one good reason.”
“Just take a look around you.”
I did, then shrugged. “Okay, what am I missing?”
“I can’t give you the kind of life you’re used to,” he said, his jaw clenched. “I’d love nothing more than to be able to provide for you. For you to be my boy. Who wouldn’t? Look at you, for god’s sake. You’re so sweet, but that’s why you can’t stay here. You deserve better.”
I stared mutinously at him. “Ask me what I want.”
“You can’t tell me this is what you had in mind when you left Denver to come here?”
“Why won’t you ask me what I want?” I demanded. “Is it because you’re afraid to hear me say that none of this matters to me? That I just want to be with you?”
He closed his eyes briefly, lips moving, even though they didn’t make a sound.
“This is no place for someone like you. You’re not listening, Opie.”
I dropped the comforter and stood before him, completely naked and not caring how his eyes strayed to my body. I probably shouldn’t put it on display like this when we were arguing over me staying or not, but a boy could use a little help in getting his way, right?
“No, you’re not listening. You’re not the first guy to break things off after a short time of being with me.” I stabbed my finger in his chest. “And I’ve always walked away because it didn’t matter to me. All my life, I’m used to people leaving me, and now you want me to walk away from you? Why? Because you don’t live in the lap of luxury?”
“I am up to my neck in debt, Opie,” he growled out, and I could see how much it took to admit it. “I work longer than most people do, harder than most people do, just to be able to pay my mortgage, so I don’t lose this place. My granddad left it to me. He took me in after my parents kicked me out in my teens, and I just can’t lose this place after I’ve lost him.”
His parents had kicked him out? We weren’t so unalike then as he thought. “It’s terrible that your parents did that.”
“Yeah but granddad made it better. He was always there for me. Always. My focus has to be in keeping this place.”
“And I love that about you. I know it won’t be easy, but I think we can make it work if you give us a chance, Daddy.” I bridged the gap between us and placed a hand on his chest. “Life has been so hard for you. Why won’t you let me be the easy part? Why must we complicate our relationship? I want to be with you, and I know you want to be with me too.”
“How am I supposed to think?” he said with a groan. “You’re naked.”
I smiled up at him. “Am I? I hadn’t noticed.”
“Brat.”
“Your doll.” I gazed up at him, batting my eyelashes, not even hiding that I was trying to seduce him. “Don’t you want your doll to be around whenever you need him?”
“A relationship can’t survive on just sex, beautiful.”
And there it was. The endearment I’d been hoping for ever since he’d come for me at the sheriff’s office.
I wrapped both arms around his neck and hung on. I might have had to jump a little, but at least he didn’t reject me when I latched my legs around his waist.
“You already think I’m sweet, nice, and funny.”
“When did we agree you were funny?”
“Funny,” I repeated, giving him a warning look should he think about contradicting me a second time. “And charming. And—and I really care for you, Daddy. I’ve claimed you as mine, and I never claim people as mine. Only things.”
He frowned. “I don’t know, Opie.”
“I don’t have a job to go back to,” I teased. “Since someone got me fired, it’s only fair that same someone let me stay.”
“The son of a bitch fired you?”
“Yeah, but I don’t care because you stood up for me.”
“Please tell me he paid you what he owed you?”
I nodded. “He did. But it means that I’m a free agent. Can’t we see where this leads?”
“Like give it a trial period?”
I didn’t need a trial period. I already knew this man would be it for me, but if he needed time, I could give him that to get used to having me around. Maddy always said it took time to get used to me.
“Yes, I’ll stay through