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Now it was my turn to laugh, and God how the sensation felt strange. But also good. I didn’t laugh often. Didn’t smile often either. But the laughter rumbled from my chest, and I even felt it in my stomach.
Lower, I experienced something else entirely.
All at once, my jeans became even tighter. Constricting.
Before I could turn to pick up my tool bag, I noticed Gemma’s gaze had drifted to my crotch.
I also noticed she flushed a deeper shade of pink.
Jesus. I needed to get a grip.
I spun on my heel and grabbed my tool bag and the pieces of trim. “Sorry I bothered you, Gemma. I’ll come back later.”
“Wait! You can stay. You can install the trim now. It won’t bother me.” There was a hopefulness in her voice that I couldn’t ignore, and I didn’t want to see her looking sad again, so I turned around to face her while holding the tool bag in front of my crotch.
“Are you certain you don’t mind?” I wanted to be sure. I didn’t want to scare her. She was a woman alone in a house with a man she’d just met. Landlord or not, she would have every right to want me gone.
“I’m certain.” She offered me a sweet, reassuring smile that made me want to scoop her up in my arms and press a kiss to her forehead.
The affectionate and protective urges she was drawing from me left me so stunned, I forgot to breathe for a few seconds.
“Well, then, I’d better get to work,” I said after I recovered from the shock. I fled her bedroom and hurried to the kitchen, my heart pounding nearly as fast as my dick. I was rock hard and a bit breathless.
I didn’t feel like myself at all. Flustered. For the first time in forever, I’d gotten flustered in front of a woman.
Also, for the first time in forever, I’dlookedat a woman. Actually looked at a woman and desired her. Ached for her.
Guilt visited me a moment later, and my excitement started fading.
Since Trisha’s passing, I’d never thought I would experience an attraction to another woman again. My reaction to Gemma had shaken me to my very core. With an unsteady hand, I gathered the tiny nails I needed to secure the trim to the bottom of the cabinets.
As I worked, I heard soft footfalls behind me. I peeked over my shoulder and nearly dropped the hammer. Gemma was standing in the middle of the kitchen wearing a light pink dress that hugged her bosom but flared outward. Ruffles adorned the hem and the sleeves of the dress, and she wore a pair of matching pink sandals. Her sleek golden waves were secured with a white headband that had tiny pink flowers on it.
Adorable.
Not for the first time in her presence, I forgot how to breathe as I stared at her.
Yes, she was most definitely a little.
You can call me Daddy.
I still couldn’t believe I’d said that.
“I would offer you some coffee or something to drink,” she said with a glance around the kitchen, “but I’m afraid I haven’t been grocery shopping yet.” Her stomach promptly rumbled, and she flushed as she tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear.
I hurried to place the final touches on the trim, then jumped to my feet. All the other work I had waiting for me today vanished from my mind. The only thing that mattered was Gemma’s comfort and well-being. The little girl was hungry, and I wanted to see her fed. I also wanted to make sure she got groceries in the house soon. The desire to take care of her needs was so strong I couldn’t ignore it.
“Actually, Gemma, I’d like to take you out for breakfast. Kay’s Diner? It’s a short drive from here and they have the best pancakes in the world.” I held my breath as I awaited her response.
Her face brightened. “Well, I don’t normally go to breakfast with complete strangers who break into my house,” she said in a teasing voice, “but you look really cute in that cowboy hat, so sure, why not? Plus, I really love pancakes.”
CHAPTER5
GEMMA
I was openly flirtingwith the handsome rancher and we both knew it. I felt reckless but also free.
I reminded myself that I could be whoever I wanted to be in this town, but I would always be a little at heart, no matter how grown-up I tried to present myself on the outside.
