Page 92 of Under Daddy's Spell

Chapter Twenty-Six

JORDAN ANGLED HIS FACEinto the spray and let the hot water rush over him. He ran his fingers through his hair to help rinse the shampoo away then shut off the shower. On a different day, he would have lingered. The ceiling-mounted rain shower and four sprayers on the walls made the daily task less monotonous. But he did only the basics this morning so he could get back to Tessa.

When he woke not long ago, she was already up and dressed, sitting in a chair by the window. He called to her, but she didn’t turn, only continued gazing out at the water. She never stirred at the rustling linens when he sat up on the side of the bed or when he stepped on a creaky floorboard on his way to her. Being distracted by the beauty of the lake, especially in the morning, wasn’t uncommon, but his girl was miles away.

She didn’t return from wherever she was until he swept her hair aside and planted a soft kiss on the side of her neck.

“Morning,” he whispered in her ear.

“Morning, Jordan,” she replied. “How are you feeling?”

He rose with a jerk, surprised by two things Tessa asking how he felt when she was the sick one last night. And her reverting to Jordan, when he’d been Daddy for the past two days.

She turned and looked up at him expectantly. “Did you sleep well?”

“I had sweet dreams with you beside me.”

His comment earned him a frown instead of a smile. When he bent for a proper morning kiss, she responded at first but pulled away when his hands started roving. And, when she briefly met his gaze, she had the same near-to-tears expression on her face as the night before.

Standing abruptly, she moved past him.

“Tessa. What’s going on?”

“I don’t want to rush you, but I need to be in to work soon.” She whistled for her dog on the way to the door. “I’ll let Rufus out while you shower.”

In the hall, he heard his paws on the tile and his tags jingle, as Tessa greeted him with scratches on his chest, as he’d seen her do every time.

When she spoke to the shepherd, it was low, clearly for her dog’s ears only. But sound carried in the hall because of the tile floor, and her words stunned him. “Let’s go down to the lake, boy, while we still have the chance.”

Rather than go after her and demand answers, he stared after her, utterly perplexed and at a complete loss.

What had suddenly changed her from the chatty, teasing, playful girl she’d been yesterday to the distant, quiet, melancholy girl this morning? He had replayed their exchange a half dozen times while in the shower. His reaction then as now was, “What the ever-loving fuck?”

Had he pushed too hard too soon, and she’d changed her mind? He’d never know unless she talked to him. Her silence ended now.

Stepping out onto the mat, he yanked his towel from the hook and wrapped it around his waist. From the closet by the sink, he grabbed another to briskly towel dry his hair. As he was brushing his teeth, he cocked his head, hearing the faintness of her voice not in the bedroom but somewhere deeper in the house. He spit, barely rinsed then, not caring that he was still dripping and went in search of her.

In the hallway off the kitchen, his steps slowed when he heard Tessa speaking to someone. It wasn’t Rufus, who must have heard him approach because he trotted halfway into the hall and stared at him from the archway leading into the kitchen.

Jordan raised a finger to his mouth, silently shushing the dog as if he would understand the gesture. But he cocked his head, wagged his tail, and left without a sound.

The silent communication, especially the tail wag, was a positive sign the big protective shepherd was beginning to trust him. Now, if he could only make the same progress with his mistress.

“It didn’t work!” Tessa exclaimed in a pressured whisper. “Now, what am I supposed to do.”

There was a brief pause.

“Yes, I know what time it is. Early is entirely relative. I’ve been up for three hours.” The person on the other end must not have cared for her curt response because she was much more polite when she said, “No, please, Madame, don’t hang up. I’m sorry I was so snippy.”

Madame? Who the hell was she talking to?

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