Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236036 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1180(@200wpm)___ 944(@250wpm)___ 787(@300wpm)
“You finished the list I gave you?”
“Yeah… well, mostly.”
Grady crossed his arms. “Mostly isn’t finished.”
She shrugged one shoulder, that playful spark back in her eyes. “I got distracted. Your horses are so pretty.”
He picked up the broom. “Hold out your hands, Sage.”
She did as she was told, but not before snapping to attention with another salute. “Officer Sage, ready for duty.”
He placed the broom in her hands. “Finish what I told you to do. And don’t forget curfew is eight o'clock,” he reminded her again. “Be in the house by then. No excuses.”
Sage stepped closer, tilting her head up at him. “What happens if I’m late?”
Grady leaned down until his face was only inches from hers. His voice dropped to that low, commanding tone that made most people take a step back.
“Try it, and you’ll find out, little girl.”
What the hell? Had he just called her little girl? What was he doing? She wasn't his little girl and never would be. He was way too old to be playing with that kind of fire. Especially this particular wildfire.
She squirmed where she stood. Her cheeks turned the brightest shade of pink he'd ever seen. What she didn’t do was protest. Nope. Her reaction was exactly the opposite.
Her pupils dilated, darkening her intoxicating eyes, and her breathing quickened. He wouldn’t allow himself to look below her face because the last thing he needed was to see if her nipples had hardened again. His cock was already hard enough.
She bit her lip, then gave him that signature cheeky grin. “I’ll be sure to be late. I hate leaving a puzzle unsolved.”
Grady straightened, fighting the urge to smile. This woman was going to be the death of him.
After putting Rose to bed, Grady stood in the kitchen, glancing at the clock every few minutes. He forced himself to take a seat at the table and wait. It was ten minutes after eight, and just when he’d decided to go look for her, the back door inched open.
Her cheeks were flushed, probably from running to the house. The first thing she did was look at the wall clock. Grady waited, arms crossed, expression stern.
“I, um… lost track of time,” she said quickly. “I was just checking on Rose’s pony and—”
“Back to the barn. Now.” He pointed at the door. He cut her off before she added lying to the list of rules she had broken. Not that he had the right to give her any rules at all. Half of him hoped she’d tell him to go fuck himself. But of course, she didn’t.
Her eyes widened. “Wait, you were serious about the whole consequences thing?”
“Dead serious. We need to have a talk.” Maybe by the time they reached the barn, he’d figure out what to say. Oh, he knew what he ought to say. He just wasn’t sure if he’d say it.
Sage swallowed hard enough for him to hear. Her nerves were evident, but there was something else in her eyes. Was that possibly excitement? It took all he could do to stifle a groan.
She followed him out to the barn without saying another word. Inside, the lights were low. The scent of hay and leather wrapped around them. Grady led her to the wide wooden bench against the wall.
“Sit down.” Grady paced back and forth, waiting for her to comply.
Sage’s cheeks pinkened as she sat down. “Am I getting consequences now?”
He narrowed his eyes and glared at her. “I wouldn’t be so eager for consequences if I were you. You’ll get some soon enough, but not tonight. There are a few things I want to get straight first.”
Was it his imagination, or had the excitement he’d seen before dimmed? Disappointment was the last thing she should feel. Something she would learn soon enough.
He refused to think about why she might be disappointed. He no longer doubted she was Little. It was evident in her every action and expression. But there was no way she’d ever had a Daddy.
Truth was, no one had been across his knee since he’d lost his wife, and the ease with which Sage submitted to him gave him pause. Not that she didn’t deserve a sound walloping.
Reaching down, he pulled her to her feet.
“Is this about the curfew?”
“We’ll get to that. First, were you expecting a spanking?”
She hunched her shoulders. “Maybe?”
“Exactly, we’re going to have a conversation about you putting yourself in a situation that would have you going over the knee of a man that you barely know. How do you know I wouldn’t hurt you? Come to think of it, you shouldn’t have even come out to the barn by yourself with me. Did no one teach you anything about personal safety when you were growing up?”
Yes, he knew his accusation made no sense. He’d been the one to put her in the situation. But at the moment, all he could see was her giving in just as easily to someone else, and that thought bothered him more than it should.