“I was watching the oven. I didn’t. And I can’t.”
He drew back to peer down at her quizzically. She blushed slightly. “Abby dropped by with a shepherd’s pie. She said just to heat it up in the oven. But I wasn’t sure what temperature to put it on or how long it should be in there for. And I couldn’t Google it because I don’t have my phone.”
Oh crap. That reminded him of the bags he’d dropped as he’d rushed to get to her. He’d check them soon. If the phone was broken then it was broken.
“You didn’t ask Abby?”
She looked down. “I didn’t want her to think I was an idiot.”
“Hey.” He grabbed her chin, tilting her face up. “Nobody would think you are an idiot, least of all Abby. She’s one of the sweetest people I know.”
“I know. I just feel stupid for not knowing something so simple.”
“If you’ve never had to do it and haven’t had anyone to teach you then how are you supposed to know?” he said simply. “Ellie can’t cook to save her life, but nobody thinks anything less of her. Now, that’s the last time I want to hear you refer to yourself as an idiot, understand me?”
“Yes, sir.”
Oh, he liked the sound of that. But he’d like to hear her call him Daddy more.
“Good girl. Now, I’ll figure out what’s going on with the shepherd’s pie. Have you had your insulin?”
“No.”
“Why don’t you go get your bag?”
“Okay.” She disappeared and he glanced around. Were the floors shinier than they had been?
He drew out the shepherd’s pie and checked it. Bit crispy on top but otherwise it was fine. He’d let it rest for a few moments.
When Marisol returned, he grabbed her hand and drew her towards him.
“I spoke to Ed today,” he told her gently.
She tensed up. “What did he say? Did he see Tiger? What happened?”
“By the time he got to your aunt’s place last night, most of the Devil’s Sinners were gone. However, he had a chat with your aunt and Saber. Told them he was looking for Tiger.”
“Did he say why?” Fear thrummed through her.
“No, Mari-girl. But Saber told him that Tiger wasn’t even in the state. That he was in Seattle. And that if his son was being accused of something, he’d like to know because he was certain his son had plenty of alibis.”
“Oh God, Saber doesn’t even know what he’s done and already he’s setting Tiger up with alibis.”
Yeah. The fucking asshole.
“They wouldn’t let Ed take a look around, so there is no way of knowing if he’s there or not. Not unless you want to press charges.”
“I . . . I . . . they’ll all come after me.”
He nodded. “That’s my gut feeling too. I told Ed I didn’t think you would change your mind. Hopefully, the bastard is gone.”
But his gut said that even if he had, he’d be back. But Linc had no intentions of letting him harm Marisol.
“How long is he going to be a threat to me?” she whispered.
He drew her against his chest. “You’re safe here, Mari-girl. Nobody will get to you. All of Kent’s guys are on high alert, and I’ve spoken to the ranch hands. Everyone knows not to mention your presence here. But they’ll also be on alert for him. Kent said he’d send Zander to track him down if necessary.”
“But even if we manage to find him, then what?”
“Well, I’ve never felt that Ed warning him would be enough. So maybe we send a warning of our own.”
“No. These guys are dangerous. You can’t.” She shook her head.
He rubbed her back. But in the back of his mind, he kept that as a possibility. He wouldn’t have her always worrying about this asshole. And if that meant sending a strong message to Tiger that Marisol wasn’t his, well, that’s what he’d do.
“Take your insulin then set the table for dinner. You need to eat.”
She slipped out of his hold, but she still looked worried.
“Did you rest this afternoon?” he asked, trying to shift her mind off Tiger
“Um, yes,” she said. But she couldn’t look at him.
“Really? Because these floors look cleaner than they did this morning,” he chided.
“I might have done a bit of cleaning,” she admitted as she got her insulin ready then injected it into her tummy.
Then she started setting the table. She’d obviously acquainted herself with where things were in the kitchen.
He liked this. The two of them working together to make dinner. This felt right. It was all he’d ever wanted. Someone to share his life with.
He started to dish up two servings of the shepherd’s pie. He’d have to remember to thank Abby for this.
As he walked over with the plates, she was setting down a beer for him and a glass of water for her. He placed the plates down on the table then leaned in and kissed the top of her head.
“Thanks, Mari-girl.”
“I didn’t do anything,” she said with a small blush. “Abby made it.”
“Thank you for your company then. It’s nice having someone to come home to. Even someone who was naughty today.”
Her mouth dropped open. “I’m not naughty.”
“What did I tell you to do when I left this morning?”
She bit her lower lip as he took a bite of the shepherd’s pie. Delicious. “Rest.”
“And what did you do?” he asked sternly.
“I rested for most of the day,” she protested. “It was just a bit of cleaning. I felt bad being lazy all day. It also kept my mind off other things.”
“What happened with Tiger,” he guessed.
“Yes. It kept sort of sneaking into my mind. If I kept busy there was less time for me to think.”
“I shouldn’t have left you alone today.” He frowned.
“It’s not up to you to babysit me.”
“I don’t consider it babysitting when you’re my Little one. And it’s not being lazy. It’s called self-care. Well, actually, it’s Linc-care. I wanted you to take it easy because you’re exhausted. You had a bad scare last night and then you slept in a damn closet,” which wouldn’t happen again, “so you needed rest. Did you take a nap?”
She shook her head, looking a bit embarrassed. “No.”
“Then it’s early to bed for you, little girl.” Without thinking, he reached over and tapped her nose with his finger.
Marisol froze, staring at him. “Are you . . . are you a Daddy Dom?”
Her stomach dropped as he froze. Damn it. Why had she just come out with it like that? Why hadn’t she waited for him to tell her? Maybe he didn’t want her to know?
But he was the one going on about booster seats and highchairs. And the way he’d just spoken to her . . .
Maybe that’s just the way he is, Marisol.
Now she felt ill. Like he was going to get insulted or tell her that was ridiculous.
“I am.”
Linc was a Daddy Dom.
Holy. Shit.
“I thought they were a myth. Like sasquatch. Or unicorns,” she muttered, staring at her food without really seeing it.