Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 46837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Yawning, Riley rubbed her cheek against his powerful shoulder. “I’m tired, Daddy.”
“It’s way past time for Little girls to be in bed. I need to hold you in my arms, Riley. You can nap in your crib tomorrow.”
“I want to be with you, too, Daddy.”
“A bath to relax and into bed for my Little girl. Would you like to take a friend with you?” he asked, leaning her back to look into her eyes.
“A friend?” she echoed.
“A stuffie begged me to take him home the other day. I set him in your crib. He’s been waiting to meet you.”
Struggling to stand up from his lap, Riley let Milo help her without protest. She started forward before pausing to take her Daddy’s hand and tug him toward the crib.
“I’m coming, Riley,” he promised with a laugh.
As they approached, Riley could see a reddish creature looking at her from the pillows. Suddenly shy, she stopped and looked, afraid to pick it up.
“Red pandas are endangered. You will need to take special care of your new friend. Go pick him up,” Milo urged.
Shuffling her feet, Riley leaned into the beautiful crib. She cradled the cuddly stuffie in her arms and stood up to look at Milo. “He’s so soft.” Stroking over his fur, Riley admired his coloring. The panda’s red coloring and dark legs contrasted perfectly with its white-marked face.
“He’ll need a name,” her Daddy pointed out.
“Pandy.”
“Want to take Pandy to Daddy’s bed? He can wait for you there while you take a bath,” Milo suggested.
Riley shook her head violently. She didn’t want to be separated from her new friend. He’d waited too long for her already.
“Then let’s take him in the bathroom while we get ready for bed. He’ll have to sit on the vanity, so he doesn’t get wet,” Milo warned.
“Okay. Pandy likes being with us.”
Milo wrapped an arm around her waist and turned Riley toward the door. She only remembered that she was naked while he was completely dressed as she felt his clothes against her. Hugging Pandy a bit closer, Riley tucked herself against her Daddy. She wasn’t really hiding. Riley just wanted the reassurance of both Pandy and Daddy.
In the bathroom, Milo pointed to a special spot in between the two sinks. “Let’s make a bed for Pandy here,” he suggested. When Riley nodded her agreement, he opened a cabinet under one sink and pulled out two fluffy towels.
“One for Pandy and one for Riley,” he explained. Milo placed one in that reserved spot and invited Riley to set Pandy into place with a wave of his hand.
“I think he likes it,” Riley said when the stuffie sat on his soft cushion.
“Brush your teeth for Daddy while I start your bath,” Milo instructed, pulling out a new toothbrush and opening it. He put a dab of toothpaste on it despite her assurances that she could do it. “Let Daddy help.”
As she rubbed the new red toothbrush over her teeth, Milo turned on the warm water in the tub and added a small capful of lavender bath salts. Then he joined her at the sink to clean his own teeth. Staring at him in the mirror, Riley realized she loved doing everyday things with her Daddy. It made this relationship feel more real—not like they were pretending or just having a scene.
She rinsed her mouth and giggled at the foamy lipstick her Daddy wore.
“What, panda mine?” he asked, pretending he didn’t know he had toothpaste all over his mouth. “Want a kiss?” he offered.
Giggling, she pressed her lips on his and smeared the minty paste over her mouth as well. “Now we both have to rinse, again.”
With that task completed, he guided her to the bathtub. She turned to look at him as she stepped into the warm water. “Can that be my nickname?”
“Panda?” he guessed.
“I’d like that.” She crossed her fingers by her side, hoping that he’d love her as much as she already loved Pandy.
“I’d like that, too. Okay, panda bear, sit down so we can get all the sticky off you. Did you take a bath in beer tonight at the bar?”
“No, Daddy,” she laughed before hissing in pain as her punished bottom touched the warm water. Luckily, the discomfort faded quickly and helped ease the stinging. “Beer has a mind of its own. It goes everywhere.”
“Then we’ll need to get you clean,” Milo commented as he reached for her hand to remove the wrap around her finger. He held it close to his face, inspecting it. “This is healing nicely. Let’s leave the bandage off.” He grabbed a washcloth from the cabinet and kneeled by her side.
“I can do it,” she rushed to assure him.
“Daddy’s job.”
Milo lathered up the washcloth and stroked it over her hand, cleaning carefully between all her fingers before cleaning her arm and underarm. She gasped as the soft material brushed the sensitive swell of her breast.