Page 13 of Filthy and Fierce (Stone Cold Cowboys #1)

DIXON

There’s nothing like waking up to the sound of a shotgun being cocked.

I peel open one eye, and my worst nightmare has come to life. Charlie Allen is standing over me while his daughter has her naked body pressed against mine.

He’s staring at me down the barrel of his rifle and he’s spitting mad. “I’m going to kill you, Dixon Chase.”

Faith gasps, and I wrap an arm around her. “Now calm down, Charlie.”

“Get the hell away from my daughter.”

I kiss Faith’s forehead. “Stay here, princess.”

Charlie growls, and I get out of the bed, making sure to keep Faith covered. I stand up buck naked and pull my jeans up my legs. Charlie is shaking the gun at me. “I trusted you. She’s my daughter… She’s not some buckle bunny.”

I hold my hands up. “I know she’s not, Charlie.”

“What were you thinking? ”

Faith raises up, holding the sheet to her chest. “Dad, stop it. I came on to him. This was my idea.”

Charlie won’t even look at his daughter. “Honey, stop. This is not your fault.”

She climbs out of the bed, wrapping the sheet around her. “Dad, stop it. I’m a grown woman even if you don’t want to treat me like one. This is not Dixon’s fault.”

I put my hand on Faith’s bare shoulder. “Faith, baby, please let me handle this.”

Charlie shakes the gun at me. I know he won’t shoot me even if he wants to. “Get your fuckin’ hands off my daughter.”

“Dad! Stop it right now. Look, this is between me and Dixon. We both went into this knowing what it is, and we’re both happy with the situation.”

But Charlie is not hearing any of it. “You’re ten years older than her, Dixon.”

I put an arm around Faith and pull her against me. She’s surprised, but I don’t let her go. “Charlie, listen to me and listen real close. I love your daughter.”

Father and daughter both gasp. Faith’s eyes bug out of her head as she peers up at me. “Dixon?”

I wish the first time I’d told her, we were alone and could talk about it, but it is what it is.

“Charlie, listen. Give us five minutes. Let us get dressed, and I’ll meet you outside.

I just need you to listen to what I have to say, and if you still want to shoot me or hit me with the butt of your gun, you can. I won’t fight you.”

“Dixon!” Faith gasps.

I squeeze her shoulder. “Honey, it’s okay. You’re his daughter, and I can’t blame him for this. One day when we have a daughter, I’m going to ground her until she’s thirty-five.”

Speechless, her mouth falls open, and she just stares up at me. I know I’m pushing my luck, but I kiss her forehead again before looking at her father. “Charlie, please. Five minutes.”

He lowers the gun and glares at me. “Parking lot in five minutes, Chase. You better show up.”

He finally looks at his daughter. “Get dressed. You’re going with me.”

I move to stand in front of Faith, and Charlie’s face twists in anger. “She’s free to go when she wants, but she’s going to stay here and get dressed. I don’t want her down there while you and me talk in case it gets ugly.”

Charlie glowers at me. “I may be old, but you won’t get the best of me. You took advantage of my daughter.”

That hurts. I thought he knew me better than that, but I have to remind myself this is his daughter. I can’t blame him for anything he’s feeling. “I won’t fight you, Charlie. No matter what you say to me, think of me, or do to me, I won’t fight you.”

“You think I can’t take you? I can. I can kill you right now and not think twice about it.”

Faith exclaims, “Dad!”

I shake my head. “I’m not going to fight you because you’re my mentor. You’re the closest thing to a dad I have, and you’re the father of the woman I love. I won’t fight you.”

Charlie stomps his foot. “I’ll see you in the parking lot.” He looks at his daughter. “Faith, you coming?”

She shakes her head. “I’ll be down in a little while, Dad. ”

He doesn’t like it, but at least he doesn’t try to force her. As soon as he walks out the door, Faith pulls from my arms. She takes off the sheet and is gathering her clothes. “That was good, Dixon. I mean, I don’t like to lie to my dad, but maybe he won’t kill you now.”

I pick up my T-shirt and pull it over my head as Faith continues rambling. “This is actually kind of perfect. We can get through the weekend, and when we break up, I’ll just act like I’m over you, and we can end it. No harm, no foul.”

“Faith.”

But she doesn’t stop. “You sure were quick on your feet, but I really do think this is for the best. He’ll forgive you if he thinks you have real feelings for me and?—”

“Faith,” I say a little louder this time.

She is fully dressed now, putting her long red hair into a ponytail. “What?”

I walk over to her. “I wasn’t lying to your dad. I do love you.”

Hope flairs in her eyes, but she shakes her head. “No, you don’t.”

I tilt my head to the side and smile at her. “Princess, I think I know what I’m feeling.”

“But—” she starts, but I don’t let her finish.

“Faith. I know this is fast. I know I’m ten years older than you, and I know you may want different things than what I can offer you, but I do love you, and I would do everything I can to make you happy. I want to build a home with you. I want to have babies with you… I want it all.”

Her eyes widen in disbelief or like I’m speaking a foreign language. “Dixon? ”

I stop when we’re toe to toe. “I love you, Faith.”

She’s speechless as she stares at me.

My stomach knots. “You don’t have to decide anything now. I know I’m rushing you but?—”

She puts her hands at my waist. “I love you too, Dixon.”

I let out a breath in a big whoosh of air. She dives into my arms, kissing me like there’s no tomorrow. I wish I could stay right here, but I need to go and see her dad before he comes back up here.

I break off the kiss. “I need to go talk to your dad.”

She walks over to her boots, and I do the same. As I’m tugging mine on, I tell her, “I want you to stay up here.”

She scrunches her nose up. “You’re not fighting my battles for me, Dixon. He’s my dad. I’ll just explain things and?—”

“Princess, this is our battle, and as your man, I’m going to talk to your dad. Okay?”

She doesn’t like it, but she nods her head. “Okay. Fine.”

I kiss her again and promise her I’ll be back.

As soon as I walk out of the room, I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to convince her dad because this is probably the most important conversation I’ll ever have.

I pass a few cowboys I know on the way. I’d normally stop and talk but not today. Today, I’m focused because I have to make this right.

By the time I find Charlie standing next to his truck and trailer, any hope that he has calmed down is gone when I see him pacing back and forth, still shaking his gun in his hand .

I’m not sure how he got through the hotel with it, but most people know the legend Charlie Allen, so they probably don’t question him much.

I stop a few feet away from him. “I really am sorry, Charlie.”

He sets the gun on the bed of his truck and then puts his hands into fists. “Sorry for what? Betraying my trust, using my daughter?—”

As calmly as I can, I shake my head. “I didn’t use your daughter. I wasn’t lying up there, Charlie. I love Faith, and I want to make a life with her.”

He spits out the words in disgust. “What kind of life? You’re a cowboy through and through.”

I shrug. “So are you.”

He slaps his hand on his pant leg. “Exactly. That’s what I’m saying. I sent her to school because she deserves more than this life, Dixon. And now what? One look from you and she’s throwing it all away?”

I put my hands on my hips. “Sir, she’s not throwing away anything. Whatever she wants to do, I’ll support her. I’ll be the man she needs.”

He shakes his head. “Dixon, you know how I feel about you. You’re like a son to me, and maybe I could live with this, but you don’t know. The ranch that I love, her mother hated it and resented me for it.”

I jut my chin at him. “Is that why you don’t want Faith there?”

He finally looks at me instead of over my shoulder. “Is that what you think? You think I don’t want her there? Hell, I love it when she’s there, but I don’t want her to resent me for it.”