Page 238 of Cowboy Daddies

“Are you nervous?” she asked.

“No. But I was before we had this chat. I thought you might tell me to jump off the nearest cliff.”

She snorted. “Hardly. Can you keep a secret?”

“I think so,” he replied.

“Any woman would jump on the chance to have you take care of them.”

“Is that so? And it’s a secret?”

“Well, I don’t want them lining up down the driveway, do I?” She grinned as he let out a small chuckle.

“Can you keep a secret?” he asked her.

“Uh-huh. I’m great at keeping secrets.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve done anything like this. So perhaps I’ll do something to mess up.”

“Not you. You’re perfect.”

“I am far from perfect, baby. But thank you for the vote of confidence.”

She shrugged. She still thought he was perfect.

“So what now?”

“Hmm. Well, you should get to bed. It’s well past your bedtime.”

“I don’t have a bedtime.”

“You do now.”

Yikes.

“Maybe I should have thought more before I agreed to this,” she murmured.

“Changed your mind already?” He raised an eyebrow.

“No. No, I haven’t. I shouldn’t have a bedtime unless I’m Little, though, right?”

“No, I think a bedtime is a good idea for you every night.”

“That seems unfair,” she grumbled. “What is my bedtime?”

“Ten.”

“Ten?” She gasped so dramatically that she nearly fell off the counter.

He picked her up and carried her out of the bathroom. Then he headed toward the stairs.

“I thought that was quite generous. I could make it earlier if you like.”

“No, no, ten is fine,” she said hastily.

At her door, he hesitated. “Is it all right if I enter your bedroom?”

They were really doing this, huh?