Page 18 of Daddy's Little Farmer

“Oh, okay. Let me call for Tiny.”

“He sleeps in the house?”

“Yes. He sleeps with me. He makes me feel safe.”

She could tell he didn’t like hearing that.

“Tiny,” she yelled out the back door. She grinned when he ran up with his tongue out. “Are you ready for bed, baby?”

He huffed and walked into the house. She shut and locked the door.

“I’ll see you in the morning,” she called out as she walked up the stairs.

“Good night, honey.”

Mara got to her room and grabbed her nightgown and robe before walking down the hall and into the bathroom. She started to undress and paused. This was the first time she’d be naked around a man she found attractive. It was a bit nerve-racking, but she couldn’t go without a shower.

She pinned her hair up and stepped into the shower. The heat from the water did a lot for soothing the taunt muscles in her neck and shoulders, and helped ease the headache she’d had most of the day. After turning off the shower, she dried herself and slathered lotion all over her body. She dressed in her nightclothes and brushed her teeth. She was trying to hurry because she assumed he also wanted to shower before bed.

She creaked open the door and peeked out. When she didn’t see or hear anything, she made a run to her bedroom. Her whole body shuddered when she ran into a wall of muscle. Rafael quickly grabbed hold of her shoulders to steady her, thankfully, so she didn’t end up on her ass.

“Whoa, honey. Why the rush?”

“Oh, well, I thought you’d want the bathroom.”

“Thank you. I would like to shower before bed. It smells like you did, too. You smell very sweet.”

“Oh, is that good or bad?”

He chuckled. “Oh, honey, that’s good. Very good.”

“Oh.” Hell, she sounded like an idiot saying “oh.” But she was speechless about what to do or say.

His smile gentled. “Go to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Um, yeah, okay.” She was able to step back when he released her and walked into her bedroom. After closing the door, she leaned her forehead against it and took several deep breaths.

Tiny was staring at her when she turned. “Yeah, I know I’m an idiot.”

Fortunately, he couldn’t respond.

Ten minutes later, she lay staring up at the ceiling when her body desperately needed sleep, but her mind wouldn’t turn off.

Mara was thinking about when Rafael had shown up. When she took him around the barns and the rest of the area, she could tell he was extremely uncomfortable but became more relaxed as time passed.

The light from the moon crept across the floor. She turned to face the window, tucked her hands under her cheek, and closed her eyes. She’d have to think about what would happen at the end of the week the next day because her body was shutting down for the night.

Chapter Nine

The following few days were almost torture for her. She loved getting to know Rafael and working with him, but her body was in a continuous aching desire, and she had no idea what to do with or about it.

It didn’t help that every chance he got, he was touching her in some way. They’d watch a movie the last few nights after dinner and before bedtime. They always ended up smashed together on the sofa. She didn’t know if it was her or him who moved closer during the movie.

Mara was jolted out of her daydream when Charlie nudged her.

“Oh, I’m sorry, buddy. Was I ignoring you?” she laughed when he nodded his head.

Her head turned toward the road when she heard an awful thump and then a truck racing off. She went out into the driveway and saw a big pile of something in the middle of the road. She made her way there, and the closer she got, the more her stomach tightened. She stood looking down at Tiny. It took her a moment to comprehend what she was seeing. He’d been run over and left there to die. She screamed as she fell to the ground and lifted the dog’s head onto her lap.

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