Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
He held her close with one hand, grabbed the bottle, and headed for the nursery. “I know you are, Little one, but you need to take a bottle for Daddy.” He settled in the rocking chair and adjusted her in his arms.
She frowned as she shook her head. “Too tired.”
He knew she was completely out of sorts because she hadn’t even considered the fact that she should be getting up soon to go to work. He’d put it off for both of them, but after he fed her, he would call Rose and Mateo and let them know it wasn’t going to happen today at all.
Deke tapped her lips with the nipple. “Open up for Daddy.”
She twisted her head to the side. “Not thirsty, Daddy.”
“Would you be more thirsty if I spanked your bottom? I bet that would wake you up.” He didn’t want to have to spank her while she was feeling bad, but getting the bottle into her tummy was important. A swat or two wouldn’t kill her if it was effective.
She glared at him. “Meanie.”
“I would be a very bad Daddy if I let you sleep all day without drinking anything, Maya. That’s not going to happen. Now, I need you to drink this entire bottle. When it’s empty you can go back to sleep for a few hours.”
She sighed but gave up the fight and relaxed in his arms, opening her mouth.
As soon as she started sucking, she came more awake and most likely realized how hungry she was because she suckled voraciously, draining the entire bottle in no time.
“That’s my good girl.” He set the bottle aside and continued to rock her.
Maya closed her eyes and slid back asleep.
Deke thought it was a great sign that he was able to feed her, and she still had no apparent fever, so he suspected Hunter was right. She was exhausted from stress and work.
Rocking her was the best thing in the world. He could easily do so for hours, but eventually, his arm fell asleep, so he rose and carefully settled her in her crib. After lifting the side, he hurried back to his bed to grab her pacifier and stuffies. He popped the paci into her mouth and tucked the stuffies next to her.
She never stirred. The poor thing was sound asleep again.
Deke repeated the two calls from the morning, letting Rose know how sorry he was but he couldn’t leave Maya. Next he gave Mateo the same accounting, letting him know he hoped Maya would be back tomorrow.
Settling into the rocking chair with his computer, Deke decided to work on the inventory spreadsheet for Stuff-It. He could at least do that from home and get an order placed for anything they needed to replenish, especially the new hippo.
Chapter Eighteen
Maya’s phone buzzed several times on the kitchen table throughout the day and evening, but Deke ignored it. He managed to get Maya to take another bottle a few hours after the first, and she’d gone right back to sleep and slept through the night.
Deke barely slept. He kept getting up to check on her. He’d paced, worried, watched her sleep, and finally headed to the kitchen at dawn to make himself a cup of coffee. He was surprised when her phone buzzed again at this early hour.
Deciding to take a look and make sure the incoming message wasn’t something urgent, he picked up the phone. All the blood drained from his face as he stared at the screen.
He didn’t have to know her passcode or open the device to see the current incoming message.
Shy and Introverted, this is Outgoing and Adventurous, also known as Jefferson, from the dating app. Apparently we’re a pretty good match. I was surprised to see you have your phone number listed in your profile. Most people don’t reveal that information up front. I’d love to get together. I’m hoping you’re available. Call or text me any time.
Deke sat there staring at the message until it disappeared as the phone went dark. What the hell? Maya had an open profile on a dating app? Why wouldn’t she tell him that? It didn’t seem like her at all. And how could she be so irresponsible that she had her phone number listed?
He tried to control his frustration. Maya was his Little girl. No one else’s. Rationally, he knew that. There was no chance she wasn’t as in love with him as he was her. He was certain. But why did she have a dating app on her phone at all? And how was it possible she hadn’t canceled her membership in the weeks he’d known her? It made no sense.
“Daddy?” Her voice coming from the nursery made him shove his chair back and head in her direction. He paused for a moment halfway across the room to collect himself. He didn’t want to rush into the nursery shouting accusations at his Little girl. There had to be a logical explanation.