Page 237 of On A Manhunt: Complete Series

DANIEL

I was an idiot. I couldn’t remember a time when I’d stuck my foot in it any more than I had with Melly Harwood.

Being the oldest of the Pearson brothers, one would think I learned a long time ago not to be such a dumbass. Or that between the five of us, we’d have done every single idiotic thing possible by now.

It seemed, even at forty, that was not the case.

I not only accused Melly Harwood of trapping me with a baby, but then I waited on her doorstep to accuse her of trapping Earl instead.

A big doofus of a dog. Who got tried to get some from a tiny teacup thing and was sleeping off his attempts, on Fred and my leg, in front of my fireplace. I refused to take him back to Sea Bass because I didn’t want to explain why I was such a fucking moron.

Instead of telling her she was pretty and that I wanted to peel off every bit of prim clothing and get her filthy dirty and begging for my dick, I accused her of stupid shit. For what? Because she wanted help in paying for vet bills?

I flopped my head back onto the cushion of my leather lounger and stared at the vaulted ceiling of my great room. There was nothing to do to release this frustration except growl. So I did.

“AaaaaaahhhhhHHHHHHHHHH!”

Earl opened one eye at the sound, then closed it. Unlike me, he didn’t have any problems with the ladies.

Earlier, when Melly got out of her car, she was… fuck, even prettier than I remembered. Everything about her was precise and perfect. Soft. Pretty.

So fucking pretty.

Did I tell her that she was pretty? No. Instead, I opened my mouth and told her I wanted a dog paternity test.

While I waited on her stoop, I did a search on my cell to make sure Deek hadn’t been fucking with me. Fortunately, he wasn’t, and some people really did want to know pet lineage. I knew nothing about… animal husbandry or whatever dog sex was officially called. Nothing, and it clearly showed.

I ran a hand over my beard.

“Dog paternity?” I muttered. “I want a dog paternity test. I can’t believe I said that.”

I could get drunk, but that would solve nothing. I’d only be twice as stupid in the morning because Melly Harwood would still think I was an asshole and an idiot plus I’d be hungover.

No. I blew this one. Epically.

Then… then! I made it worse. What had I said that made all the light dim in her eyes? Oh yeah, then I saw you and changed my mind. She must’ve thought I took one look at her and knew there was no way in hell I’d get my dick anywhere near her.

“Wrong. WRONG!” I shouted, my voice echoing off the beamed ceiling.

One look and I knew she wasn’t the kind of woman who did drama or wanted to stir up shit.

Except she’d misinterpreted and thought I meant I didn’t want her.

I’d put that droop in her shoulders, wiped the smile from her face and she lost that little bit of sass. I was an asshole and an idiot.

“Guess it’s a good thing you’re leaving the country for a few months,” I muttered to myself. I wasn’t staying in Hunter Valley. I was out of here Saturday, ready to move away from home. See the world. Live the life I’d always wanted.

Except instead of being excited about my future, I felt like shit. I didn’t like how I’d made her, for one second, think less of herself. Per Ang, Melly Harwood got along with everyone. Except me. And it was all my fault.

I wasn’t leaving town until I made this right.