Demolition Daddy

By Kelly Dawson

Ash has been admiring the foreman of the demolition site across the road, from the safety of the café, since the first day she saw him. All muscles, tattoos and take-charge dominance, she can't get the sexy foreman out of her mind.

When a coffee mishap brings them together and Zac takes charge, tending to her burn, sparks ignite between them, and his gentle ministrations fan the flames of attraction.

Zac's gentle confidence shows Ash that love can be a sanctuary rather than a battlefield, but the shadows of her past loom large. Scarred by an abusive relationship, Ash grapples with the fear of opening her heart again.

Can she let Zac break down the walls of her emotions and renovate the shattered pieces of her heart or will the ghosts of her past forever cast a shadow on the possibility of love?

 

Demolition Daddy was previously published as part of the Dirty Daddies 2023 Spring Anthology. It has not been changed, the story is exactly the same.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kelly Dawson
• Release date: Jan 2, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224595822

Kelly Dawson

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR KELLY DAWSON loves anything to do with horses, rodeos and cowboys, and loves to get lost in a good book - preferably one containing spanking! Her favourite heroes are sexy, dominant, firm-handed country boys who spoil their women far more than they spank them, and were pretty much born on horseback, being able to ride just about before they could walk. She lives literally at the bottom of the world in the South Island of New Zealand, with her very own romance novel hero (her husband of 18 years), four kids, a dog and a cat. Kelly Dawson has 12 books out, mostly erotic rural romance set in New Zealand. Check out her website to learn more - and connect with Kelly on social media - links on her website. Thank you for reading!

Book preview

Ash has been admiring the foreman of the demolition site across the road, from the safety of the café, since the first day she saw him. All muscles, tattoos and take-charge dominance, she can’t get the sexy foreman out of her mind.

When a coffee mishap brings them together and Zac takes charge, tending to her burn, sparks ignite between them, and his gentle ministrations fan the flames of attraction.

Zac’s gentle confidence shows Ash that love can be a sanctuary rather than a battlefield, but the shadows of her past loom large. Scarred by an abusive relationship, Ash grapples with the fear of opening her heart again.

Can she let Zac break down the walls of her emotions and renovate the shattered pieces of her heart or will the ghosts of her past forever cast a shadow on the possibility of love?

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Chapter One

O ooh, he’s nice. I meant to whisper that under my breath, but sometimes, words have a habit of coming out when we least expect them to.

Who? Kate, my coffee-making colleague, asks, grinning as I blush at being caught ogling the demolition crew across the road. One of the crew, anyway. None of the others have caught my eye... yet, but if they’re half as fine as the delicious specimen in my sight right now, my work day might actually be enjoyable.

I think he’s the foreman. I point to the man at the edge of the site, holding a clipboard in front of him, a cellphone to his ear, his body language screaming I’m in charge. It’s hard to tell from here, but he doesn’t look very old, early thirties, probably. Tattoos. Muscles. Wavy brown hair peeking out from beneath his yellow plastic hat to curl at his collar. A neon yellow Hi-Viz vest covering up his shirt. Jeans that hug his butt, cling to his long legs and hang from his hips.

Yeah, he is, she agrees. But I thought you’d sworn off men?

I can look, can’t I? There’s no harm in looking.

Kate shrugs. If you say so.

He’s nice, though. You have to admit that.

Yeah, he’s nice to look at, Kate agrees. Pity about the church, though. I liked that church. So many memories.

She’s right. I was quite fond of that church, too. It was part of the town’s history and had been there forever. We used to play there as kids—hide and seek behind the pews, running up and down the aisle playing tag. My grandparents got married in that church, and my mother was christened there, but it hasn’t been used for services for as long as I can remember. Although it’s always been rundown and has been locked up completely in recent years, it’s an iconic landmark of the town. It just belongs.

Such a shame, I agree. I wonder what’s going up in its place?

Kate bangs the portafilter against the bin to empty the used coffee grounds before rinsing it under hot water and screwing it back into place in the espresso machine.

Office blocks, I think, she murmurs, shuddering at the thought. Just what we need. More offices in this shitty town, replacing gorgeous historic buildings.

I stack the last of the hot cups, fresh out of the dishwasher, in a precarious pile on top of the espresso machine, holding my breath and willing them to stay put. Balancing the cups there is an art, but we really don’t have anywhere else to put them. Plus, the heat from the espresso machine keeps them hot, which in turn keeps the coffee hot. Fresh coffee always tastes better piping hot, and we’ve got a reputation for the best coffee in town. If learning the art of stacking cups, so the whole pile doesn’t tip over, is what we have to do to keep our reputation, then that’s what I’ll do.

Kate unwraps a fresh pack of napkins, filling up the holder on the counter.

Here he comes, she stage-whispers, nudging me with a grin. Why don’t you ask him?

Ask him what? I whisper back, mild panic rising. I’m not ready to meet him, not yet. My hair’s probably askew. Do I have anything on my face or shirt? Is my apron straight? Is....

What’s going up in place of the church? Kate interrupts my panicked train of thought. Then she grins, grabs a tray, and walks into the kitchen, leaving me alone in