Page 31 of Wild Hearts (Ruby Ridge #1)

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Daddy

I’m surprised your pathetic self has lasted a month.

T he sudden intrusion of my father’s harmful message barely wakes me up. I haven’t heard from him since I told him about my job offering for Boots he must be allergic to joy or something.

I shovel a delicious bite of enchilada into my mouth, the flavors of tomatillo dancing on my taste buds. I glance over at the clock. “So… I should probably head out soon. You driving me or…?”

He doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, he digs into the pocket of his jeans, pulling out his keys, and twirls them once between his fingers before holding them out to me.

My eyebrows shoot up. “You’re actually letting me drive it?”

“Don’t make me regret it.”

I hop down from the counter, grabbing the keys, and toss them into my tote with a triumphant little grin.

“Thanks, baby.”

It slips out before I think twice.

He blinks. Once. Twice. Then slowly turns toward me, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.

“Say it again.”

“What?”

“Baby, say it again.”

There’s a hint of softness in his eyes, something I’m getting used to. He hasn’t completely let his walls down with me, not yet anyway.

I walk toward him, placing my hand on his chest, right over his heart. “Baby.”

His jaw flexes as he sucks in a breath, and I swear to God, if I kissed him right now, I’d never get to my shift on time, but I do it anyway.

I rise onto my toes and kiss him, my lips brush his like a promise I haven’t made yet. He exhales into my mouth as his hand grips my waist. When I finally pull back, he’s still staring at me like I rewired something in his chest.

I flash him a smirk as I grab my bag and head for the door .

“Try not to crash it,” he calls after me, “or I’ll have to punish you.”

I toss a wink over my shoulder. “That supposed to scare me, cowboy?”