Not that she wasn’t strong in her own way. She had a core of strength that amazed him. But she was his to care for. And Bear was a big guy. He’d never want to do something to harm his girl.
“Ellie,” he warned. “Tell me what’s going on, unless you’d like to spend the afternoon lying on your stomach in bed with your red-hot ass on display.”
“Hey, you can’t spank me for being nice.”
“Course not,” he grumbled. “I’ll be spanking you for being a brat and not answering me when I ask you a direct question. Spill it.”
She sighed. Long and dramatically. He had to bite back a smile. Damn, she was too cute. He could think of a number of different ways he’d like to spend the afternoon. With his mouth between her legs for a start. Then having her ride him. And then he’d do her hair up into two high ponytails and give her Little some play time. With Daddy watching over her closely.
“I’m not sure what you mean, I was just being friendly.”
“Ten.”
She turned to glare at him. He just glanced at her briefly before turning back to the road. He didn’t want her to sense his amusement. That would send the wrong message. This was serious. It wasn’t like her to hide things from him. He liked that she was an open book. Of course, she only thought she was keeping something from him. He was pretty sure he knew exactly what was happening.
“Why is it ten? I didn’t do anything,” she complained.
“Why’d you invite a stranger to the cookout?”
“I was just being friendly. Daisy is my tenant and she doesn’t know anyone. She seemed lonely.”
He’d give her that, the other woman did seem very alone. And he’d felt bad about leaving her. But she wasn’t his responsibility, even if she was their tenant.
“She did,” he agreed. “But she’s not part of Sanctuary, Ellie.”
“Neither was I. But I am now.”
“Because you’re mine, little girl.”
She glowed at those words. “I am. And Daisy might be someone else’s.”
He sighed. It was just as he’d expected. “You’re matchmaking.”
“Well, you can’t deny that there are a whole lot of single men on Sanctuary who need a woman of their own and Daisy might just fit the criteria they’re looking for.”
He shook his head. “You can’t know that she’s a Little or a sub. That she’d want a relationship like the ones that happen on Sanctuary.”
“You mean you didn’t get that vibe off her?”
“Ellie,” he said sternly. “We met her for five minutes. You can’t know. And you got no business inviting her to Sanctuary without checking with Clint first.”
“I can’t have friends over?” she asked quietly.
“You know that’s not what I mean,” he replied. Concern filled him. “You lonely, baby? If you need to get off the ranch more often or if you have needs that I’m not meeting then—”
She reached over and placed her hand over his mouth. He pulled them carefully off the admittedly deserted road. Still, he wouldn’t take the risk of being distracted while driving. Especially when carrying around such precious cargo.
He turned to look at her and she dropped her hand. She shook her head, staring up at him with such love in her expressive eyes that his breath caught in his throat.
“Oh, Bear. I don’t need anything or anyone but you. There isn’t a need you haven’t met. Usually, y
ou figure them out before I do. I love you so much.”
“I want you to be happy.”
“I am. I promise. I love living on the ranch. I have amazing friends, a wonderful home and a gorgeous, loving man. There’s nothing more I need. I just. . .Daisy looked kind of sad. On her own. And I got the feeling that what she had in her car was all that she owned.”
Yeah, he’d gotten that feeling too.