Giddy Up, Daddy (Dirty Daddies 2024 Anthology #5)

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Elle

Two weeks after my father cut me off, I’m sitting in Sadie’s matchmaking office in the town of Blue River, clear on the other side of the country. It’s culture shock going from the Big Apple to Podunk, USA, but it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. Sadie’s here, and I really missed her. The town is pretty enough, even though there’s always the faint smell of cow shit in the air if the wind picks up just right.

There’s also the ocean, just ten miles out of town, and up the coast a bunch of adorable seaside towns full of kitschy shops and mom-and-pop restaurants. And though I miss New York, and Barneys and Serendipity and Saks, I can’t sneeze at the free apartment, even if it is barely the size of my bedroom back home. The monthly stipend is the same amount I’d usually spend on a nice dress, but the money goes further here, and it’s not like there’s a lot to spend it on.

But the best part of Blue River is the men. The unofficial town nickname for them is the Blue River Beefcakes. And it fits. I haven’t seen a man who isn’t absolutely drool-worthy in that rugged blue-collar way, that puts the uppity well-dressed men in the city to shame.

And though I’m still nursing a bruised ego from my recent explosive breakup, I’m ready to move on. It may be archaic, and backward, but there’s nothing that will make my father consider that I’ve turned a corner to responsibility faster than settling down with a good man.

And that’s why I’ve come to see Sadie at work today, with the little bit of money I managed to eke out from expenses and the few thousand I brought with me for emergencies. I thought she’d be excited to have me as a client, but she’s been sitting here shaking her head at me this whole time. And she won’t give me a reason. She just keeps saying no. I’m starting to get a little offended if I’m being honest.

Scowling, I tell her so.

It doesn’t seem to change her mind. She pins me with a hard look. “Just how much exploring have you done around Blue River?” she asks.

“I don’t see what that has to do with anything.”

“Just answer.”

I shrug. The truth is, aside from a few walks around the town with Sadie, a trip to the thrift shops to get things for my apartment, and another to the grocery store, I haven’t explored that much. I spent the first week in town feeling sorry for myself. Next week I’m supposed to start a job at the county paper. I’m not looking forward to it. Working Woman isn’t something I ever planned to call myself. I’m hoping the distraction of hot sex with a good man will make the adjustment less painful. I don’t explain any of that, and instead just grovel.

“Pleeeeaseee, Sadie,” I cajole. “You know what they say. The best way to get over a man is to get under a new one.” The surprising truth is, I’m all that broken up about ending my engagement with Brock. It kind of felt like a relief. I don’t want to inspect the reasons why.

My best friend frowns, her brows scrunching so tightly together they nearly meet in the center of her forehead. “I don’t know, Elle. I think you should give it some time. Get out some. See if anything happens naturally.”

I pull a face. “You know, you’re a terrible matchmaker.” I open my wallet and extract a small pile of bills, waving the hundreds in front of her.

Before she can respond, the bell on the door behind us jingles announcing a client, or maybe the mailman, and my attention swings in that direction. My eyes meet those of the hottest man I have ever seen.

Deep green eyes, thick chestnut hair in wavy curls. A dressy button-down, form-hugging jeans that show off a perfectly sculpted ass, and a hat and boots that even I know are designer.

“Hey Miss Sadie.” He sweeps off his hat as he greets her and holds it over his chest. And somehow, I’ve never seen anything so swoonworthy.

I clear my throat, hoping for an introduction from Sadie and the sexy stranger looks down, then smiles as if noticing my presence for the first time. “Well, hello, Miss, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Bo.”

“Elle.” I hold out my hand, and the stranger takes it. Instead of the traditional shake I was expecting, he kind of grabs around the base of my knuckles and lifts. My hand is halfway to his mouth before I realize what is happening.

He presses a kiss across the tops of my knuckles.

Be still my heart. Why is that so sexy?

“I was just coming in to see if Miss Sadie has made any progress on finding a match, and now that I’ve met you, I’m praying to god the answer is yes.”

Damn. A smooth talker too. My brain screams at me about red flags. My pussy tells it to shut up—we don’t care.

“Oh no,” Sadie stutters, “I don’t think…”

Whipping my head around with my eyes wide, I mouth at her to shut up. A date with this sexy stranger is exactly what I need.

“I do think!” I cry, turning a blinding smile on the man still holding my hand.

He returns my grin with one of his own. “I do think too.”

“Oh no,” Sadie protests. “Bo, this is… Elle is just my friend. She…”

“She doesn’t live here?” The stranger’s eyes narrow.

“Oh no, I do. I’m new to town, but I definitely do.”

Sadie hasn’t given up protesting and I wonder why she hates me.

“Bo, you’re my first client. So… I don’t have anyone to match you with. Remember we talked about how it might take a little while to get the word out about my services, and get some dates set up?”

Bo is still holding my hand. “Well, Miss Sadie. I happen to believe in fate. And I believe fate just dropped the perfect match right in my lap. There’s a reason I came in before work instead of after.”

Sadie is shaking her head, and I’m nodding mine.

“Fate,” I repeat dreamily. Snatching my hand from his grasp, I grab a post-it from Sadie’s desk and scribble my number on it. Folding it up, I slide it into Bo’s shirt pocket and pat his chest.

“I’ve got to get to work,” he says. “But I’ll call you, set something up.”

“Perfect. I’m looking forward to it.”

“As am I, Elle. As am I.”

With one last kiss to the back of my hand, he turns and leaves. When the door closes behind him, I whirl on my so-called best friend.

“Sadie!” I gasp. “What was that?”

She sighs, and pinches the bridge of her nose. “Elle… There’s something I haven’t told you about Blue River yet. About the beefcakes.”

I cross my arms over my chest and level her with a glare. “Oh yeah. What’s that?”

She opens her mouth like she’s going to say something, but instead, she shakes her head, closes it again, and pinches her lips together tightly. “You know what? Never mind.”

I think about pressing her, but decide against it. I have a new lease on life in this town, and a potential date to get ready for.

Squealing, I give her a hug. “I knew there was a reason I came to visit today! I’ll see you later, okay? I have so much to do.”

I don’t even notice the weary look on my bestie’s face as I rush out the door.