Page 78 of Ranch Rules

She mustered up a smile. “Well, don’t ever go up against me in court.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it. Now, come sit down. I’ve got eggs, bacon, and toast.”

“I’m going to miss these breakfasts. Going back to my breakfast bar is going to feel like a starvation diet.”

“And here I thought you meant my company.” He gave her a lopsided grin.

They made the best of it. They talked a little, laughed a bit, but all too soon it was time for her to go.

Thomas walked her out to her car, putting her suitcase in the backseat. “You be safe out there now. Don’t go above seventy, understand?”

She opened her mouth to ask how he’d ever know, but decided it was best not to contradict him. “Yes, Daddy. And... I’ll hear from you, won’t I?”

“Of course you will.”

She nibbled her lower lip, not wanting to seem clingy, but unable to help herself. “When? Ballpark?”

“Soon. I promise.” Thomas smiled and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Text me when you get there?”

“But how will you get it?” she asked with a giggle.

“I work here. I have the Wi-Fi password.”

Natalie’s mouth dropped open and she spluttered at him, “But... how could you... you never...”

“Close your mouth, honey. You’ve got to get goin’.”

Her mind turned to other more somber subjects, and she frowned. “I wish I could stay one more day. Maybe I could call the office and see—”

“We’ll always want one more day, honey. And it’ll be just as hard tomorrow morning. Might as well rip off the Band-Aid.”

With a sigh, she conceded to his point. And with one last, lingering kiss he opened her door and leaned over, buckling her in.

“Remember. Keep it under seventy.”

“I promise, Daddy.”

“That’s my good girl.”

Natalie put the key in the ignition and started the car. She began to drive down the driveway, watching him grow smaller in the rearview mirror. Tears rose to her eyes and she had to force herself to keep going. He was right, after all. One more day wouldn’t be enough, either. When she got to the bottom of the driveway she reached her arm out of the window and waved and tapped her horn twice. Then she pulled onto the dirt road and began her trek back to the city.

* * *

Thankfully, she managedto compose herself on the drive back. Her tears dried up and her mind turned to matters of business. She’d been gone a long time, after all, and she would have a lot of work to do. She couldn’t help but replay her one and only phone conversation with Mr. Dawson over in her mind. He hadn’t been thrilled to hear from her at the time and she had to hope that her absence had cleared up whatever frustration he felt toward her.

She’d only been gone a week, but somehow as she let herself in the building, nodding to the familiar security guard behind the front desk, it felt like she’d been away much longer. The building seemed... dark and drab, and not full of the normal hustle and bustle she associated with Briggs & Spric.

Maybe it was just because she’d never really looked at the building anymore. Her eyes were usually straight ahead as she marched toward her never-ending to-do list for the day.

Once she arrived outside Mr. Dawson’s office she took a deep breath, steadying her nerves before she cleared her throat to catch his attention.

He didn’t look up from the folder he was studying, only barked “Come in!”

She turned the doorknob and let herself in, forcing a smile she didn’t entirely feel. “Good morning, sir.”

Mr. Dawson was staring so intently at his computer that he didn’t even look up. Instead, he held out a single finger, her signal to wait. Natalie was used to this, of course. Once he’d typed something, his fingers moving across the keyboard at lightning speed, he turned to her. “Natalie, my girl! Are you back, then?”

Caught off guard by the warmth of the welcome, she hesitated for just a moment. “Y-yes, sir.”

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