Page 4 of Protecting Little Phoebe

Barren stared at the rising sun, one boot-clad foot resting on the lowest rung of the wooden fence. It was chilly this morning. When he’d been younger, he’d never felt the cold. But he was now closer to fifty than forty. And it felt like the chill now settled into his bones.

Fuck.

He hated this feeling in his gut. Regret. Worry. Anger. Had he wasted most of his life? Had he spent the best years of his life in love with a woman who, it turned out, hadn’t actually loved him back? Who’d just been with him for his money?

“Good place to watch the sun rise.”

Barren’s lips twitched in amusement as he glanced at Derek Hawkins, the owner of Rawhide Ranch, as the man stepped up beside him, leaning against the fence.

“Do you have cameras out here or something?” He glanced around as though looking for them.

“Why? Are you doing something you need to hide?” Derek asked, sounding amused.

“Not today,” Barren joked. “But either you have cameras or some sort of sixth sense about when you’re needed.”

“You need me?”

“Nope. That sixth sense must be broken,” he told the other man.

“Strange. It hasn’t put me wrong yet,” Derek replied. “Everything all right?”

Barren sighed. He didn’t need to talk about his feelings. He’d done that with Eliot over several days. Several sober days. Yeah, he’d tried to drink away his feelings.

He hadn’t been successful.

After going back with Eliot to his place and meeting his Littles, Barren had decided to take a chance and come to Rawhide Ranch. His friend was ridiculously happy living his dream life with Marcus and Isla. A life where he didn’t have to hide his Dominant side. Where he didn’t have to hold back his need to protect, support, indulge, and discipline.

Barren wanted that.

When those divorce papers had come in, he’d spiralled down into a dark place. If it wasn’t for Eliot, he might not have found his way back out. He might not have made the decision to find his own Little. Someone he could take care of. Who would appreciate his protective, possessive streak and wouldn’t find him smothering, old-fashioned, and controlling.

Krystal’s words.

So he’d come here. Unfortunately, it hadn’t been a successful trip.

You were hoping for too much.

Yep, he’d gotten his hopes up. It was ridiculous and a forty-eight-year-old man should know better. Had he really expected to just find someone? That they would magically be waiting here for him? He had to be patient. Hopefully it would happen.

“I just need more patience,” he said.

“You don’t seem like a man who lacks patience,” Derek replied mildly. “But sometimes it’s when you least expect it that fate steps in and gives you what you were looking for.”

Right. Sure. He just hoped that fate remembered that he wasn’t getting any younger.

“I’m going to head home today,” he told Derek.

“You sure?”

“Yep. I’ve been gone over a week now. I should really get back to work.”

Derek nodded. “Work is important.”

Except it wasn’t anymore, was it? He had more money than he knew what to do with. And he could do a lot of his work from here anyway. However, the longer he stayed here without meeting a Little who suited him, who wanted him, the more depressed he grew. So for his peace of mind he was going. Perhaps he’d come back another time.

Or maybe you won’t.

“I can’t stop you from leaving, but we’ll miss you,” Derek told him.

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