Page 27 of Giddy Up, Daddy

“Dismissed for the day. I’m sure you have other things you want to do with your free time.”

Fuck.

He hated the shocked hurt on her face. He knew he was being a dick. But he couldn’t take the words back, could he?

This was for the best.

Then why did he feel so awful as she walked away without another word?

“Boy, you best have a good reason for talking to my girl like that.” Grandpa Jack shuffled around the glass and sat in another chair. Stafford poured him a small Scotch and then grabbed the broom and pan.

“Your girl?”

“Yep. And I don’t like how you just spoke to her. So you best tell me what’s going on.”

“There’s nothing to tell. I’m sorry if you thought I was rude.”

“Rude? You just about eviscerated her.”

Stafford shot him a look. “What I said wasn’t that bad.”

“You know she’s a sensitive thing. Trying to work on that with her, but it’s hard going.”

“I just didn’t want her to hurt herself.”

Grandpa Jack grunted. “Really? Very concerned about her hurting herself, are you?”

“Yes. She is my employee. I have to provide a safe environment.”

“Just an employee?” Grandpa Jack asked.

“Yes. Just an employee.” He picked up the pan and emptied it.

Just an employee?

Ouch.

Blakely slipped away after that. She wasn’t sure she could stand to hear anything more. Obviously, kissing her was a huge mistake that Stafford now regretted.

She got it.

It wasn’t like he wanted her.

Why would he?

Still. It hurt. A lot.

Heading into her bedroom, she took a quick shower before getting into her favorite pajamas. They had images of wizards allover them and were a deep purple color. They were a bit short and tight around the bust, but years of washing them had made them soft and thin, so it didn’t matter to her.

Climbing into bed, she grabbed Mr. Whiskers and Mrs. Flopsy, holding them tight.

“It doesn’t matter that he just sees me as an employee,” she whispered to them. “Honestly. It’s better this way. It stops me from . . . hoping.”

It took her a long time to fall asleep, though. She kept replaying that kiss over and over in her head.

Wasn’t it just typical that the best kiss of her life came from a man who instantly regretted it.

Chapter Nine

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