“You did not just say that.”
“Umm...” Why was he mad?
He grasped hold of her chin and turned her to face him. He seemed to have this thing about her looking at him when he spoke. “Listen to me, Abby. Really listen and take this in. Talking bad about yourself is not allowed. Saying things like you are too heavy is a surefire way to end up in trouble with me, you got me?”
No. She didn’t get him. She didn’t get him at all. Trouble? Why would she get into trouble over speaking the truth? She was just trying to save his back. She didn’t see how it was such a big deal anyway.
He sighed. “You don’t got me.”
“Not really.”
“Do you know anything about how Sanctuary Ranch is run?”
“I-I’ve heard things.”
He snorted. “Probably the wrong things. You already know I have some old-fashioned values. I believe the man should be the head of the household. It’s how I grew up. What I want for myself. It’s what all the men on Sanctuary believe in. Not a dictatorship, I’m always going to listen to my woman’s opinion. But the ultimate decision falls on me. I make the rules. I enforce them. Now I can tell by the look on your face that you’re about to tell me I’m a complete Neanderthal asshole. But you haven’t heard it all. The women living at Sanctuary are cherished, protected, completely respected by me. Their happiness, safety, health come before everything else.”
She didn’t know what to make of any of this. She didn’t know what he expected her to say or why he was even telling her all of this. It did explain a few things about the men who lived on Sanctuary Ranch. They always had this dominant vibe going on. And whenever any of their women were with them, they were extremely protective and attentive. It had always made her jealous and a bit sad.
Because it wasn’t something she’d ever have.
“I would never disrespect my woman. I certainly would never allow her to disrespect herself. You get what I’m saying?”
She wanted to point out that she wasn’t his woman. That none of this applied to her. But the words were frozen on her tongue.
Instead, she nodded.
He studied her for a moment then shook his head. “Just don’t put yourself down again.” He ran his gaze over her. “Christ, you’re so short your feet don’t even reach the floor.”
She peered down to find her feet swinging in the air.
“You need a booster seat.”
“I do not!”
“Can you see out of the window?”
“I’m not that short.”
“Honey.” He placed his hand on her thigh and warmth filled her. She quickly pressed her thighs together as her clit throbbed. “I like that you’re short. You’re cute.”
Cute. Right. Cute was what you said about puppies and kittens and little kids. All of them usually short as well.
“But I’m concerned about your safety. How tall are you? What height is it safe to be out of a booster?”
He couldn’t be serious. Oh my God. He was. He was actually being serious.
“I’m five foot,” well, not quite, “and I’m nearly twenty-six years old, I’m way too big and old for a booster seat.” She wasn’t about to tell him what she weighed.
He grunted. “I’ll have to look that up.”
Look it up? What the hell? Before she could say anything, he’d shut her door and moved around the front of his truck, leaving her to wonder what the hell that meant.
“Wait,” she said as he got in. She undid her seatbelt. “I just remembered I have the early shift tomorrow at the diner. I need my car.”
“Call in sick.”
“I can’t call in sick.” She gaped at him.