Lone Star Father by Marin Thomas

Author:Marin Thomas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-03-07T16:59:39+00:00

Chapter Eight

Scarlett knocked on the cabin door late Monday afternoon. She and Reid were scheduled to meet about Jessie tomorrow morning, but he’d left a voice mail on her phone asking her to stop by as soon as she got off work.

“Come in.” Reid turned away from the fridge where he’d been loading a case of water bottles and smiled.

“Wow. You’ve gotten a lot done in the ten days since you arrived in town.” Yes, she was keeping track of the days. Reid had checked out of his motel room this past Thursday night and officially moved into the cabin, but Jessie still slept on the couch at the main house. It was Scarlett’s responsibility to keep the pair moving forward on the right track.

His gaze roamed over her, stalling for a fraction of a second on her breasts before returning to her face, where her cheeks were growing warmer by the second.

It was a challenge to stay focused in Reid’s presence. The old adage you always want what you can’t have popped into her head. Whenever they were anywhere near each other, her hormones went crazy.

“You got my voice mail,” he said.

The message—we need to talk about Jessie—had been vague, but there was no mistaking the careful tone in his voice. “I did.” She brushed her hand over the gray sofa cushions. “Did Jessie help pick this out?”

“Your aunt bought all the furniture and had it delivered to the cabin. Payment for helping her with the rodeo.”

Scarlett drew in a deep breath and faced Reid. He’d struck a sexy pose—crossing his arms over his chest and leaning a hip against the counter. “What is it you wanted to discuss with me that couldn’t wait until our meeting tomorrow?”

“Why did you tell Jessie she could continue with her homeschooling program?”

“Jessie said you wanted her to enroll in a public school because there was no one to monitor her studies. I told her that wasn’t true. That I could help her find a qualified instructor to track her progress.”

“But I didn’t ask for your help.”

She bristled. “You didn’t need to. It’s my job to step in and handle things that come up like this.”

“You should have talked to me before you made a promise like that to Jessie.”

They locked gazes. “What’s really bothering you?” she asked.

The muscle in his jaw ticked. “I’m Jessie’s father. Isn’t it my right to decide what’s best for her?”

“If it’s money you’re worried about—”

“It’s not about the money.” He shoved away from the counter and walked outside. Scarlett followed, stopping in the doorway when she saw his clenched fists.

“Is this how it works?” He turned.

“What do you mean?”

“If I make a decision for Jessie that you don’t agree with, you rein me in?”

“Why are you against homeschooling?”

“Why are you against public schools?” he asked.

“This isn’t about me, Reid. This is about what’s best for your daughter.”

“Maybe I know what’s best for her.”

“Jessie said she wanted to be homeschooled, but you told her she couldn’t, because there was no one to teach her.

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