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She snagged her bottom lip with her teeth. “Well, after I’ve figured out what I can do to help and everyone knows me better, do you think maybe we could contact my sister and see if she might want to come visit?”

It was the first time she’d mentioned her sister, but he didn’t like the way she phrased her question. “No, Tildi. You?—”

“That’s okay. I get it.” Jesus. She’d flinched as if he’d struck her. “I don’t want to put anyone out. I shouldn’t ask for anything after all you’ve already done. I totally understand. Really, I—mph!”

He cut her off with a hand over her mouth and did his best to control his temper by reminding himself she’d never experienced a real family. “You interrupted me, little girl. That will earn you a hot bottom next time.”

Eyes wide, she nodded. He didn’t move his hand. “The reason I said no wasn’t because your sister can’t come visit. I’d love to meet her whenever you’re ready. You don’t have to earn the privilege of having her visit. You don’tearnfamily, babygirl. Youarefamily. This is your home now. That means you can invite anyone you want to visit. I take that back. Not sure I want the General here. At least, not until he and I have had a conversation.” One in which his fists would be doing most of the talking.

She placed her hand on his and pulled it away from her mouth, all the while shaking her head. “You don’t have to have a conversation with him for me, Daddy. I don’t want him to come here.”

“No, Daddy. If this is going to be my home, I don’t ever want the General here. Not ever.”

That sounded good to Boone. “I’m glad we’re on the same page, babygirl. Now let’s go eat, then Kenzie can give us that grand tour.”

CHAPTER 8

Tildi woke up the next morning with Boone spooning her back. She had never slept better in her life. Even in her sleep he kept her safe, warm, and loved. His arm draped across her waist and his calves cradled her ankles.

It was a good thing she didn’t have a preferred side of the bed, too. Boone took whichever side was closest to the door. Stuff like that only happened in romance novels.

So, if she was safe, warm, and loved, then why was she awake? It was still dark outside. Seconds later a strangled scream shattered the night.

She shot straight up in bed, and with no other method of defense, she echoed the scream as loud as she could. Flipping over, she intended to shake Boone awake. Somehow, he’d managed to sleep through all the murder and mayhem. Unfortunately, she flipped a bit too enthusiastically and elbowed him in the eye.

Boone jerked awake, eyes wide and scanning the room for the threat. When he didn’t see one, he looked back at her. “What the hell, Tildi? Are you trying to give me a heart attack? Did you have a bad dream? I’m sorry, babygirl. Here, come cuddle with Daddy.”

He reached for her with one hand. The other rubbed the eye she socked. It was all she could do not to slap his hand away.

Well, that wasn’t true. She kind of liked his hands. Especially when they were doing naughty, wicked things to her. Right now, she had questions. Like how he could sleep through all the screaming.

“I don’t need anything, Daddy, but someone else does. Someone is being attacked or something.” She whispered just in case whoever was strangling people outside had an accomplice inside. Had she brought this to the ranch? Sev’s father had to know where Boone lived.

Boone came alert. “Who was attacked, babygirl?”

“I don’t know, but someone is screaming. I can’t believe you didn’t hear it. Daddy, you have to go help them. They may be dying.”

Before he could ask any more questions, another scream pierced the air. It took all she could do not to scream again, too. It must be something terrible because Boone started shaking.

Wrapping her arms around his shoulders to comfort him, she did her best to bolster his courage. What could make a tough commando rancher shake like that?

A muffled snort broke the silence.

Laughter. Suppressed laughter could make him shake like that.

She was going to smack him with a brick. How much time would she spend in jail for perpetrating perfectly justifiable rude commando Daddy assault?

Tildi tapped Boone’s shoulder to get his attention. With the palm of her hand. Okay, slapped. She slapped his shoulder. “What is so funny? Someone out there is dying.”

Losing the battle to stifle his amusement, Boone’s laughter erupted. She covered his mouth with her hand. The last thing she needed was to have the family come bursting through thedoor and witness her beating up her super buff but very rude commando Daddy.

When he didn’t stop, she bumped him with her shoulder. “Daddy!”

He held up a hand as if he were on an important phone call and needed her to wait. He’d lost his mind. What he didnotlose was the laughter. “It’s not funny! You’re supposed to save people, not laugh at them.”

His laughter disappeared in an instant. With tenderness in his eyes, he lifted her to straddle his middle. “I love that your first thought is to help others, babygirl. It’s hard to remember how new this is to you. That wasn’t a person, bluebell. It was a rooster crowing. Sometimes they sound like the ones you hear in the movies, but a lot of the time they sound like, well, like someone is being murdered. Don’t worry. He’ll stop soon.”

Was he kidding her right now? A chicken? She’d almost peed herself over a man chicken?