Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
She paused at the top of the stairs.
What if her phone was in his office? Shoot. That would make the most sense. Drat. She was an idiot. She sighed. What should she do?
The sensible thing would be to go back to bed.
Maybe she’d check the kitchen anyway. There was a junk drawer there that he could have popped it into. She moved down the stairs slowly, listening for any creaks and made her way into the kitchen. She pulled open the drawer, searching around in it.
Drat. Not here.
With a sigh, she slid it shut.
“Didn’t find what you were looking for?”
With a squeal she turned, her hand going to her chest. “Clint! You scared me!”
He leaned against the doorway; his arms crossed over his chest. “What are you doing in the kitchen, Charlotte?”
“Umm.”
She attempted an innocent look, pressing her toe to the floor and twisting it around. She pushed out her bottom lip.
“I got hungry?”
“Was that a question or an answer?”
She sighed. She knew she wouldn’t get away with lying. “I’m bored. I’m feeling so much better. I want to help with the wedding planning.”
“Is that so?”
“Please, Clint. It’s my wedding. I want to help.”
He frowned. “You’re still supposed to be resting. And not stressing.”
“I’ll stress more not knowing what’s going on. I don’t actually have to do anything. If you just told me what’s happening, I’d feel much better.”
He didn’t say anything, but he seemed to be thinking about it. Which was actually more than she’d hoped for since she’d thought he would dismiss it out of hand.
“All right. I’ll start keeping you updated. Starting after the bridal shower tomorrow.”
Okay, she could handle that.
“Thanks, Clint.”
“But.” He wiggled his finger at her. Uh-oh, there was a but. “You’re still too pale. The bridal shower is enough excitement for now. You start to get stressed, you stop sleeping or eating and you’re back to radio silence.”
She nodded eagerly. “Does that mean I’m not grounded after tomorrow?”
He frowned. “We’ll need to talk to Doc about that.”
“But he said I can come off bed rest tomorrow. And I’m bored out of my mind. Can’t I please have my phone back?”
“Oh, you mean the one you were in here looking for when you’re meant to be taking a nap?”
Busted. Maybe she should have stopped talking while she was ahead.
Like Clint was going to forget that you’re down here in the kitchen when you’re meant to be upstairs sleeping.
“Come here, little darling.”
She swallowed as he held out his hand. She stepped forward and took it.
He tilted her chin up. “Are you supposed to be out of bed yet?”
“No.”
“What were you searching for in here?” he asked, even though he’d already correctly guessed at what she was doing.
“My phone.”
“You’re not supposed to have your phone, are you?”
“No.” She pouted.
“It was very naughty of you to leave bed without permission,” he scolded. “Come on, let’s get you back into bed.” He picked her up, holding her on his hip and climbed the stairs. When he’d first done this, she’d worried about him tripping and falling. But there’s no way Clint Jensen would ever trip and risk hurting her.
As he carried her into the bedroom, she stiffened. Shoot. She’d forgotten about the pillows under the bed!
He set her down.
“I’m okay, Daddy! You can go back to work now!”
He frowned at her then down at the bed. “Why is the bed so lumpy?”
He drew back the covers, his eyes widening. “Why are all these pillows under here? Why would you…”
She sighed.
“You put these here so it looked like you were sleeping if I glanced at the baby monitor.” He put his hands on his hips as he glared down at her.
She peeked up at him. “Sorry, Daddy.”
“Not as sorry as you’re going to be in a minute, little miss.”
Charlie gulped. “I thought you weren’t going to punish me while I wasn’t feeling well!”
“Weren’t you just telling how much better you’re feeling?”
“Umm, yes, well. Maybe I’m not as well as I thought I was.”
“Is that so? Well, if that’s the case we better get Doc here to examine you. We’ll need to extend your bed rest, of course. And cancel your bridal shower.”
“No! You can’t do that!” she protested.
He gave her a stern look.
She caved. “I feels a lot better, Daddy.”
“And if you’re well enough to get into mischief like this, then you’re well enough to get your butt roasted.”
Bummer. She really hadn’t thought this through.
Clint sat on the bed then he crooked a finger at her.
Reluctantly, she stepped forward, between his legs. His hands landed on her hips. “Do you want to get both of your punishments over at once? One for not telling me how stressed and run-down you were getting. Two for sneaking out of bed and trying to find your cell phone. And trying to trick me with those pillows into thinking you were sleeping.”