Page 10 of Paying Daddy's Debt Collector

Her face falls, chin trembling, and she looks like she’s about to burst into tears. Shit. She lays a splayed-out hand on her chest, looking away, probably unable to believe what I just said.

“What? That wasn’t what you expected to hear?”

It takes her a while to speak, her voice cracking. “It’s one thing if he traded me for the money he owes you. But, he still needs to pay you? He traded me for a little more time. That’s my worth. That’s my only worth. Oh god. I thought he loved me. He’s a shitty father, but I never thought…never believed…”

“It is what it is, baby girl. What you have to understand is that he has an addiction. One thing about addicts, they don’t love anything as much as they love the next fix. I see that all the time. Even good men who just want to win take out loans. Just one more game, maybe they’ll win this time. But they don’t. The next thing they know, they’re up to their ears in debt. Don’t take it personally. He’s sick. It isn’t about you.”

Well damn. Here I am trying to defend a degenerate just to make her feel better. She must have one hell of a hold on me.

“So what happens when he manages to pay you?”

“You have two choices. You stay with me or I stay with you.”

She’s still sniffing but I see a hint of a smile. “What’s the difference?”

“Nothing really, but I figured you’d want to have a say in what happens next IF he pays all his debts.”

“But I don’t really have a say in anything, do I?”

“You do, but I also don’t want you to end up with regrets later on. You and I both know there’s something between us—this undeniable chemistry—and I’d be lying if I said I don’t want to see where it leads us.”

Her smile wobbles but I push on. “I don’t want you to stay here because you have no other choice. I want you to stay here because this is where you belong.”

“But how do I belong here? I don’t even know you and I’m just…just a nobody who got stuck with a dead mother and a gambling addict father. This place is for some fancy supermodel, not for someone like me.”

I hook a finger under her chin and force her to meet my gaze. “Don’t ever say anything like that again. You belong here because I say you do and what I say goes.”

“I still don’t understand. What do I have to offer in return? I have nothing to give you. I can barely take care of myself.”

“I’ll take care of you. And as far as what you have to offer in return? Well, we’ll discuss that some other time.”

I feel the familiar stiffness in my pants and push my chair back to its original position. I’ve always had impressive self-control, but my body just goes haywire where she’s concerned.

Every inch of me screams to just let my primal hunger take over, but no. Fuck no. I’m not looking for a quick lay. I’m in this for the longer haul with a bigger payoff. That’s the difference between me and her father. I know how to keep my cards close to my chest and only bet when the odds are in my favor. I also know when the prize is worth waiting for.

And Cassidy? She’s worth everything.

Lunch arrives and I see Cassidy’s eyes widen. One by one, the staff arrives carrying silver trays of roasted lamb, a seafood platter, asparagus spears, mashed potatoes, and a bowl of garden salad. Cassidy scowls, and I realize I forgot to ask if she’s allergic to anything.

“Is something wrong?”

“All of this for just the two of us?” She stares at the lobsters like they might spring back to life and crawl away.

“Yes and no. The staff will eat whatever is left. Why?”

“This is more food than we’ve ever had in our house at any one time, and it’s just lunch for you.”

Ah, so that’s the issue. “Baby girl, your days of struggling are over now. As long as you’re with me, you can have anything you want or need. I’ll give you the world on a silver platter if you ask for it.”

“This is such a mind-bender,” she mumbles.

“What? What does that mean?”

“This whole setup is crazy. My father may have agreed to let you take me, but I’m technically an adult. I should have had my own say in the matter. I didn’t and that should piss me off to no end. You should be the villain in this story, but so far, you’ve treated me better than anyone else ever has. You’re so big and intimidating, but when you assure me that everything is okay, I believe you. More than that, I feel safe around you despite all the warnings my father told me before. That’s a mind-bender.”

I can’t help but smile because she’s right. It is a mind-bender. I went to the outpost last night expecting nothing more than to beat the hell out of some loser and maybe take his car and his pocket change.

Now, I’m here with this beautiful, young girl. I made her a part of the deal on an impulse, and most of the time we’re together, I’m fighting off a raging erection. I’m almost always hard to the point of pain, and I’ve had more cold showers than I could count for the past twenty-four hours.

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