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Chapter Three
Daisy
I’ma bundle of nerves all day. It’s a good thing it doesn’t take much focus for me to care for the plants at the nursery where I work because I keep tripping over the water hose and stumbling over my own two feet. I know it’s because I’m nervous about tonight. I have no clue what to expect from this man I hardly know.
And, frankly, that terrifies me. I might not be afraid of snakes or bugs or coyotes. I’ve been baiting my own fishing hook since I was five years old. I’m a regular tomboy. Fearless. But the thought of dinner with one darkly alluring, mysterious man has me jumping at every turn.
Damn him.
I’m still fuming about how Nick had coerced me into going out with him tonight. I realize that on some level I should be flattered that a man as hot as him even wants to go out with me, but I just can’t get over the way he steamrolled me into it.
So what if he’s gorgeous? The man’s been rubbing me the wrong way from the moment I met him. Reprimanding me for saving an innocent animal. Ordering me around. Staring at me with his gorgeous eyes like he owns me or something.
I’ll be damned if I let him get away with it.
I’m still in a pissy mood when I stalk into the house when I get home, letting the screen door slam shut behind me.
“What’s got your panties all in a twist, Daisy Doo?” my dad asks me from where he’s sitting with his feet propped up in his Lazy Boy recliner. He’s still wearing his work clothes, so I can tell he just came in from where he works on the farm up the road. Mom will kill him if she sees him sitting on the furniture without changing out of his dirty clothes first.
I groan. “I have a date tonight.”
I watch as my dad’s brow furrows in confusion. “I know I’m getting old, honey, but shouldn’t you be happy about that? Not looking like you just swallowed a fly?”
“I’m fine, daddy,” I tell him before going over to place a kiss on his forehead. “Just had a long day at work.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. My day had seemed overly long with me stressing all day about tonight.
“Is McAllister working you too hard?” Dad frowns. “You need me to have a talk with him?”
“No,” the last thing I need is my dad telling my boss to cut me some slack. I’d never live it down. The guys who work at the nursery with me already tease me enough as it is and try to outdo me in everything.
“I’m fixing to go take a shower and get cleaned up. I suggest you do the same before Mom comes home and sees you like that.” I raise an eyebrow at him, and he sighs, knowing I’m right.
I glance at the grandfather clock in the living room and wince when it begins to chime six times.
Crap. I’ve only got an hour until I have to endure whatever Nick has in store for me.
* * *
Daisy
I try to tell myself that I couldn’t give a shit less what Nick thinks about how I look, that I’m not going to go out of my way to dress up for the man who gave me practically no choice in this matter, but I still find myself putting on a strapless little black dress that I only ever wore once—to a dance in high school, no less. I just don’t have very many fancy clothes. With not much occasion to wear them, why bother? When I’m not working at the nursery, I’m usually wandering around outside anyway. I hate being cooped up in the house, and I like to be comfortable.
The only reason I’m not stubbornly wearing something more casual is because I’d be mortified if Nick took me somewhere kind of fancy and I stood out like a sore thumb. Not that there are many fancy joints around here, but you never know.
I refuse to let him make a fool out of me. That’s all. It has absolutely nothing to do with the way the dress clings to my curves or shows off my legs.
And the only reason I put on the barest hint of makeup is because it complements the dress. I’m not purposefully trying to make my eyes pop with the mascara that only makes my lashes look longer.
The one thing I absolutely do not bother with is my hair. I wear it long and loose and wild. I know I could straighten it and that would make it look sleek and beautiful, but I don’t want him to think I’ve put too much effort into my appearance.
Because I haven’t at all.
When I see it’s about ten till seven, I walk downstairs, determined to go outside and meet Nick before he has a chance to come to the door. I don’t want to go through the motions of introducing him to my parents when we absolutely will not be doing this ever again.
My annoyance instantly flares when I hear voices rising up to meet me as I walk down. I hear Mom and Dad talking, but they’re not only talking to one another.
Damn him.
Nick’s ass is lounging on our living room sofa like he owns the damn place while he smiles charmingly at my parents and tells them all about the software company he owns.
