Page 6 of Daddy's Pride
“You’re—not?”
I sip my coffee tentatively. It’s still too hot to drink comfortably. “No.”
I definitely don’t imagine him shivering in response to the firm but gentle tone of my voice. Maybe he is a boy… Not that I should be thinking about that. He needs my help, and that’s the end of it.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to sleep on the sofa. My spare room is full of decorating equipment.”
“I noticed the hallway needs a bit of TLC.”
“Was that before or after you were searching for an axe?”
He laughs. “During.” He cradles his coffee mug in his hands and blows over it gently. “Have you lived here long?”
“A few months.”
“You did this room up?”
“Yes. Having somewhere to cook was my first priority.”
“I bet. You’ve done a great job.”
“Thanks.” It’s nice having him praise me. What’s even nicer is the way he’s staring at me, his expression caught between admiration and something I’d swear is desire.
“Are you going to reopen the outdoor centre?” He blushes, which intensifies the red in his hair and stubble. “You look like the outdoor type.”
“That was the plan.”
“Was?”
“Buying this place seemed like a good idea at the time, but I don’t know how to run an outdoor activity centre, let alone promote one.” Why am I telling him this? He’s a stranger.
“I can’t help with the first problem, but I can give you some promotion tips to thank you for letting me stay tonight.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” I bite my tongue before I can add ‘boy’.
“Yes… I do.” Why was there an odd pause between his first two words? Was he going to slip another word in between?
I’ve been alone too long. I drink my coffee. Hopefully, the caffeine hit will stop me from imagining words that haven’t been spoken. Not this time at least. Not at all. He didn’t say ‘Daddy’.
“Are you?”
“Am I what?”
“The outdoor type.” He takes his time running his gaze over me.
It’s nice to have a man admiring me, especially one as pretty as he is. He is checking me out, isn’t he?
“I’m ex-army.”
He widens his eyes. “That explains it.”
“Explains what?”
He waves his hands. “Nothing. Ignore me. I should get some things from the car. Clothes. My phone charger. Toothbrush.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“You don’t have to.”