Page 44 of Daddy’s Fortitude

“You do? Who? Are they a threat?” His face was hard. Locked down.

“No, no. It’s just old Mr. Sampson knocking tin cans off his fence,” she told him. “He likes to do it for fun every Friday night.”

Ammo blinked down at her. “He likes to do it for fun every Friday night? Fire a gun in the middle of a residential area?”

“Yeah, to be fair to him, he is eighty, and back when he started doing this, there was no one else around him. He’s got the oldest house on the street. He’s lived there a long time.”

“People have to move with the times. It’s fucking dangerous, and I’m going to go tell them that.”

“No, no, wait.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Honestly, everybody knows, and his house is the last one on the street. There are no houses behind him. He’s really not bothering anybody.”

She licked her lips as she stared up at him. Okay, now she was becoming really aware of his body over hers. Boy, he was warm and strong and firm.

His gaze moved to her lips.

Was it her imagination, or did a flash of heat enter his face?

Maybe she really should do what Kirsten had said and get herself some loving from this man. It was bound to be an experience she’d never forget, and probably never be able to repeat.

And even though she wasn’t looking for a long-term relationship, that didn’t mean she didn’t have needs.

Needs that he would be able to fulfill before he left town for good.

It really could be a win-win situation.

“It’s my fault,” she told him huskily. “I should have warned you.”

His head dropped lower. This was it. He was actually going to kiss her this time. She waited, her breath caught in her throat, ready to feel the brush of his lips against hers.

Then he abruptly pulled back and stood. He didn’t even help her up, which was odd. Because in most ways, he was a gentleman, a grouchy, bossy, dominant gentleman.

“Yeah, you should have,” he said. “I’ve got to go. Make sure you lock the door behind me.”

And he stormed out of the house.

She stared after him in surprise. Was it something she’d said or done?

Oh, God. Had he realized that she was thinking about him kissing her, and that had horrified him?

Please don’t let it be that.

Feeling slightly shaken and still aroused, she walked over to lock the front door. Then she grabbed the weighted blanket from her bed and sat under it on the sofa, while hugging Owly McOwlFace tight.

She felt bad for making him practically run out of there, and that she’d made him feel awkward.

Had she ruined everything?

And was this arousal coursing through her body ever going to disappear?

Aimee was feeling down and a bit lonely the next day. She’d gone to see Ed to finalize the last few things for the funeral and had given him the pen drive that she created with a photo montage of Charlie.

When she’d arrived back home, she sort of expected to find Ammo in the yard doing stuff, but everything was where he’d left it the night before.

She sighed. He wasn’t ever coming back, was he? She guessed that she’d see him tomorrow, but who knew if he’d even talk to her?

Sitting on the sofa, she turned on the TV for some noise as she and Kevin attempted to eat their weight in popcorn.

Aimee wasn’t sure if popcorn was really that good for a rat, so she just gave him a couple of pieces while she ate her way through a bowl bigger than her head.