Yes, she's been real helpful," I said. "Showed me the bunkhouse, the stables, the equipment sheds."

"Tomorrow you'll meet Ryder, our foreman. He'll assign your duties for the first week."

"I'll be ready, sir."

A slight smile softened his features. "No need for 'sir' around here. Grant will do just fine."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak again. Something about his presence made me feel simultaneously steady and off-balance, like standing in a fast-flowing stream with solid rocks underfoot.

"Any questions before tomorrow?" Grant asked.

A thousand, but none I could actually voice. I shook my head. "No, I think Maya covered everything I need to know for now."

"Good." He gestured to my barely-touched food. "Finish your dinner. Long day ahead tomorrow."

The instruction was casual, but something in his tone made it feel like more than a suggestion. It triggered that same confusing response in me – a desire to comply, to earn approval. I found myself reaching for my spoon before I'd even processed the thought.

"I'll check in with you at the end of the week, see how you're settling in," Grant said. He glanced around the table, acknowledging the others with a nod. "Evening, all."

A chorus of "Evening, boss" and "Night, Grant" followed as he turned away, continuing his rounds through the mess hall. I sank back onto the bench, tension draining from my shoulders.

"See? Not so bad," Maya said, nudging me with her elbow.

I released a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. "Does he always... look at people like that?"

"Like what?" Maya asked, spooning the last of her stew into her mouth.

"Like he can see right through them."

She laughed. "That's just Grant. Nothing gets past him on this ranch. But don't worry," she added, lowering her voice, "his bark is worse than his bite."

I wasn't convinced.

Chapter 2

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