She lowered her head, nearly touching it to Grant's knee. "Yes, sir," she muttered. "I'll improve."

He tipped her chin up to look at him. "That's exactly what I want to hear. Your improvement benefits your personal development. Honoring rules and accepting consequences for mistakes or errors in judgment takes integrity and commitment. You're on the right track, Danielle."

Her heart swelled with the compliment he gave her and a smile broke out on her face.

"You must be hungry after the long day," he said.

If she had been his intimate partner, aftercare should have consisted of him pulling her into his arms and reassuring her that he thought...