Page 2 of Their Forever Daddy

“Maybe she was thinking ten years was long enough for you to get over being pissed at her.”

Whipping around, Edie found herself staring once more at the face that had haunted her dreams for nearly a decade. Her cheeks had lost some of their roundness, though not enough for her to lose that adorable baby face Edie remembered. And her eyes were still the same gorgeous hazel, shifting between shades of brown and green, depending on the lighting. Here in the barn, they were almost whiskey gold as they lit with happiness at the sight of Luna.

“Who’s this pretty baby?” Cooing softly, Jesse entered the stall, and Edie nearly stepped back to avoid touching her. But since she stood her ground, it meant she had to look up if she wanted to meet Jesse’s eyes, which only served to further her annoyance at the situation. Their height difference hadn’t bothered her when she’d had Jesse on her knees once upon a time, but now she wished she had some kind of upper hand. Even if it was just a matter of inches.

“Luna,” Edie answered, and if she hadn’t known any better, she would have sworn Luna gave her a disapproving look at the sharpness of her tone.

“Luna.” With a quiet sigh, Jesse stepped closer, stroking a hand down the heifer’s soft nose. “It’s so nice to meet you, Luna. I’m… well, I suppose everyone around here knows me as Jesse.”

It didn’t make Edie’s heart jump to see the way her uninvited guest leaned in, nuzzling her face against Luna’s with zero regard for her perfect hair or makeup. It certainly didn’t make her wish Jesse was nuzzling her instead of the damn cow.

It didn’t.

Not one little bit.

Keep telling yourself that, McDowell.

Shoving those unwelcome thoughts from her mind, Edie turned around and resumed brushing Luna. “If you’re going to be hanging around my barn, you could at least make yourself useful. There’s a trough outside that needs to be filled with hay for Luna’s breakfast.”

Adding yet another shock to a morning full of surprises, Jesse gave Luna one last snuggle before stepping away and lifting her hand in a snappy mock-salute. “Yes, ma’am.”

Memories crowded Edie’s mind and heart, swamping her with feelings she’d thought long-since buried. There’d been a time when those words would have filled her with warmth and love, especially when they’d been spoken in that sweet, sniffly voice Jesse always had after a thorough spanking.

Did she still sound like that after a punishment? Did she even allow anyone to spank her these days?

Not that Edie really cared. Whatever Jesse Walker did with her life was no longer any of Edie’s business, and it hadn’t been for a very long time.

When Jesse disappeared around the corner, Edie leaned in, dropping her voice to a whisper for Luna’s ears only. “Traitor.”

One big brown eye rolled to the side, and Edie swore she could feel the judgment rolling off her oversized friend in waves. “Oh, don’t look at me like that. You don’t know her like I do.”

Luna just huffed softly, as if she didn’t believe a word Edie had said, and Edie narrowed her eyes.

“You’ll see. Or not. I doubt she’s planning to hang around very long.” And Edie wouldn’t be sad to see her go. Not in the least.

She was just about done brushing Luna when Jesse came bouncing back into view. Edie deliberately kept her gaze locked on Luna’s coat so she wouldn’t be distracted by the familiar sight of Jesse’s perky breasts swaying with every movement.

If any of the paparazzi normally trailing Jesse had walked into the barn at that moment, Edie wasn’t sure they’d even recognize her. Instead of her signature poofy skirts and sparkly tops, Jesse wasn’t dressed that much differently than Edie. Well, other than the fact her jeans were brand new and probably cost more than Edie’s store made in a month. But for the most part, she looked like she belonged.

Which was a hell of a lot more uncomfortable than Edie cared to admit.

“Hay’s in the feeder. What else do you need?”

It was on the tip of Edie’s tongue to send her off on some disgusting, back-breaking chore. But that would have been mean, and petty, and even though she was certainly feeling both of those things in that moment, she prided herself on being neither. Keeping Luna by her side, Edie turned and cocked a brow. “I need you to tell me what the hell you’re up to, Jesse.”

Something flickered over the other woman’s face, too quick for Edie to pin down exactly what it was. A smile replaced whatever the flash of emotion had been, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. It was the kind of smile she might give someone on the red carpet, not the smile Edie had fallen headfirst in love with all those years ago, and she told herself she didn’t miss the real version. “Can’t a girl come home for a visit now and again?”

“Sure. Unless that girl is you.”

The smile faltered, just for a second. “I wanted to see you.”

On their own, those words would have been shocking enough. But there was an earnestness to them, as though Jesse was so desperate to be believed that Edie found herself once again staring at her in surprise. “Why?”

Edie had no problem placing the annoyance that now flickered in Jesse’s eyes. “Maybe I missed you. Did you ever think of that?”

Nudging Jesse aside, Edie led Luna out of the stall and out to the pasture. “I’ve been here the whole time. Could’ve come to see me whenever you wanted.”

“Yeah, well, I didn’t exactly think I’d be welcomed with open arms.”

---