Big Daddy Sheriff (Big Cedar Daddies #1)

Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Alyssa awoke feeling refreshed.

Spending a night in a Daddy’s arms will do that to you, she mused silently with a smile.

She sat at the bar in the kitchen, coloring in one of the books Quinn had bought her the night before.

“What are you working on?” Quinn asked. He stirred the pancake batter, frowned, and added a bit more milk.

“It’s a picture of a princess in front of her castle,” she said, holding up the coloring book to reveal her progress. “It’s just for you.”

“For me?”

“Uh-huh. I’m going to leave it on your fridge so you’ll remember me when I leave.”

Alyssa didn’t like hearing her impending departure voiced aloud. Judging by the look that briefly settled over Quinn’s face, he didn’t like it either. But she couldn’t stay there forever. She came to see Grace. And eventually she’d have to return to Arkansas. There just wasn't any work around Big Cedar. Her funds were already low. They wouldn’t hold out forever.

Meaning she couldn’t stay long.

That didn’t mean Little Rock was her best option, though. While she’d been born and raised there, she couldn’t go back as long as Lana was free.

She told herself to stop thinking about all that right now. It wouldn’t do any good, and it was starting to feel overwhelming. So, she returned to coloring her picture. Just seeing the pretty, pink-dressed princess made her smile.

So did the thought that it would be hanging on Quinn’s refrigerator.

“Grace gets back today, right?” she asked.

“She’s supposed to. Now, I’ve known her and Theo to have so much fun that they stay an extra day, but I bet they’ll roll in later. Especially as hot as it is. My guess is they’re ready to get back to some air conditioning.”

The electric griddle sizzled as the batter hit it. Quinn formed six perfectly round pancakes and then put the bowl down. He looked across the bar at Alyssa and smiled. “Has anyone told you you’re cute?”

She giggled. “You did. Last night. But you’re the first.”

He turned around, got two glasses from the cabinet and milk from the fridge. He poured her a glass and put it in front of her.

“So, you’ve never had a Daddy?” He gave it a second and then said, “I hope I’m not being nosy. No pressure to answer.”

“You’re not being nosy,” she said. She kept her eyes on the picture and applied a red crayon to part of the princess’ jewels. “I’ve never had a Daddy. I’ve looked into going to some events—you know, at a kink club or something—but never had the courage to actually follow through with it. How about you? Have you ever had a Little?”

“No,” he answered, concentrating on the pancakes he was cooking. He waited a few moments, until there were just the right number of bubbles in the center and flipped them. “I dated some women before I came here. They were Littles, but they just didn’t feel right. And since being here, I’ve even gone to some events down in the Dallas area, looking to meet someone. Long distance wouldn’t be ideal, but it wouldn’t be bad either, if I met the right person. Anyway, I never did.”

“I find that hard to believe,” she said.

He chuckled. “And why is that?”

“Because you’re hot!” She dropped her crayon and gasped, realizing what she’d just said.

She didn’t dare look at him, but she could feel his eyes on her. She could also sense that there was something he wanted to say but was holding back.

Part of her was thankful.

The other part wanted to know what was on the tip of his tongue.

“Well, thanks,” he finally said. “I don’t know about that. But I appreciate the sentiment.”

“Where are you from?” she asked, eager to change the subject.

“Not far from here. Durant. It’s closer to Texas, so south of us. But the mountains down in this corner of Oklahoma are all I’ve ever known.”

He used the spatula to flip three pancakes on a plate. “Breakfast is ready. There’ll be more, if you want them, but this should get you started.”

Alyssa finally gathered enough courage to look up at Quinn.

He was grinning. He didn’t address her earlier comment about him being hot any further. Thankfully. Instead, he said, “What do you like on your pancakes?”

“Do you have peanut butter?”

“You bet.”

“Peanut butter and syrup, please.”

“Coming right up,” he said. He applied the toppings and then cut the pancakes into bite-sized pieces.

I could sure get used to this, she thought.

“There you go,” he said, sliding the plate across to her. “Like I said, there’s more if you want ‘em. You just eat all you can handle.”

“Don’t you see how fat I am?” she said with a little laugh. “Obviously, I can handle quite a bit.”

He cleared his throat. She looked up at him to see he didn’t find the comment funny at all. In fact, he looked downright angry.

“You say something like that again, young lady, and I might just take this belt off, bend you over the counter, and thrash your little bottom until you can’t sit for a day. You’re in my house. That sort of talk isn’t permitted. Now, I’ve warned you before. Next time, there won’t be a warning. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, Daddy. I’m sorry.”

Oh crap! What did you just say, Alyssa?

She thought of correcting her mistake. She hadn’t meant to call him Daddy. It just seemed appropriate. But he wasn’t her Daddy, even if he was acting like it right now. She didn’t draw any more attention to it, though. She was just eager to move on.

“It’s not me you need to apologize to. It’s yourself. You’re tearing away at your self-esteem. Little girl, you are gorgeous. You need to realize that. It’s not healthy to go around badmouthing yourself.” He smiled and reached across the counter, laying his hand atop hers. “It’s done and over with now. No sense in dwelling on it. Be a good girl and eat your breakfast. As much as you want.”

She wanted that moment to last forever—their eyes locked, his hand on hers.

She smiled back, nodded, and turned her attention to her pancakes. They chatted as they ate. Ten minutes later, when they were both finishing, a knock at the door interrupted the conversation.

“Is everything okay?” Alyssa asked, startled.

“I’m sure it is,” he said. “Folks drop by here. They probably tried calling my cell and I just didn’t hear it.” He sighed, shaking his head as he walked toward the door. “I sure hope it’s not Don again. I swear, that man needs to just lay off the ‘shine one damn week.”

When he opened the front door, he saw Little Belinda on the porch.

She looked terrified.

She took her pacifier from her mouth and said, “Marshal Quinn! Come quick! Someone is creeping around my Daddy’s shop!”