Page 98 of The Rebel

Before getting back to my to-do list, I took a quick moment and checked in with Annelise too. She was stopping by Mom and Dad’s every day. I repeatedly told her she didn’t have to, but she insisted that it was no trouble. I loved my friend to the moon and back. She assured me things were fine and that the farmhands were enjoying the freedom from being under Dad’s scrutiny.

Daisy: How are my parents today?

Annelise sent me two pictures. One was a selfie with Mom in the kitchen, and the other one was a picture of Dad holding up a cinnamon bun.

Annelise: Your mom and I baked cinnamon buns. Your dad was happy to be our tester.

I immediately got an idea, inspired, of course, by Anthony and the treats he was spoiling me with.

Daisy: I’m going to look up some good bakeries that deliver and send my parents goodies every day.

Annelise: Girl, you are a genius. Our cinnamon buns were good… but not the best.

Mom was very good with pies, so if she put her mind to it, she could perfect the cinnamon bun as well. But I wanted to spoil them any way I could. I looked up bakeries in the vicinity, and I was surprised to find quite a few. I put orders in at three of them. My parents were going to get a delivery daily for the next month. And so was Annelise.

And since I was already researching, I looked up the Harry Potter item Anthony and the family were trying to find for Bella.He’d sent me the details back at the farm, but I didn’t have time to look into it then.

It was a cool wand that could turn lights on and off. It was basically a remote in the shape of a wand, and it was also out of stock. But I did have mad research skills. Only ten minutes later, I actually found a vendor. I immediately texted it to Anthony.

Daisy: Found this for Bella. Did anyone else in the family come up with something, or should I put an order in?

Anthony: You’re a genius. I’ll forward it to Scarlett, and she’ll order it. Thanks so much for looking into it.

Daisy: Not going to reprimand me for doing it during work hours?

He didn’t reply.

I bit my lower lip, putting my phone down. Oh, man. The lines between our personal and professional relationship were a blur. Did Anthony just come to the same realization?

I was about to text him back when the man himself strolled into my office. He closed the door behind him too.

“What did you do that for?”

He tilted his head. “Because I plan to show you exactly what I think about you doing research for private things during work hours.”

I swallowed hard. “And it’s not for others to see?”

“It’s not PG-rated, that’s for sure.”

I laughed. I liked how playfully he was addressing this. In fact, he made it seem like a nonissue at all.

Oh, screw it.Why should I be worried about anything? This was a temporary job, after all. And I just wanted to enjoy this man for however long this lasted. So, as he walked closer, I wiggled my eyebrows too. He stopped in his tracks. Ha! I love surprising him.

“I bet you were expecting me to play coy.”

“Yeah.” He sounded stunned.

“Well, I’m not. So, what kind of dirty thoughts do you have for me?”

He came over, leaning his ass against my desk. “Want to know all the details?”

“You’ve given this some thought already?”

“Every fucking day, Daisy. I come in here and think about all the things I’d do to you”—he patted the wood—“right here on this desk.” Then he jutted his chin toward me. “And on the chair.” He leaned over slightly. “And against that window.”

“Holy shit. You’ve been holding out on me. Why didn’t you tell me any of those things?”

“Because saying them out loud only makes me want them more.”