Page 9 of Daddy's Pride
“Is it?”
“It is now. Some of the wood had got soft, so I had to replace it.”
Harris hums. “It’s important to have hard wood.”
“Very.”
I let him into the house. “The lounge is through there. I’m sorry I can’t offer you a bed.” Although I’m tempted to offer him space in mine.
I shouldn’t, so I won’t. He’s asked for help. That’s all I should give him.
“I’ll fetch you a blanket and pillow.”
He takes his rucksack off and props it beside the door. “Thanks, Miles.” The way he says my name is deliberate. Would he rather call me something else? I’d rather he called me ‘Daddy’.
I hold his stare for a few seconds, enjoying the light in his grey-blue eyes and the upturn of his lips. “You’re welcome, Harris.” I say his name just as deliberately. I’d rather call him ‘boy’.
Chapter 3
Harris
I sit on the sofa, tapping my fingertips together as I wait for Miles to return with a blanket and pillow. The TV is on, but the news has ended. I’m not interested in the police procedural drama that’s on now, but I don’t want to change the channel or turn the TV off. It isn’t my house.
The lounge is in a state of disarray. Half the wallpaper has been stripped, and there’s no carpet. The sofa and the TV on the floor are the only furniture in the room, and neither is in an ideal place. Not that it matters. I’ll only be sleeping here for one night.
I’m amazed at how easy it was for Miles to suggest I stay here. But maybe I shouldn’t be. He’s giving off major Daddy vibes, and he’s gorgeous. If I’d met him in a pub, club, or kink club, I’d have been very interested in going home with him.
I wasn’t kidding when I told him his eyes were stunning. They fade from a dark blue around the outer edge to a vivid ice blue around his pupils. His dark brown hair has a natural wave and is the perfect length for running my fingers through while still being short. He has a short but messy beard that doesn’t extend down his neck, with some lighter strands shot through it. Add the fact that he’s taller than me with muscles to die for, and I am well and truly in lust with the man. Which probably isn’t entirely appropriate, considering he’s letting me stay here out of the goodness of his heart. Why did the universe drop me in the lap of the world’s most perfect man at the most inopportune time? I hum. I’d like to be on his lap.
“Sorry it’s a mess in here.”
I snap my head round. I’d been so lost in thought I hadn’t been aware of him returning to the room.
“I didn’t mean to scare you.”
I smile. “You didn’t. I was daydreaming.”
He puts a quilt and pillow on the spare sofa cushion. “I’ll leave you to it.” He walks toward the door, clicks his fingers, and turns. “You’ll want to know where the bathroom is.”
“That would be handy.”
“Upstairs, first door on the left.”
“Got it.” Is he going to tell me which room his bedroom is?
“Goodnight.”
“It’s not that late.”
He checks his watch. “No, I suppose it’s not.”
“Tell me more about this place. Why you bought it. What your hopes and dreams are for it. It will help me come up with some marketing ideas for you.”
“You don’t have to do that—Harris.” He leaves a deliberate pause before saying my name.
“I want to. Besides, it has to be more interesting than promoting a cleaning company.”
He chuckles. “I suppose so.”