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Tutting, I pull the door handle. Grasping the seat belt, I lean over Shellby to buckle her into place. Happy she’s secure, I drop to a crouch in the open doorway. “What was I unclear about?”

Shelby’s cheeks flush.

“When I say wait, I mean wait.” I pause, watching her features shroud in confusion. “You don’t open a door when I’m here to do it for you. It’s bad manners on my part.”

Shelby frowns. “I can open a door.”

“I know.” I nod. “But I’d rather do it.”

She stares at me for a moment before nodding. “Okay.”

“Okay?” I check.

“Okay,” she agrees with an easy shrug.

Happy that she’s not fighting me on this, I knock her under the chin with my forefinger as I stand. “Good girl.”

Carefully, I close the door, then head to the office to lock up just as Kathy leaves the building.

CHAPTER NINE

Shelby

Blowing out a breath, I try to cool my face. Why is Leonard insisting I follow an order so hot?Get a grip, Shelby.

But instead of arguing that it’s not 1912 and I can open any damn door I want, I’m sitting here with a flushed face and wet panties.

Is that what it’s like with my mystery man? Does he take charge? Do I even wake up for him? But the truth is, the answers don’t matter because when I wake up, the feelings left in my body are arousal and contentment. Whatever happens in the time I lose each year is something that I very much want and crave.

Is that why I feel like I’m cheating?

Going out for dinner with Doc and Riley is the closest thing to a date that I’ve ever had. How can I date when I already have a man that I want, even if I don’t know who he is? But as Leo slides into the seat beside me, it doesn’t feel wrong. In fact, nothing has felt this right in a long time.

Lost in thought, I startle when a large hand squeezes my knee.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“No, I’m sorry. I was a million miles away.”

I expect him to pull away, but the longer his hand stays there, the damper my panties get.

“Why is Riley with you?”

I roll my eyes, earning a squeeze from his hand. A warning.

“Sorry,” I mutter, remembering his past reprimands. This man is all about manners. Disappointment fills me when his hand joins the other on the steering wheel. “Riley came over to my house a few hours ago. She was crying and scared.”

Doc looks at me for a second before turning back to the road. “Where was Sarah?” he asks, his tone brimming with disbelief.

“I don’t know.” I shrug. “Riley said someone came to the house, and she left.”

“She left my six-year-old home alone?”

His knuckles whiten as he tightens his grip on the wheel.

“She’s okay,” I whisper.

I don’t know what comes over me as I reach out and squeeze his thigh. I’ve lost my damn mind. I feel his body tense under his suit pants and quickly pull my hand away. At least Cromwell is a small town. It won’t take long to walk home when he kicks me out of his car.