Page 33 of A Cowboy Holiday

“She’s a cutie and—” He paused and set his mug aside to peek at his screen. “It’s Josh. Want to talk to him?”

I answered Tanner’s cell with a gruff, “’Lo.”

“Tanner?”

“No, it’s Axel. I stayed here to avoid the round trip and be close if Phee woke early and needed me.” Well, that was a whole lot of information.

Josh probably thought so too, but he was too nice of a guy to call me on over-parenting. “The girls are up now. They’re sitting at the table doing their best to sweet-talk Angie into making chocolate pancakes. She’ll make sure they eat something nutritious too. Are you okay if we keep your kiddo for another hour?”

“I…yeah, um…thank you.”

“Sure thing. She’s been great. Would you like to speak with her?”

“Yes.” I hastily added, “Please.”

Josh passed his phone to Phoebe, and damned if my heart didn’t melt on cue.

“Hi, Daddy! I’m at my sleepover! We’re gonna have pancakes and orange juice, and Abby’s mommy says they have bacon,too. Don’t worry. I’m using please and sank you manners,” she reported in her signature bubbly voice.

“I’m glad to hear that. I love you, sweet pea. I’ll see you in an hour, okay?”

“Love you, too. Bye!” In the background, I could hear her speaking to Josh. “What buttons should I push? This one.” Giggles. And more giggles.

The line went dead and I stared at Tanner’s cell, thinking time was flying so much faster than I was ready for it to go by.

“Is she all right?” Tanner asked.

“She’s happy as a clam. That’s her first sleepover at a friend’s house. You’d think she’d be nervous or a little homesick, but no.”

“That’s because she’s well-adjusted.” He stood abruptly and skirted the island. “I’m hungry. I’m making toast and eggs. You might as well eat something too.”

“If you insist.” I sipped my coffee. “Can I help?”

“No, you can just sit there lookin’ pretty,” he said, tossing my teasing words from last night back at me. Tanner banged a few pots and pans, pulled out a skillet, and marched to the fridge. “I have a meeting in an hour at the office, which gives me time to eat, clean up, and send you off to Josh and Angie’s. Do you like scrambled eggs?”

“Uh…yes. Thanks.”

“No problem.”

Tanner hummed while he worked, swaying his hips to the tune in his head. The unconscious moves churned up a few delicious flashbacks of my dick in his ass. Goose bumps rose on my forearms. Fuck, I wanted him all over again.

I concentrated on my coffee and answered a few perfunctory questions. Did I like bacon? Of course. Did I like orange juice? Sure. What did I normally eat for breakfast?

“Cereal,” I replied. “I make pancakes or waffles sometimes on the weekends for Phee. But I’m usually in a hurry in the mornings. I don’t have time to make anything fancy.”

“Same here, and it’s a shame ’cause I love breakfast,” Tanner said, sliding a huge plate of eggs and bacon in front of me. “Hang tight. The toast is almost ready. I’ll get the butter and jam for us.”

He returned with a plate for himself and another stacked with toast.

“This is great. Thank you.”

Tanner snorted. “You’re welcome, but it’s basic fare. If we had more time, I’d make eggs benedict or a frittata with goat cheese. All fresh ingredients in true farm-to-table style.”

I smiled at his boyish enthusiasm. He brimmed with an almost naïve sense of wonder that might have made me think Tanner was a little simple if I hadn’t known he was the mastermind behind Oak Ridge Ranch.

This man was the opposite of simple and all the more dangerous for it. Anyone guilty of underestimating Tanner Spade would regret it.

“Delicious,” I commented, tucking in with gusto.