Page 56 of Finding Little Fiera

“I used to own my own ranch, but I had to sell it. After that, I accepted the foreman position at Three Eagles Ranch.”

She blinked in surprise, then grinned. “That’s so funny! We have a Three Eagles Ranch in Wilder, too.”

He nodded. “I know, sweet girl. I’m talking about the Three Eagles Ranch in Wilder.”

The word landed like a dropped horseshoe. For a split second, she didn’t react. Then her spine went rigid in his arms. Shock flickered across her face, clean and unmistakable. He could practically see the wall she began to build between them. Damn it. It was a subtle retreat, like she’d just realized the ground beneath her feet might not be as steady as she thought it was.

Fuck! He forced himself not to rush his explanation. “I start after camp,” he continued, keeping his voice even. “I’ve already signed the contracts.”

The tip of her tongue darted out to moisten her lips. “You’re—” She swallowed. “You’re moving to Wilder.”

“Yes.”

“M-my Wilder?”

“Yes.” The rocking chair creaked softly as it swayed. Thunder rolled again outside, getting closer now. He watched her, reading every flicker of surprise. And something sharper he couldn’t catch. What was that?

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked, her voice smaller than he liked.

“Master Derek and I talked about it. We agreed it’d be better if you didn’t know while you were settlin’ in here,” he answered immediately. “I didn’t want you to feel pressured.”

Confusion and hurt furrowed her brow. “Pressured how?”

At least she was still asking questions rather than demanding he take her back to the lodge. He tried to take that as a good sign.

“We didn’t want you to think you had to say yes to me being your Daddy at camp because I’d be in your backyard when it was over.” His jaw tightened. “It was my decision. I wanted your answer to be yours and not one influenced by me.”

She nodded without saying anything else. He told himself it was a good thing she was thinking things through. Her silence stretched out longer than he’d hoped.

He braced himself for her anger. For her to push off his lap and put distance between them. She had every right to accuse him of manipulating her. It was the last thing in the world he wanted her to think. The last thing he’d ever do, but she didn’t know that.

He prepared himself for all those reactions. She gave him none of them. Instead… she worried. Her fingers fisted in his shirt again, not in outrage but in anxiety and concern. Was she afraid of him? That thought almost sent him to his knees.

“You’re going to Wilder,” she murmured, almost to herself.

“Yes,” he said again.

She stiffened again, but this time it wasn’t defensive. No, this was something else.

“You don’t know what that means,” she said quietly.

His gaze sharpened. “Tell me then.”

She hesitated. And then he saw it in her eyes. Guilt. This wasn’t her being concerned about him surprising her. This was about something else. He just wasn’t sure what.

He shifted slightly beneath her. “I wasn’t tryin’ to manipulate you,” he said, keeping his voice level. “And neither was Master Derek. We just didn’t want you to feel awkward, worryin’ about what would happen in Wilder if the two of us hadn’t hit it off.”

She shook her head quickly. “I wouldn’t feel awkward. That’s not what I’m worried about.” She searched his face again, like she was trying to adjust to the future he’d just laid at her feet. “You’re really going to be there,” she whispered.

“Yes.”

“And you still—” She stopped herself, swallowed hard. “You still want this? With me?”

Now, that just pissed him off. Why the hell wouldn’t he want to be with her? His hand slid from her thigh to cup her jaw gently but firmly. “Not sure why you think I wouldn’t want to be with you, firefly. I don’t make a habit of saying things I don’t mean.”

Her eyes shone with a mix of longing and uncertainty. He’d expected anger. That he could have dealt with. But this fear and worry? That he wasn’t sure how to tackle. Not until he understood exactly what caused it.

It was like Wilder was the danger rather than him. She didn’t pull away from him, but she was far from relaxed. He waited, giving her time to collect her thoughts and explain.