Page 192 of Broken Daddy

“That I believe,” she said. “He doesn’t like me doing anything. I can’t even get my own coffee. I’m lucky if I’m allowed to use the toilet on my own.”

Eek. Had she really just said that?

She snuck a glimpse at both of them. Weirdly, they looked kind of relieved. That was odd. And they were smiling.

“I can’t believe I just told you guys that. Sorry. Too much information.”

Eden just smiled. “Don’t worry. If anyone knows how you feel it’s us poor women who live here on Sanctuary Ranch.”

“Poor women?” Zeke growled.

“Yep. We’re constantly bossed around by Neanderthals.” Eden winked at her. “It’s a terrible life. All these gorgeous, sexy men telling us what to do, protecting us, taking care of us.”

Zeke just shook his head at her before walking over to kiss her lightly. “I’m going to go mop up the water in the bathroom. The two of you can sit right here, understand?”

“Oh, I can’t let you do that!” Devi tried to stand but Zeke shot her a stern look and she froze.

“You just stay right where you are,” he ordered, pointing a finger at her. “Until Hayes gets back, you’re under my charge.”

“See what I mean? A total Neanderthal.” Eden shook her head. “So bossy.”

“Are they all like that? All the men who live here?” she asked. It was actually a relief to sit. Her head was swimming and she felt tired.

“Pretty much,” Eden told her. “Some are worse than others. And Hayes . . . girl, you’re in trouble once he learns what you were doing.”

“I was just trying to help. I feel like I owe him. He’s doing so much for me.”

“Well, I wouldn’t lead with that,” Eden advised. “These guys don’t like when you say that you owe them. They do stuff for us because they want to.”

“I just don’t understand why he wants to do this. Why he even wants me here. I know I’m in danger back home, but why does he care so much?”

“Maybe because he cares for you,” Eden suggested. “Because he likes you?”

“He’s still in love with his wife.”

“May was a great person,” Zeke said, walking back into the room without the mop. “She wasn’t overly social; she didn’t really like most people. She was happy on her own or with Hayes. And stubborn, boy was she stubborn. Hayes blames himself for her death because he wasn’t there. However, May had managed her asthma for years and she knew what she was doing. The asthma attack was likely unavoidable and sure, maybe if he’d been with her he could have gotten her help quicker, but that doesn’t mean that she would have survived. We just don’t know. And yeah, Hayes loved her. But that doesn’t mean he can’t love someone else.”

She shook her head. She didn’t believe that at all. May was the one for Hayes.

“Hayes doesn’t feel that way for me,” she explained.

Eden smiled. “We’ll see.”

She searched for some way to change the topic. “Can I get you both a drink? Coffee? Tea?”

“Stay where you are,” Zeke reiterated, shaking his head. “You’re trouble.”

“She’s in trouble,” Eden sung.

Zeke shot her a look. “Oh, like you haven’t been in trouble plenty of times.”

“Pfft.” Eden crossed her arms over her chest, but she was grinning.

“You can’t tell him,” she said suddenly. “You have to promise me.”

“Hmm.” Eden rubbed her chin. “Devi, are you a Little?”

Zeke groaned. “Princess, you’re not supposed to just come out and ask her like that.”