Page 29 of Bound to the Daddy

“Don’t tell me you’ve never been.”

My jaw drops open as I stare at him as if he’s grown another head. “How would I ever be able to actually afford to eat here?”

“I figured Brody would have taken you at some point. They have the best burgers around.”

Again, I look at the man, the Daddy who seems to think nothing of spoiling me for no other reason than I’m here.Comparing him to Brody, there’s no contest. If this is how his son should have been treating me all these years, then I’ve been wasting my time.

He’s such a little boy compared to the commanding man next to me. But then… he has to make sure I’m taken care of. Starving girls can’t pay back money. Instead of romanticizing his every move, I should start getting my head back into the game.

I can’t negotiate a deal with someone like Mr. Rothsbourne and hope to come out unscathed. Especially not if I actually delude myself into thinking he cares about me as something more than just a business transaction.

“We haven’t had the chance to go. He’s been so busy.”

“Yes,” he grimaces. “With his pretend money startup.”

“Oh good,” I sigh. “I’m not the only one that worries it’s just some fly-by-night operation.”

“It’s certainly not something I’d invest my money into. Now then, let’s go eat and figure out just what I’m going to do with you.”

CHAPTER 10

STEPHANIE

The burgers from The Meat Market lie heavy in my stomach. Not because they aren’t good. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever had a burger taste that good before. No. The quality isn’t the problem. The company is.

In the town car, I glance over at Mr. Rothsbourne, noting the concentration on his face as he scrolls through his phone. It’s as if this afternoon never happened. How am I still about to vibrate out of my skin from that deliciously awful spanking, yet he’s over there cool as a cucumber?

I clutch my stomach, willing the nausea to calm down. But it doesn’t. If anything, the closer we get to the house, the worse it gets. My fingers twitch as I do my best to keep from chewing my nonexistent nails.

“Talk to me, Steph. I can feel your anxiety from here.”

Guilt slams into me as I lower my head. “Sorry. I’m not trying to be a bother.”

He jerks his head up from his phone and frowns at me. “Have I, at any point, said you were a bother?”

“Well, no. But I know how annoying this can be.”

“Your world is turning upside down. I think you’re entitled to some anxiety. But even if everything was fine, you’d still be entitled to your anxiety. I just want to help, if I can.”

Tears burn my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. “Why are you being so nice to me?”

“That doesn’t answer my question, but I suppose I’ll indulge.” With a sigh, he puts his phone in his pocket. “I feel… well… I guess you could say a kinship to you. You’ve been a member of our family for years. Even if it is as Brody’s girlfriend. Something about you compels me to assist. I just wish you weren’t so stubborn about it.”

Again, that niggle of guilt threatens to cut me to the core. “It’s not personal. I promise.”

“Then what is it?”

“I…” for a moment, I trail off, unsure of how to answer him. “It’s complicated.”

“I’m a smart man. Try me.”

“It’s terrifying. Okay? Is that what you want me to say? I’ve only had myself since my parents died. I don’t want to be beholden to you or anyone else. I don’t want to be at your mercy.” Is it my imagination, or does his lips twitch up into a ghost of a smile? “I don’t have the type of money to ever be able to pay you back. Any kindness you show me becomes a debt in my mind. One I’ll never be able to repay.”

He brushes his thumb across his bottom lip. “And who says I’m asking for repayment? I certainly haven’t.”

My eyes bulge out of my sockets as I stare at the man. “You can’t be serious. You’re a fucking Rothsbourne. You don’t just hand out money. Not if you can help it.”

“True. I do like to hold on to my wealth. But you never even gave me a chance to negotiate with you. That was your misfortune. Because now you sit here, desperate for my help. That gives me the upper hand. Whereas if you accepted my helpwhen I offered it, we might have been on a more equal footing. Because of your stubbornness, you have indeed put yourself in the position you were most scared of being in… at my mercy.”

---