Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 45946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45946 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Maybe he was already taken, but a girl could dream. And she’d never had anyone talk to her or treat her like he did. With acceptance and caring. Her dad had loved her, but he hadn’t always understood her. Same with Uncle Tim. It was a bit sad that she’d felt more acceptance with a stranger than she ever had with the majority of her family.
As a truck pulled up, she set Snickerdoodle into the backseat and got out with a sigh. Time to adult again. Which really sucked.
CHAPTER 4
“Are you sure you’re okay to drop me off at Rawhide Ranch?”
Barren glanced over at Phoebe. She was tense as she sat in his passenger seat, her hands twisting together nervously. She raised her thumb to her mouth, chewing on the nail. He wanted to tell her to stop, but he didn’t really have that right.
Roadside assistance had been unable to get her vehicle going, so they were towing it to the closest garage in Porter’s Corner. They’d offered to give her a lift, but he’d been able to tell that she was uncomfortable with that.
So he’d opened his mouth and said he would drop her off. Probably a really dumb idea. He should be driving to Missoula so he could catch his early morning flight. But he just didn’t seem to be able to say goodbye to this girl. “Of course it’s fine.”
“Aren’t you heading home, though? Are you driving?”
“No, I have a flight back to Connecticut in the morning.”
“Oh, you live in Connecticut? It’s so pretty there. I used to go to New York a lot with my dad. We also visited Connecticut a few times.”
“Is this your first time visiting Rawhide Ranch?” he asked her.
“Uh-huh. I’m a bit nervous.”
“Don’t be. Everyone here is really nice, and they’ll take care of you.”
Just don’t let anyone take care of you too well.
“Have you ever been in a relationship with a Daddy before?” he asked her.
She shook her head. “No. Never. I’ve dated before, of course. I was with my high school boyfriend for years. He wasn’t a Daddy, though. That was before I even knew that I was a Little. He broke things off after five years because he said I wasn’t mature enough for him. That he wanted someone who would settle down and be serious. I just… what’s the point of being serious all the time? You only get one life; can’t it be a fun one?”
He hummed as he thought over his own life. Had it been fun? Or had he spent most of it working hard to provide Krystal with everything that she wanted? Catering to all her needs because that fulfilled something inside him… only, had it made him happy?
Sometimes.
Maybe not at the end.
“You don’t agree. I get it. I should be an adult and knuckle down. Do my job. Stop playing around.”
“Hey, don’t put words in my mouth.” They reached the gates and he spoke to the guard briefly, showing him Phoebe’s papers before he let them through. “That’s not what I said. It’s okay to have fun. Sometimes you have to be serious too, though.”
“I know. Anyway, after we broke up, I started reading Daddy Dom books and something inside me just clicked. I knew why I’d felt… different all my life. I’ve never really felt like I fit in until I found a group of Littles online who all follow my favorite author. They became my friends, my team, my family. And they’re the ones who told me about Rawhide. But I’ve only just managed to find the courage to visit.”
“You’re being very brave. It took me a while to work up the courage to visit too.”
“Really?” She glanced over at him skeptically. “You?”
“Yep. I was nervous. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Or what would happen. You have this. You’re going to have a great time.”
She took a deep breath and nodded, then turned to him. “Thank you for dropping me off.”
Barren raised his eyebrows. “None of that. I expect a proper goodbye. After I carry your bags inside. Now, wait there until I come around and open your door.”
“Barren?” She reached out and grabbed his hand and he stilled.
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he replied huskily.
“I thought you’d be back, but I didn’t know it would be so soon.”
Barren turned toward Derek, shaking his head. “I’m not staying.”
“No?”
“I’m just dropping Phoebe off, then I’ll be leaving.”
Derek nodded, glancing over at where Phoebe was smiling as Erika spoke to her.
“Where did you find her?” Derek asked.
“Her vehicle had broken down. It’s been towed to Porter’s Corner. Someone will have to drive her in to get it once it’s fixed.”
“We can arrange that.”
Barren frowned, feeling unhappy about that but unsure why.
“We’ll take care of her,” Derek reassured him. “The way we do all our guests.”