Page 7 of Under Daddy's Spell

He reclaimed her hand, his blue eyes dancing. “Nice meeting you, Tessa Delacroix.”

“Back at you, Jordan Cooper,” she replied, proud that she managed not to croak like a frog this time.

***

“WHO WAS THAT?”

“The owner of the store next to us,” Jordan replied as he reached over the counter and set down the coupons.

“Great hair, and—since I know who I’m talking to and don’t have to point it out but can’t let it pass without saying—great fucking ass!”

Seth Tillman was never one to mince words. His regional manager and longtime friend was onsite to help with the grand opening of their third NOLA location. Usually, his comments didn’t bother him, but today was different. ?

Jordan shot him an irritated glance. “Did you come looking for me for a reason?”

“You might have noticed the deliveries and assembly going on around you?”

“I’ve been here since seven dealing with it. What’s your point?”

“You’ve been standing here staring at the door for the last ten minutes. The guys were concerned that Red and her great ass might have short-circuited something. Are you having a stroke? Should I call 911?”

That quick, he went from irritated to fucking annoyed. He stalked to the weight bench he was assembling and squatted in front of it.

“Tell the men to stop worrying about me and anyone’s ass other than their own, and to concentrate on the work I’m paying them for.”

“Okay. But, to clarify. Are you going to ask her out? If not, a few of the guys were interested—”

He hopped up and got in Seth’s face. “Are you their spokesman or their boss? If any of the guys ask about her, tell them getting interested isn’t a good idea.”

“Because you are?” he asked, not flinching, despite Jordan outweighing him by fifty pounds and, when pissed, likely able to snap him like a twig. “You should go for it, bro. She’s your type.”

“I wasn’t aware I had one.”

“Sexy AF, tons of hair, aforementioned great ass, and big eyes that all but screamfuck me, Daddyis exactly your type.”

Jordan glanced around to see who might have overheard. Everyone was going about their business, luckily.

They knew each other from way back and shared the same proclivities when it came to women. Seth, better than anyone, knew how important it was for him to keep his personal life private. ?

He scowled down at his soon-to-be ex-employee. “Explain why I don’t fire your ass when all you do is annoy the crap out of me?”

“Because we’ve been best friends since grade school, and you love me. I’m like the brother you never had.”

“And I thought I was cursed having four sisters all this time.”

“Hey, now. You don’t mean that.”

He didn’t, but that didn’t spare Seth from the same bullshit he dished out. “You’re good in small doses,” Jordan told him. “Like triple chocolate cake. I don’t keep it around all the time because it’s not good for me and I’d tire of it really quick.”

His old friend laughed. “You’re just mad because I can spot a daddy’s girl a helluva lot better than you can.”

“Which explains all the times I’ve crashed and burned.” Jordan folded his arms over his chest. He didn’t like to be reminded that his radar sucked. “How can you be so sure Tessa is what you think she is when you’ve barely spoken to her?”

“I keep telling you, man. It’s the eyes. But don’t worry. I’m your wingman and will always have your back. On this, I’m 100 percent sure Miss Tessa is looking for a daddy. She might not know it yet, but with the right guy”—he slapped him on the shoulder, grinning—“her baby-blue eyes will open wide, and she’ll see the light.”

“They’re green, dumbass,” he corrected, barely stopping an eye roll at the crap his friend was spewing. With great skepticism, he asked as a follow-up. “You think I’m that guy?”

“I’ve seen you in action, bro, when you’re not even trying. The old-fashioned charm, that protective crap you’ve got going for you, the looks, the name—”

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