Page 168

"For fuck's sake, old man."

Charlie jumps at my voice.

I immediately lower it. "Sorry, peanut."

Dean glares at me. "Don't cuss in front of my granddaughter."

I stare at him, my heart racing.

He gets up and walks out of the kitchen.

I follow him. "You're paying the entire bill. How the hell is that charity?"

"Because I'm getting something I didn't earn."

"It's a buying price."

"It's your price."

"Jesus, you're stubborn."

He spins. "You think I'd still own this place if I wasn't?" He goes and stands in front of the window with Charlie on his hip, looking out into the dark night.

For the first time, I don't see the hard-ass father who threatened to kill me. I see a rancher. One who probably spent his entire life fighting to hold on to this place. So I change my tone. "I'm not trying to take anything away from you. I'm trying to stop some asshole from charging my daughter's granddaddy four times what he charges us for the same damn thing."

Dean doesn't answer.

I push, "You pay your bill. Every penny. Nothing comes out of my pocket. Everything stays separate. Separate invoices. Separate orders. Whatever you want."

"No."

Goddammit.

I rub my jaw.

Then Charlie reaches up and grabs the brim of his hat.

So I move into guilt.

I point at my daughter. "Thought the goal was to pass this land down so Charlie gets to enjoy it someday."

Dean freezes. His eyes slowly move to mine. "You gonna guilt me?"

"Yep."

His eyebrows shoot up.

"Not even gonna deny it."

"You're something else," he says.

"Been told that."

Charlie almost knocks his hat off trying to steal it.

He fixes it and murmurs, "Little thief."

She squeals.