Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“Hello, sweetie, what’s your name?” she asked, petting the sleepy kitten. It started purring. Crap. How could she say no to it now? “Boy or girl?”
“Girl,” Bain answered.
“A girl, I think I’ll call you Queenie.” The kitten nudged her hand for another pat and went off to sleep. Well, seemed like she was now a cat mama.
2
“Sorry I was late to pick you up,” Macca told her as they walked through the front door of their cabin. “I had something I wanted to do before I came and got you.”
“That’s okay. I had fun at Abby’s.” She held Queenie in her arms. “Are you sure it’s all right to adopt Queenie? We don’t have to if you’re not comfortable with it. I know pets can cost a lot—”
“Sweet pea, it’s fine. I wish I’d thought of it. The two of you seem to have bonded. We’ll go online and order some things for her. She’ll need a bed to sleep in and some toys.”
“I can probably find some stuff in the cabin, we don’t have to buy her anything,” she said hastily. She set the kitten down on the sofa.
“I’ve got a gift for you, sweet pea.”
“A gift? You didn’t have to buy me a present.” He’d already been so generous and what had she done for him?
“Hey, what’s that look about?” He walked towards her.
She bit her lip, looking down at Queenie. “Nothing. Just wondering what you bought me.”
“Uh-uh. Nope. That’s not the way things work between us, is it?” His voice had taken on a stern note and her tummy tightened.
She didn’t want to upset or disappoint him.
“No lies, remember?”
“Sorry,” she murmured. She moved her gaze to his, then away.
He gently grasped hold of her chin and turned her face so she had no choice but to look at him. “You can tell me anything, sweet pea. I hope you know that. What’s going on? There’s been something on your mind for a while now. Are you missing home? It’s okay if you are. You can tell me; I won’t be upset.”
She reached out and cupped his face with her hand. His beard had grown a bit longer. It suited him.
“I’m not homesick,” she reassured him. “I love it here. The people on this ranch are so friendly. And it’s beautiful. Most importantly, you’re here.”
He turned his face and kissed her palm. “So what is it? If you don’t like something about the cabin you can change it.”
“No, the cabin is perfect.” It wasn’t large like Penny’s house but she adored it. Two bedrooms, an open-plan living room and kitchen with a huge fireplace. The log cabin was the stuff of dreams to her. And Macca had turned the second bedroom into a playroom for her Little.
“Then what is it, sweet pea?” He placed his hands on his hips and she knew he wasn’t going to be patient for much longer.
“I just. . .I worry that I don’t contribute anything to the finances,” she blurted out. “I don’t have any money. I can’t help with the bills or pay you back for the clothes you bought me or even buy you a gift.”
He frowned.
“Not that I’m not grateful for everything you’ve gotten for me,” she said quickly. She was worried he’d think she didn’t appreciate it all. She did. “I’m just worried you’ll get sick of paying for everything. If I could get a job, I would—”
“Okay, stop, baby. Stop.” He lightly pressed a finger to her lips. “This is my fault.”
She wrinkled her forehead. “What is?”
“You worrying about this. I can’t believe I didn’t think of this. I could tell you that I will always take care of you and I don’t in any way resent supporting you. In fact, I like it.” He pressed a hand to the back of his head. “However, as much as I might enjoy taking care of you in all ways, I don’t want you to feel like you have to ask me for money to buy things you might want or that you’re dependent on me for everything.”
He looked away. “I don’t ever want you to feel like you’re trapped with me because of money.”
She knew he was thinking about his mother. How she’d moved from the US to Australia to be with his father then found herself stuck with an abusive asshole. When she’d finally managed to leave, Penny had helped her financially.
“I would never feel trapped with you,” she said quickly. She reached over and grabbed his hand. “Never.”
He turned back to face her.
“You are not your father,” she told him fiercely.
“I’d never want to be that man. Even though I would never hurt you, I still don’t want you to ever feel that you had to stay with me because you didn’t have the financial means to leave.”