AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Please don’t talk like that, darling. Let me help you get on your feet. Whatever you're running from, it’s not worth you not being here anymore.”
“Ho-how do you know I’m running?” She looked positively horrified.
“You are out in the middle of Cheyenne with only the clothes on your back, darling. I’m not a genius, but I can tell when someone is in trouble.”
“I’m-I’m sort of tired.”
“Let me get you something warm to drink. The ice bath didn’t do your body any favors and you need to stay awake a little longer.”
“I appreciate it.”
With a heavy heart, I stood and went into the kitchen to fix hot cocoa. Something about the young woman pulled at my daddy side. Sure, Elias brought it out every once in a while, but I seldom needed to flex that part of me. Typically, he pushed hard, until the point where I actually threatened a punishment. Heating the water, I frowned. Elias had poked a lot of my buttons last night in particular. He could use a good release. We both could.
Stroking my chin, I had an unusual thought. If this girl needed a daddy as bad as Elias suddenly did, then I was about to have my hands full. Luckily, I had two hands.
Chapter 2
Emma
I was in so much trouble. There was no way this man would let some stranger borrow ice skates and get hurt without getting the cops involved. How could I have been so stupid as to attempt a triple Lutz on a flimsy pond? It was hard to gauge the thickness, and a triple jump after not executing one in over ten years was risky in and of itself.
The handsomely rugged man returned with a steaming cup of hot cocoa. His dark brown hair had little flecks of silver-gray running through it, along with the same salt and pepper strands in his beard. It added to his overall appearance, and I wanted to run my fingers through it.
“Thank you.” I’d said those two words more times to him than I had to anyone else in the past few months. I accepted the mug with a grateful smile. “Do you treat every trespasser with such kindness?”
“We’re in a pretty rural area, darling. A good thirty minutes to real civilization. We don’t get a lot of visitors, invited or otherwise. I don’t routinely rescue trespassers from my pond, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“We? Do you mean the horses?”
“Heh. No, my best friend Elias. He’s got a good forty-minute drive home but you’ll meet him soon. Are you from around here?”
I shrugged. I believed his sincerity when he offered to help me, but I wasn’t allowing myself to fall for this charismatic stranger within an hour of meeting him, and certainly not his best friend. As soon as I warmed up and had my own clothing on, I’d be on my way.
“My name is Lucas. What’s yours?”
“I’m still really cold.” Pulling the blanket tighter with my free hand, I focused on taking small sips of cocoa. It was the best hot chocolate I’d ever tasted.
“Give me something to call you, darling.”
“If I like what you call me, I’ll answer.”
“Brat seems fitting.” He cocked an eyebrow.
Well, damn. I hadn’t expected him to call me out. I was a brat, but it had practically been a lifetime since I’d battled anyone. In another life, I’d lived for the banter. My bratty side threw out playful jabs, hoping for a reaction, but I hadn’t felt safe enough to do so in years.
“I haven’t been called a brat in forever.”
“Perhaps the fire thawed out that side of you.” He chuckled, breaking any tension that had been in the air.
“Well, I don’t plan on sticking around, so don’t get used to it.”
“You are entirely too sassy for someone who took an ice bath an hour ago.”
“It’s not like you’re up to taming my sass.”
“Oh, I’m up for it, darling, but not tonight.”
Blinking rapidly, I wiggled out of his reach. Lucas shook his head, watching me with what appeared to be amusement. If he wasn’t a brat tamer, I’d eat the coffee mug in my hands.
