“A nap? I don’t take naps.”
“You do today. The party might go late, and you’ve been here since five o’clock this morning. That means you’ve probably been up since four thirty. And that means you are taking a nap when we get to the ranch.”
She stared at him like he had ten heads, and none of them were talking sense. But dark circles rimmed the bottoms of her eyes, and she’d yawned three times in the few minutes since he’d arrived.
“I’ll bet you got up about the same time. Are you taking a nap when we get to the ranch, too?”
It was cute she thought that she had him dead to rights. “Is that an invitation?” Her blush returned in full force.
“Tomorrow, I work from two to closing. I’ll need to get to bed early so I can do my errands before work.” She said that, but her gaze dropped to the tabletop, brushing away imaginary crumbs.
“You sure that’s your plan?”
She nodded. “Absolutely.”
She said the word with conviction. What she did not do was look at him. He’d learned soon after meeting her that she had a tell. When she was being less than honest, she dropped her gaze. “So, when I come check on you later, I’ll find you asleep?”
She hesitated but slowly nodded. Once again, without looking up.
If she were his, she’d learn that even white lieswould get her a hot bottom. Ah, damn it. The thought of being her Daddy in times like this, having her over his knee with that luscious ass wiggling to avoid his hand smacking her bottom, hardened his cock. Thankfully, she couldn’t see under the table.
“Seems a lesson on always telling the truth is in order. We’ll take care of that soon enough.”
Kip's gaze shot to him. “A lesson? Wh-what do you mean, a lesson?”
Trace noticed her darkening eyes and quickening breaths. Nice. “I mean the kind delivered across my knee, naughty girl. That is, if you agree to that kind of relationship. Do you understand?”
Again, a slow nod. But this time she held his gaze. As much as he loved having her eyes, this time he needed more. “Words, Foxy. I need to hear you say it. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Trace. I understand. And it’s not that I wouldn’t enjoy being with you...that way. But I’ve already told you I’m leaving town soon. There isn’t really a point in starting something for such a short time.”
“You let me worry about that, sweetheart. Once your shift is over, we'll run by your apartment, then head out to the ranch. When the party’s over, I'll bring you back home, if that’s what you want.”
“I have a car, Trace. I can drive myself.”
Yeah, that wasn't going to happen. “You are so tired you can barely walk, much less drive. We’ll do it my way.”
She scowled, eyes narrow and lips pursed. Adorable. “Has anyone ever told you you’re bossy?”
He feigned surprise. “What? Me? Never. I’m protective, that’s all.”
She huffed a laugh. “Only if protective is spelled B-O-S-S-Y.”
Then it was his turn to laugh.
An hour later, they headed to Kip’s apartment. Trace had ridden by it before. Many times. He’d seen worse, but not much. Atleast it was brick and not siding, but the large window facing the side street had to go. The sidewalk ran directly beside her only window. Anyone walking by could see inside. One heavy rock would be all it took to break in.
That meant she had to choose between living in a dark apartment and leaving her curtains open. And she’d better not be leaving her curtains open. The bottom line was, if someone was after her, the ranch was the safest place for her to be. He needed to make that happen.
The apartment building's door had a keypad. He didn’t know the code, but it was some combination of two, six, seven, and nine because those were the buttons with the numbers almost worn off. He’d find out who owned the complex, making sure they understood the danger they were putting their tenants in, and what would happen if the problem wasn’t addressed.
The door to her apartment had the same type of lock, but at least this one was in better shape. Once they were in, she closed the door and started down the hall. When he stepped past her, she re-engaged the lock and then locked the three other locks someone had attached to the door.
“Are you worried about someone breaking in?”
She glanced over her shoulder, then kept walking down the hall that led to the… well, the room that wasn’t her bedroom. “I just like to err on the side of caution. You never know who might be lurking in the hall and not realize they’re at the wrong door.”
“Right,” he drawled. “Does that happen often?”
