Chapter 3
three
LENNY
“Large iced coffee with extra salted-caramel syrup and drizzle.” I hand the cup over to Miles, Daisy’s dad, and cut him off before he can ask. “Yes, the caramel cold foam was added to the top, it’s just mixed in now since you have to live so far from civilization.”
He grabs the drink from me, chuckling. “See, this is why you’re my favorite friend of Daisy’s.”
I quip back, “You know, for an old cowboy, you’d think you’d drink your coffee black.” I playfully roll my eyes and huff but immediately burst out laughing when he acts as if I’ve just shot him in the heart.
Miles switches to serious dad-mode right in front of my eyes. “But we really have to get her back to feeling like herself.”
“I had no clue until you called me that she wasn’t doing okay, and what scares me is I would’ve never known. She’s for sure been hiding out in her apartment.” I hold my eye roll when it comes to the whole situation. Her piece-of-shit ex is the main reason I’m standing here on this ranch.
But who am I to complain about a couple of days away at what’s quickly becoming my favorite place here in Arizona.
“She doesn’t like putting her problems onto other people… Even when those people would rather help than see her suffering.” Miles looks into the distance and adds, “She’s just like her mama in that regard.”
From the few stories Daisy has told me about her mom, either from her own memory or stories from her dad, she seemed like a great woman—unlike my own mother—but she sadly passed from cervical cancer a couple years before we met.
A small smile pulls at Miles’ lips at what I’m sure are his memories of her, but I don’t ask…
I don’t feel like sobbing today.
“So, what’s the plan, Lenny?!”
My eyes must be bugging out of my head. “Plan?” I came here with me, myself, and our coffees. That was the only plan in my head while I was wiring up my last electrical panel in the new build I was working on today.
He says it so casually, like I’m the one who’s clearly behind. “Yeah, the plan to get our Daisy back and functioning, and over her shitty, cheating ex.”
Our Daisy.
I want her to be mine.
It’s more than a want at this point; it’s a need.
But Miles doesn’t need to know that.
I murmur to myself, “Sarah really did a number on my sunshine girl…” But the way Miles’ face lights up, I fear he’s already made a plan whether I like the plan or not.
“I’ve got my two assistants now taking up the two spare rooms, so that just leaves Daisy’s room…”
“Go on.”
“I refuse to let guests sleep on the couch, so that leaves you in Daisy’s room.”
“And what if Daisy doesn’t want me in her room?” I raise my brows because this man cannot be matchmaking this hard.
It does feed my ego a little too much that he is trying to set Daisy and me up. Normally I wouldn’t go after the freshly heartbroken girl, but she did finger-fuck me all on her own a little over a month ago, so who am I to judge?
“Well, I didn’t get the details, but she thinks she fucked up between the two of you with whatever happened at the bar?
But she definitely likes you.” He looks confused, but I can feel the heat rising up my neck.
“As more than a friend, if you’re catching my drift, but she doesn’t want to lose you as a friend. ”
And like the goddess herself knew I needed saving from her father, Daisy’s car comes up the driveway.
“I’m catching your drift, Miles.” I give him a nod. And once I have Daisy there’s no going back.
She’s mine, and I’m going to protect her at any and all costs.
Before I know it, I’m at her car door taking Mr. Perry’s cage from Daisy’s hands and grabbing her bag from the back.
Daisy crosses her arms and pouts when she sees Miles and me talking, clearly not hiding our emotions well enough from her.
“Sometimes I wish I had a parent who was so in denial about me being a lesbian and stayed out of my business.” Miles gasps and clutches his heart, causing her to laugh. “I’m just kidding, Dad, calm it down.”