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Doing his best to ignore his growing attraction to the women across from him, he focused on Sadie. But unlike Allie, she didn’t seem interested in the lights. When he glanced down at her, she was watching Allie and Michelle, the barest hint of a smirk playing at her lips.
“What are you up to, Sadie Marie?” he murmured, keeping his voice soft so their companions couldn’t eavesdrop.
“Me?” The smile she turned on him was brilliant, but the innocence in her wide eyes didn’t seem the least bit genuine. “I’m just enjoying the sleigh ride.”
“Mmhmm. Whatever you’re doing, leave Michelle and Allison out of your plans. Or I’ll have Master Travis drop us off at the big house so I can talk to your Daddy about your meddling.”
As if his words had somehow managed to summon him, the silhouette of a large man on a horse appeared on the horizon, headed straight for the sleigh. Even in the dark, Nick could make out Derek’s form.
“Whoa,” Travis called to the horses, slowing the sleigh to a stop to wait for their interloper.
“Sadie Marie Hawkins, you are in so much trouble, little girl,” Derek growled as he pulled up alongside them. “We are going home, right now.”
“Uh oh. I better go, guys. Enjoy the rest of your ride!” With a quick wave, she stood and let her Daddy haul her up to sit in front of him on the saddle. A flick of the wrists, and the horse took off, leaving Nick alone with the two women he should have been avoiding.
“Wonder what she got herself into this time.” Shaking his head and chuckling, Travis set the sleigh horses in motion once more. “Sorry about that, folks. Hopefully we can finish your ride without any more interruptions.”
It was tempting to have Travis stop again so he could hop off and just walk back to the main building. But on a practical level, he wasn’t a hundred percent sure he could find his way back in the dark. And he was man enough to admit, it was really fucking cold.
Not even bothering to sigh, he shifted in his seat and forced himself to focus on the women seated across from them. It was then, as he caught the scowl on Michelle’s face and the smug smile on Allison’s, that he realized they’d been set up.
He was going tokillSadie.
Allie
“All right, you two. We are not getting off this sleigh until someone tells me what happened last night.” Crossing her arms, Allie gave them each her most intimidating glare. At least, she hoped it was intimidating. She didn’t spend a lot of time trying to look scary, but she was sure she could pull it off when it mattered.
And it had never mattered to her more than it did right this second.
Across from her, Nick raised an eyebrow, his eyes flicking from side to side as if he was trying to decide who to address first. “Would someone like to tell me what, exactly, is going on here?”
“Yes, Allison.” Michelle’s clipped tones had Allie’s tummy doing somersaults. “Please, tell us what you think you’re doing, little girl.”
Refusing to be cowed, Allie lifted her chin and hoped her voice wouldn’t shake and give away how nervous she was now that she was trapped with two very annoyed, very bossy people. “Something happened last night, and you’re both obviously upset about it, but since nobody will talk tomeabout it, then you’re going to talk to each other.”
“There is nothing to talk about. We had a nice scene and that was the end of it, apparently.” Despite the chill in Michelle’s voice, there was a ripple of hurt beneath the words that made Allie’s heart ache. If Shelly was hurting, it was her fault, because this whole trip had been her idea.
“Nick?” Allie prompted when the silence between them stretched to the point of being unbearable.
“Exactly what Michelle said.”
“Ugh!” Beyond frustrated with the both of them, Allie jumped to her feet and threw her hands in the air. But unfortunately for her, the sleigh jostled at the same moment, and she lost her balance, falling backward, her arms flailing helplessly as she toppled over the side of the sleigh.
“Allie!” Michelle’s horrified scream shattered the still quiet of the Ranch just as a pair of strong hands grabbed Allie’s arms and hauled her back up into the sleigh.
“Jesus, are you okay?” Pulling her onto his lap, Nick wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to his broad chest as he rocked her comfortingly from side to side.
Oh. Was this what it felt like to be held by a Daddy? Whimpering softly, Allie snuggled into his embrace, letting the warmth and strength of his arms calm the wild beating of her heart.
“Is she okay? Is she hurt?”
“I’m fine, Shelly. Just scared me.”
“Well, you scared me, too! I swear, I should blister your butt right here for that little stunt!”
Wriggling out of Nick’s arms, Allie twisted around to glare at her. “It wasn’t a stunt! I was just frustrated because you two are being so fucking stubborn!”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she knew she was sunk. Michelle wasn’t super strict about her swearing, but she was never, ever allowed to swearather like that. And Nick had already warned her about her language, even though he’d admitted he didn’t have the right to. Somehow, she doubted that argument was going to work in her favor.
