Kind of a Bad Idea: A Single Dad-Age Gap Romance by Lili Valente

Author:Lili Valente [Valente, Lili]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Self Taught Ninja
Published: 2024-08-08T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

SEVEN

Ihear Binx squeal from the bedroom, where I’m scoping out the clothes Sprout packed for me, and spin toward the door. My aching muscles protest the swift movement, but I push through the pain and stiffness.

We may have food and clothing, but we don’t have any cell service out here or any other way to call for help. If there’s an emergency, things could go very bad, very quickly. It’s something I’m going to be sure to impress upon Sprout as soon as we’re home.

You can’t just kidnap people and leave them stranded in the middle of nowhere without a way to reach medical attention. My mother and Binx’s sister should have known better, and I intend to make sure my daughter doesn’t grow up to make reckless decisions like this as a grown-up.

I push through the back door and charge out onto the deck.

It takes a beat for my eyes to adjust to the fading light outside, but after a moment, I spot Binx in the shadows beneath the trees and exhale a relieved breath.

“Don’t worry, he’s harmless,” I say, dragging a hand through my hair as I slow my pace. “His name’s Tater Tot. Just tell him to sit.”

“He is sitting,” Binx says, her voice strained. “On my chest, and his teeth are fucking enormous. He showed them to me a second ago.”

“Aw, he was just smiling at you, no reason to be afraid,” I say, chuckling when Tater Tot turns to grin at me, flashing his giant bottom teeth. “Isn’t that right, you little charmer? I didn’t know if I’d see you again before hibernation time. You’re looking good, man. Nice and husky for the winter.”

“Please, get him off of me?” Binx pleads as I stop a few feet away, gazing down at her with an amused grin. “I’m not a fan of rodents. Even really cute rodents that look like fur potatoes.”

“Groundhogs are sweet, actually, especially this one,” I say as I crouch down and cluck my tongue for Tater Tot. “I’ve known this guy since he was a baby last spring. I met him when we were first looking at the property. He’s crazy smart. Understands his name, sit, and the names of all his favorite treats. Come here, Tater Tot. Come on, buddy. I’ll grab you an apple slice from inside.”

At the word “apple slice” Tater Tot scrambles off Binx’s chest and trots over. He stops about a foot away from me, his entire pudgy bottom trembling with excitement. I don’t hold a hand out to touch him, though. Sprout desperately wanted to turn Tater Tot into another family pet, but the three chickens we have already are more than enough for me.

Tater Tot is better off in the wild, without the smell of human beings on him. It’s best if he maintains a little fear of getting too close to us.

Though he was just sitting on Binx’s chest…

I glance her way as she sits up, brushing furiously at the front of her fleece.

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