Page 71 of Ranch Rules

Chapter Eleven

“You sleep well?” Thomasasked the next morning they sat side by side at the bar having breakfast.

“Yeah, I guess.” She pushed the scrambled eggs around on her plate.

“Somethin’ wrong with your food?”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Then eat up. Little girls need their protein, especially after so much sugar the day before.” He winked.

Normally, it would have made her smile, but this morning she was having a hard time finding anything amusing.

“What’s up, baby?”

“Nothing. I’m just not hungry, I guess.” She pushed the plate away.

“All right, well, I’ll just finish up and we’ll talk about what you’d like to do on your last day, little-bit.”

Natalie scowled at the counter. “I really wish you wouldn’t call me that.”

“Really? Why?”

“I don’t like it.”

“Well, this is the first I’m hearin’ about it.”

“Or maybe this is just the first time you’re choosing to listen to me,” she muttered mutinously.

“Hey, now. That’s uncalled for.”

“Not if it’s the truth.”

“Look at me, Natalie.”

When she refused, she heard the sound of his barstool sliding back and he was at her side, hooking a finger under her chin and forcing her to meet his eyes.

“You have three seconds to tell me what’s going on with you, little girl, or this belt is comin’ off.”

She jerked her head away from him. “I don’t like ‘little girl’ much better.”

“All right, have it your way.” His hands were on his belt buckle and he unfastened it.

“Okay, okay, wait!”

His face was as stern as she’d ever seen it, but he paused, putting his hands on his hips.

Natalie’s heart was pounding hard. “I just... it’s just...”

“I’m waitin’.”

“I... I don’t... wanna leave...” she muttered, ducking her head once more.

“I can’t hear you when you mumble, Natalie.”

“Idon’twanttoleave,” she said again, the words mingling together in her rush to get them out. She had never felt so vulnerable before. Couldn’t he tell, just by looking at her? Surely it showed on her face, was present in every word she spoke.

“I’m tryin’ to be patient here, but if you don’t look at me and speak clearly then I’m not gonna have any choice but to—”

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