Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
“Probably not. I’m too busy.”
He reached over and squeezed her hand on top of her thigh. “I think you just needed a Daddy to help you make better choices.”
“Probably in all things,” she admitted. A second later, she sat straighter and jerked her gaze to him. “Did I say that out loud?”
He chuckled. “Yes, but it wasn’t a revelation.”
“I can be good. I don’t want you to think I’m always naughty. You won’t have to spank me every day or anything. I’m pretty sure I can be good if I try. You weren’t going to spank me every day, were you?” Those sentences came in rapid fire in her nervous voice.
Terry pulled into the parking lot for the restaurant, slid into a spot, and turned off the engine. When he faced her fully, she was chewing on her bottom lip, her eyes wide again. “Bumblebee, you enchant me. Don’t you worry. I will have rules, but I’m a fair Daddy. We’ll make a list together so there will be no misunderstandings. We’ll make a list of punishments I might use also.”
She looked surprised. “You’ll want me to help you decide what my rules are and how you’re going to discipline me?”
“Of course, Little one. Obviously some rules are non-negotiable and for your safety, but most of them we will decide on together. After all, you know better than anyone what parts of your life need guidance, don’t you?”
She drew in a shallow breath. “I guess so, but I’ve never thought of it like that. If I get to choose my own punishments, I think I’ll pick marshmallows for dinner on days when I misbehave and chocolate for dessert when I don’t finish my vegetables.”
Terry laughed hard. A full belly laugh. “Thank goodness we’ll be making those lists together then. A key part of negotiating includes both parties agreeing on the decisions. I don’t think marshmallows and chocolate bars are going to make the cut as possible disciplinary actions.”
His Little girl graced him with one of her rare giggles again as he opened the door to get out of the car. He loved the way her face softened when she wasn’t trying so hard to be whatever she thought she should be for other people’s benefit.
Terry rounded the car to let her out, and then he took her hand in his and led her to the entrance. “Let me see if I remember. You wanted fried frog legs for an appetizer and goat’s milk to drink, right?”
Kiki gave him yet another giggle as he opened the door to the restaurant. “Silly, Daddy,” she murmured for his ears only.
Yeah. His heart was filling up fast now that he’d found his special Little.
Chapter Five
Terry waited until they were settled in their booth and had their food before he started asking his Little girl questions again. He had her trapped because he had slid into the same bench seat on the booth next to her when they’d arrived.
He’d loved the way her breath hitched when he’d taken his seat and how she’d trembled slightly upon realizing she was tucked into a corner with no escape. He supposed she could slip down to the floor and crawl out if she truly wanted to, but that seemed excessive even for Kiki.
“So, you were attracted to me the night of the holiday party too, huh, Bumblebee?”
She squirmed in her seat and rolled her eyes before taking a huge bite of crab Rangoon and grinning at him. The little imp had found a way to avoid his questions. She could pop something in her mouth and then claim that it would be rude to talk with her mouth full. She’d already used this tactic a few times. He was onto her, but she couldn’t eat forever. Eventually she would run out of food.
He noticed each time she stuffed her mouth after he asked her a question, she used the time to contemplate her answer, which might have been a good thing since she did indeed have a tendency to respond too quickly. Eventually her mouth was going to get her into trouble.
After she swallowed, she wiped her pretty lips. “I mean, who wouldn’t be attracted to you?” she asked. “Of course I was. You leaned into the daycare all larger than life. It was super sweet that you were checking on your sister even though she has a Daddy. But then the wind got knocked out of me when a woman called your name and you left us to go talk to her. I assumed you were in a relationship.”
He frowned. “A woman?”
“Yep.”
“I don’t remember that part. What woman?” Suddenly, Terry remembered the interruption. “Ah, right. That was Elaine. I’d left my credit card with her up front so she could run it to pay my dues when the internet came back up. Were you jealous, Little Bumblebee?” He kind of liked the idea that his Little girl had not only been instantly interested in him but she’d also been envious of another woman’s attention.