Page 10 of Daddy’s Little Duckling (Ivory Mountain Daddies #1)

CHAPTER TEN

RAELYN

R aelyn

After the hiccup of the eggs choosing violence, their breakfast went smoothly. Emmett fed her bites of his pancakes until she shook her head and didn’t want another bite. She thought it was sweet that he wanted to share his food with her even though he didn’t have to.

The waitress came by and dropped off the check not long after they were done eating. Rae turned and grabbed her wallet from her backpack to pay for her portion of the meal.

“What do you think you’re doing, Duckling?” Emmett spoke in a low tone of voice. Raelyn paused trying to think of a way to answer his question.

“Oh, ummmm, well I was getting out money to pay for my food.”

The scowl that formed across his face was immediate. She knew then that she hadn’t given him the answer he was wanting and she wanted to take back her words.

“Anytime I take you out on a date, I will pay,” Emmett stated to her while placing his card on the table for the waitress to pick up.

Rae didn’t know how to respond to that. She wasn’t used to people wanting to pay her way. Once she was old enough to work, her parents no longer purchased things for her or paid for her food if they went out together.

There were many times that she went without because they didn’t want to help and she didn’t have the extra money to cover what she needed.

Her ex wasn’t any better. He told her from their first date that they would always split bills fifty-fifty, though more times than not it seemed like he never actually paid anything and she was always the one who had to pick up his slack.

“You don’t have to pay my way when we are together. I don’t mind paying for my half of the things, especially since I didn’t eat what I had ordered.”

She didn’t think that the scowl on Emmett’s face could get worse. “I should just pay for the whole thing since I ended up eating half of your breakfast anyway.”

Rae glanced away and started to pick at the skin around her nails.

It was a nervous habit that she had and during times of stress, she reverted to it though she has been trying to do better about not destroying the skin.

She finally got them healed up a few days ago and this was going to be a huge setback for her.

“Eyes on me, Raelyn. I want to make sure I have your full attention.” She looked up and waited for his next words.

“When I tell you that I will be doing something, I one hundred percent mean what I say. I don’t just say things to make me feel better about myself. You will never pay for anything when you are with me. Do I make myself clear?”

Rae nodded her head before remembering that he wanted verbal answers when answering a question. “Yes, Sir. I won’t push the issue again. ”

Emmett gave her a flash of the gorgeous smile that she had grown to love and seemed pleased with her response. He signed the check, helped her out of the booth, and out of the diner.

Walking back to his truck, Emmett opened the door for her before lifting her into the truck. He grinned at the surprised look on her face.

Leaning over and buckling her up, Rae couldn’t stop the small gasp from coming out when Emmett’s arm brushed across her chest.

“Got to keep my Little girl safe,” Emmett stated before smiling at her and closing the door to head to his side.

Raelyn watched as he slid into his seat and cranked the truck. Giving him the directions that he asked for, she sat back content as he pulled away from the dinner and started heading towards her favorite grocery store.

Glancing over at him she noticed that Emmett held his hand palm up between them. Sliding her hand into his, she couldn’t stop the blush that crept across her cheeks as she watched him lift their hands to his mouth and kiss her before settling them in his lap.

“Are you sure you want to do this with me?” she asked a little while later as they sat in the parking lot of the grocery store she frequented. Her anxiety was already a little elevated after the issue with the eggs, but nothing that she didn’t think that she couldn’t handle.

“There’s no place else I would rather be.” he replied before sliding out and heading around to help her before they headed inside to shop.

A little while later, after they had spent time unloading all the groceries that she had purchased for the week, Rae and Emmett settled in to have a quick lunch.

“Can you tell me now where we are going?”

She heard Emmett chuckle before shaking his head. “Little One, I do believe that you will be happier if it remains a surprise.”

Sighing and finishing her sandwich, Rae cleaned up the small mess from lunch before Emmett slid her coat back on her arms and they headed out the door to her next surprise.