Page 4 of Cowboy Daddies

“Hold, please!”

“No, no, no, don’t put me on—” he tried to demand, but it was too late. They’d fucking put him on hold.

“Is that your daughter sitting on the rug? Do you want me to share a room with your daughter?” Sage asked.

If you’re sharing a room with someone, it’s going to be me.

Oh good. His cock decided to join the conversation. Because, of course, it would choose now to speak up for the first time in over two years.

Go back to sleep because that isn’t happening, he informed his cock.

“No, you don’t need a room because you’re not staying,” he repeated to the wildfire threatening to destroy any semblance of peace he had.

“I beg your pardon?” the tinny voice from his phone said. “Were you trying to reach the Haven Hotel?”

Fuck. Who the hell was he even talking to? “Yes… I mean, no! I’m not looking for a hotel. I need to speak to someone in client services.”

“Hold, please.”

No! What the fuck?

“You can’t fire me before you’ve even seen what I can do,” Sage said, looking around as if trying to find something to chain herself to.

“I can do whatever I want,” he growled.

“I beg your pardon,” the tinny voice said again, this time filled with indignation. “You most certainly cannot do whatever you want. This is not the Haven Hotel. Please don’t call this number again.”

“Come back here,” he barked into the phone, but it was clear the call had been disconnected.

Barely containing his frustration, Grady tossed the phone on the table before turning his glare on Sage. The woman had sashayed her sexy ass right into his house while having no idea who he was or what he was like. She should never have come alone.

If she were from Wilder, she probably had a Daddy of her own. How could any decent Daddy let his Little–because this girl was definitely Little–come by herself and practically move in with a complete stranger?

And, yes, he realized he was the one who had hired her in the first place. But somehow, when he’d pictured a nanny, he’d thought of some dowager aunt or… hell, Mary Poppins. He didn’t know. But he hadn’t expected some wildfire of a girl with freckles across her nose and cheeks, and sapphire-blue eyes that he’d love to see filled with heat from his kisses or tears from his spankings.

Not that he had the right to spank her now or ever. And had his mind really gone there for the first time in over two years?

Just stop thinking about it, he told himself. Yeah, he’d get right on that.

And what was she looking at? She had stepped back toward him and was looking around the foyer, into the kitchen to her right, and the family room to her left. He did the same, picturing his home through her eyes. When was the last time he’d cleaned this place up? How had he not noticed that one of the lights in the foyer chandelier was out?

Truth be told, since the sudden passing of his wife two years ago, he’d been walking around in a fog. And if he was going down the honesty track, he might as well admit that he’d hired Sage for a reason. None of the other nannies had been effective with Rose, and Sage came with the highest recommendation from the Haven Agency, which he suspected meant she was the only one left. She was supposed to be a specialist in helping children catch up on their education while dealing with emotional wounds. According to them, she was exactly who Rose needed.

But that didn’t mean he had to be happy about it.

While he’d been lost in his thoughts, Sage had entered the family room where she’d discovered Rose sitting on the floor coloring. Sage sat right down beside her and pulled out a book from her shoulder bag. A dragon of all things graced the front cover.

Rose looked at Sage. Ever watchful, Grady held his breath.

With a smile, Sage asked, “Would you like me to read it to you?”

Rose glanced at the multicolored dragon with the big smile on the cover. Without a word, she nodded before returning her gaze to the floor.

Grady’s heart sank. He’d really hoped Rose would respond with words, despite knowing it would have been a miracle if she had. God knows he’d been trying for the past two years without any success. At least she’d responded. No matter what he thought about Rose’s new nanny, he couldn’t hold back the glimmer of hope that gave him.

Now look at him, he was smiling. He’d been determined to scowl the whole time Sage was there, but Rose’s one simple nod had done away with that plan.

Sage started reading with animated voices for each character and made silly faces to match what was happening in the book. Within minutes, a tiny giggle escaped his Rose. Grady blinked, a burning sensation in his eyes. Allergies must be coming early this season, or something.