Page 20 of Daddy's Pride

“Yes. If you want to.”

“Miles, I—You’ve already done so much for me. I can’t impose on you any longer.”

“You’re not an imposition. Besides, I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t mean it. Stay another night.”

I open and close my mouth. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Thank you?”

“Yes, of course. Thank you.”

“That’s settled. I’m going to make the bed.”

Is it wrong that I want to follow him so we can make it messy again?

I slip my phone into my pocket and bounce up. “And then will you show me around?”

He smiles. “Whatever you want, boy.”

Chapter 6

Miles

As I show Harris around the property, a pit opens in my stomach and gets bigger and bigger. I made a huge mistake buying it. I don’t have the money to do it up or the know-how to run a successful business.

“You look like you misplaced a winning lottery ticket.” Harris puts his hands on my waist and stares at me through concern-filled eyes.

We’re standing at the start of the assault course, currently the only fully usable thing on the property. I’ve put a lot of love, care, and attention into revitalising the course. Some of the obstacles were repairable, but the rest had to be replaced. Signs provide brief explanations of what to do in words and pictures and also a ‘duck-out’ route if someone really can’t do an obstacle. Not everyone likes heights, for example. I’m proud of what I’ve done. It’s a shame I’m the only person who’ll ever use the course.

“I told you. This place is a money pit. I shouldn’t have bought it.”

“It could be amazing, Daddy.”

“You really think so?”

“Yes, especially if you think bigger than the assault course.”

I frown. “Think bigger?”

“You’ve got so much land you could make this into an outdoor activity centre. You could build an abseiling and climbing wall for a start. Oh! You could add a high zip line off that. Kids would love it. What about archery? You’ve got space to build a barn to have it indoors or space outdoors. You could do both. Axe throwing would be fun.”

I scratch my beard. “That all sounds like it would cost a lot.”

Harris turns toward the woods. “Think free.”

“Think free?”

He laughs. “Is there an echo here?”

I snort and shake my head.

“Orienteering. You’d need maps and compasses and mark the control points, but that wouldn’t cost much. Nature walks. I bet there are tons of interesting flora and fauna in these woods. What about night lining?” He’s animated as he gestures this way and that. He’s beautiful.

“You’re full of ideas, aren’t you, boy?”

He turns and grins. “Do you like my ideas?”

I pull him against me and graze my lips over his. “Yes.”