Page 37 of Daddy’s Fortitude

Kirsten got called away and Ammo drove toward Aimee, towing a trailer full of equipment. He came to a stop several feet away and rolled down his window.

Then he crooked a finger at her. Yep, he actually crooked a finger. And he expected her to just walk over there? Was he kidding her right now?

Then, suddenly, she found herself standing right next to the truck, without even knowing how she’d gotten there.

Damn, it seemed like he had some weird sort of power over her.

“I can’t believe I just did that,” she muttered.

“Did what?” he asked.

“Came to you when you crooked your finger. I didn’t intend to, but my feet just seemed to move of their own volition.”

He shrugged as though unsurprised. “People usually do what I want.”

Good Lord, the arrogance of this man. But then again, she was pretty certain that people did usually do what he wanted. So was it arrogance when he was right?

Yeah, she thought it still was.

“What do you want?” she asked in a surly voice.

“Is that really the tone of voice you want to use with me?”

Dear Lord, save her.

Kirsten was right. He really did have that grouchy-Daddy vibe going on.

And it would take someone far stronger than her to resist him.

“What time do you get off work? You’ll need a ride home.”

“Kirsten always drops me off. Thanks. Was that all?” she asked as he simply stared at her.

“Just thought I should let you know that you owe me. And I always collect on my debts.”

13

You owe me.

And I always collect on my debts.

Did he mean for his truck? Or was he talking about the yard work? Or just in general?

She wished he’d elaborated.

Those words were still rolling around in her head as she waved goodbye to Kirsten after she dropped her off at home. Then she turned to look at her front yard.

Holy moly.

It looked amazing.

All of the old brush had been pulled away and piled up by the trailer. She should find some gloves, then load it onto the trailer to take to the dump.

She could actually see the path that led to the front door now. It looked like he’d power washed it, as well as the small porch that ran across the front of the house.

Unfortunately, it showed how worn down the house was now that all those trees and dead brush no longer covered it.

How was she ever going to afford to fix it up?