Page 63 of Under Daddy's Spell

“I got it, Daddy,” she quickly corrected.

“There’s my good girl,” he murmured before he hauled her two inches closer and kissed her hard and quick. “Buckle up for safety, baby,” he told her as he did the same.

With the touch of a button, the awesome car, which her awesomer Daddy had made her forget, rumbled to life.

“Do you like brats? I know a place that has these great pretzel buns.”

She didn’t want to talk about food. It was past time she told him the truth.

“You were right about the air-conditioning,” she blurted out. “It’s old, not big enough for the job, and the man said he couldn’t believe Thompson didn’t upgrade when he put in the wall.”

He took a left out of the lot then briefly glanced over at her. “Seth told me.”

“He told you about the fan, too, I suppose.”

“Yep.”

As they so often did around him, her cheeks suffused with heat. She was glad his eyes were on the road rather than on her because she wouldn’t have been able to meet them. It didn’t mean she couldn’t look at him, however. She took in the beginnings of a beard, the scruff much thicker than the day before. His hair, weeks past the point of needing a cut, brushed his collar and curled up on the ends. She found his less-than-perfect slightly disheveled look incredibly sexy.

Tessa turned to the window to focus on the mea culpa she was about to deliver instead of him, or she might never get it out.

“He also said the thermostat was bad and that my dehumidifier, which is supposed to help make the store more comfortable, was too small for the space.”

“I hope he didn’t sell you a new one. The new units have them built in.”

“He didn’t. But replacing the fan I never knew existed made all the difference. And having a professional detail all the problems sure brought me down a peg.” Rather than be a coward and stare somewhere far off, she shifted in her seat and faced him for this next part. “I’m sorry for being such a bitch.”

He laid his hand on the center console, palm up. She accepted his invitation and placed hers on top, palm down. As soon as she did, he interlaced their fingers.

“Apology accepted, if you’ll accept mine.”

Tessa’s lips parted. Not expecting this, she asked, “What did you do?”

“Although you deserved both spankings, I should have laid out the kind of relationship I wanted from the beginning. I also have to admit to baiting you a bit.”

“You did? Why?”

“You’re cute all the time, baby, but when you’re mad, with your cheeks flushed and your green eyes snapping with fire, you’re fucking gorgeous. I enjoyed watching you storm through my door in tight skirts and high heels, curls bouncing around your face and tumbling over your shoulders.”

Once again, he brought her hand to his mouth, a gesture she found sweetly old-fashioned and gallant. It warmed her all over, despite his admission he’d gotten her mad on purpose.

“I thought you were just being bossy and arrogant.”

He laughed. “I’m that, too, baby doll. No doubt about it.”

“What happens to you when you’re naughty? Do I get to spank you?”

His eyes cut to hers. “Think you could handle me, squirt?”

“No.” Nor would she want to try.

“I’ll make it up to you in other ways.”

“Hm...”

“You’ll have to wait and see, little Miss Skeptic.”

He’d misread her hum. She didn’t doubt he would. She was intrigued to see what he came up with.

---