Her Cowboy Daddy by Dinah McLeod Read Free Book Online

be gettin’ in.”
    He locked those hazel eyes on her, and she saw the question in them, in the slight quirk of his mouth. He was giving her an out, if she wanted to take it. Did she?
    “I see you squirming over there,” he commented in his soft, husky voice as the corners of his mouth quirked. “Is your poor bottom still sore, or are you nervous?”
    “I’m fine,” she lied, feeling her cheeks warm under his scrutiny. Damn it, why did he have to read her so easily?
    “I don’t quite believe you,” he murmured, “but I’ll let it slide this time.”
    Scarlett bit down on her bottom lip and flushed even hotter. She didn’t know why she even bothered—the man seemed to be able to read her emotions as though there were captions above her head. Either that, or she was just a terrible liar.
    “I’m not going to pressure you into anything, honey. It’s your decision and I won’t think of you any differently no matter what you decide.”
    Somehow, that made her feel better. “Okay,” she whispered, feeling equal parts excited and antsy all at once.
    “Come on, then, before I do anything to make you change your mind.”
    When he gave her a wink, she couldn’t help but giggle. He hopped out of the truck and walked around to her side, opening the door for her and offering her a hand. She’d never had a man open the door for her—she hoped she didn’t look as slack-jawed with surprise as she felt. She took his hand and let him help her to her feet, giving an involuntary shiver of excitement when Colton placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her to his trailer. Her heart was racing a mile a minute and could have surely powered a motorboat just then.
    Once they were inside, Colton held the door open for her to walk through and shut it behind her, once again making her heart skip a little faster. She wasn’t used to being around men that still believed in being gentlemen—they both stood facing each other, awkwardly smiling and shuffling their feet for a second. She knew why she was here—or, at least she thought she had some idea—but she wasn’t sure what the next step was.
    If Colton’s tapping the toe of his boot on the floor was any indication, neither did he.
    “Would you like something to drink?” he asked at last.
    She nodded, because at least holding a cup would give her something to do with her shaking hands. She suspected he’d had the same thought.
    “What’ll it be? I’ve got sweet tea, water, beer. Hey, how old did you say you were again? Are you legal yet?”
    “Not to drink,” she replied, a little more coyly than she’d intended.
    Colton’s arched eyebrow told her that her comment wasn’t lost on him.
    “Sweet tea is fine, thanks.” She smiled nervously when he brought her the cold glass, grateful to have something to hold onto. “Thank you.”
    “My pleasure, ma’am.” He tipped his hat at her, making her giggle.
    “I can’t believe you just said that.”
    “Why? Too corny?”
    “Maybe just a little,” she said, taking a sip of her drink.
    “Just trying to break the ice a little.”
    When Colton sat down beside her, she couldn’t help but notice that there were only three teeny, tiny inches between them. Such a small space, and yet…
    “Do you think you need a daddy, Scarlett?”
    “W-what?” she stammered, nearly dropping her glass. Her fingers clasped around it just in time and she quickly put it on the coffee table in front of her. She’d been so distracted by the sight of his hard thigh, the one she’d gone over mere hours ago, that she’d almost forgotten why she was there.
    “I said, do you need a daddy?”
    “Um, I…”
    “Look at me when I’m talking to you, young lady.”
    Despite her ever-increasing embarrassment, when he used that gentle, yet firm tone, her eyes were drawn to him like magnets. “I don’t know,” she whispered.
    “See, I think you do. I think the simple fact that you didn’t say ‘hell, no!’ and throw your