Page 7 of Rough Daddy
Once, all it took was a toddler playing a trick, only, I didn’t know that and in the next breath she was on the ground not moving.
"I'll get the tow truck arranged." I swallow around the tightness in my throat. "It’ll be safe at my shop until I can get it fixed."
Total bullshit. Her car just needs a couple hours to dry out, but she doesn't know that, and I’m not about to tell her.
She clearly knows jack shit about electric vehicles. And it’s not like it’s a full-on lie. If I needed to get parts, that could take a couple of weeks. I’m just leaving out the part where I don’t need them.
She stumbles again. I'm moving before my brain catches up, then I stop dead, my fingers clenching into fists.Not again. I touched her and didn't want to fucking stop. I can’t take that risk.
She catches herself.
Christ. I need to get it together.
The office door swings open and out comes my brother Cade with a fresh cup of coffee from my personal stash. He takes one look at Tessa, then me, and his eyebrows climb toward his hairline.
"Well, well." He grins. "What do we have here?"
"Customer," I grunt. "Fried her EV in the wash."
Cade's eyes flick between us, reading things I don't want him to see. "Customer. Right," he drawls, leaning against the back of his truck and taking a sip of the steaming coffee. "Need my help with anything?"
I fight the urge to smack the smirk off his face.
"Nope." I snap my tongue behind my teeth.
"You sure? Because you look like you need some help—"
"I said nope. And buy your own fucking coffee."
He frowns. “I like yours. You know I’m too cheap to get the good stuff. Three-hundred-dollar organic Geisha special—”
“Es-spec-ial,”I enunciate each syllable, “dumb-ass. What do you want, besides coming here to steal my coffee?”
Tessa's watching us, confusion written all over her face.
My cock throbs against my zipper. She called me "sir" a few minutes ago, and I came in my jeans like a fucking teenager. I’m pretty sure my brother senses my shame.
Cade shrugs. "Nope, just the coffee.” He lands his smug eyes on Tessa. “See you Sunday." He tips an imaginary hat her way. "Ma'am."
She gives him a polite but confused smile. "Nice to meet you."
My fists clench. She shouldn't be smiling at him. Those smiles should be for me alone.
When his truck disappears down the road, I open the door to mine and give her a nod. "In."
“Wait, I thought we were coming here to get the tow truck set up?”
“I’ll do that. You get in my truck, we’re going to get your stuff out of your car.”
"I can just walk back to my car and—"
"I said, get in, little girl."
Her pupils dilate. Lips part. I catch a savory scent on the wind that makes a growl build in my throat.
I want to mate her like a fucking dog. I swear, a knot is swelling in my dick.
I'm reconsidering having her sit next to me.
