Page 58 of Ranch Rules

No. He was kidding, right?

“Natalie?”

Oh, God. This day was getting worse and worse. Why had she left? What had she been thinking? Not that she would end up here, bare-bottomed and blushing so red she was sure her face was unrecognizable.

She forced herself to lift her head and look at the officer. He was a big, burly man with a full beard that still didn’t manage to hide his ear-to-ear grin. “Hello.”

“Hi, ma’am. I just need to make sure... this gentleman isn’t hurting... well, what I mean to say is... you’re here willingly? You don’t need a police escort somewhere?”

Right at this moment, it was tempting. She was mad enough to throw Thomas under the bus, but she would regret it the moment she did it and it would surely result in a long session with the tawse he’d threatened. Besides, she wasn’t sure enduring this man’s smirk was something she could do much longer.

“Yes, sir.”

“Well...” His meaty hands were splayed on his hips and he shifted, clearly wanting to enjoy the view awhile longer. “All right then. Y’all have a nice day and drive safely now.”

“Thank you, Officer,” Thomas answered. “We will.”

As soon as he walked off, taking his time Natalie noted, Thomas rolled up the window and she promptly burst into tears. She had never been so embarrassed, so humiliated, in all of her twenty-nine years.

Thomas helped her to a sitting position and she immediately curled into him, hiding her face as he ran his hand over her head and gently shushed her. “Everything is okay. We’re all right again, I promise.”

“I... I’ve never... been so... so embarrassed,” she sobbed.

His hand moved to rub circles on her back. “Aw, honey. I’m sorry that happened. But you did good. You’re a good girl.”

Natalie continued to cry into his chest until she was all cried out. Then, much to her surprise, when she sat back she realized that she felt better. It was as though everything—her fears, her doubts, the horrible, awful day—had been washed away and she had a clean slate again. Maybe there was something to this daddy stuff after all. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she felt shy and ducked her head once more.

“What is it, little-bit?”

“Nothing,” she muttered.

“Don’t go tellin’ fibs now. You remember what happened last time, I trust?”

She gave a little shudder. How could she ever forget? “Yes, sir.”

“Well, then?”

“I guess... I was just... thinking that maybe...”

“Maybe?” he prompted, the epitome of patience.

“Maybe this whole... daddy/little thing... maybe it’s okay.”

Thomas pulled her back so that she was looking at him. “Really?”

“Really.” She offered a tiny smile. “Just to see. No promises,” she added hastily.

Thomas chuckled and bopped her on the nose with his finger. “Always the lawyer, huh?”

Natalie shrugged a shoulder. “It’s who I am.”

“Well, I happen to like who you are quite a bit.”

His words made her flush with pleasure.

“All right then. We’ll give it a shot.”

“When?”

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