Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 146666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 587(@250wpm)___ 489(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146666 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 733(@200wpm)___ 587(@250wpm)___ 489(@300wpm)
“To keep me safe? Elijah Anderson! Did you basically build me a whole new car!” Because it certainly looked brand new. Her car was gleaming and it was more than being washed. “And did you have it filled with balloons.”
Because other than a space for the driver’s seat, it was filled with purple glittery balloons. That could not be safe.
“Yes.”
“But . . . but . . . but . . . that’s crazy!” She threw her hands up into the air. “You can’t do that!”
“Well, I didn’t blow up all the balloons. Someone did that for me.”
“Not that! That part is cute and I seriously love it!” she said loudly.
“Uh, you don’t sound like you love it.”
She pointed at him. “This is not happening. Nope. You did not have my car rebuilt for me.”
“It is happening. What you cannot do is speak to me in that tone.”
Uh-oh.
She took a step back and he raised an eyebrow. “Don’t back away from me, baby girl. That’s a very bad idea.”
Her heart raced.
He paused, watching her closely. “You’re not scared, are you?”
Scared? No. Not of him.
“That’s a good girl. Now, come here. You’re going to have to pay for talking to Daddy that way.”
“Nope, I think I’m good where I am.” She darted away from him with a squeal. “You know what? I think I’ll take this brand new car of mine for a spin!”
“You will not. You will come here, Little girl, and get your punishment for talking to Daddy in that tone.”
She waited to see if he was going to make a grab for her. Instead, he just stood there calmly and crooked his finger at her.
Seriously! Did he really think she was just going to walk over to him and let him punish her?
Nope. Not happening.
“Come here right now.”
Five seconds later, she was standing in front of him.
“Well, hell,” she muttered. “How on earth did that happen?”
“It’s the power of Daddy. Come along, Little girl. It’s time to go inside and have a chat about what tone you are to use when speaking to Daddy. Also, you owe me some lines.”
“But Daddy, this isn’t fair. How is it that you’re the one at fault and I’m being punished?” He led her into the dining area and sat on a chair before pulling her between his legs.
“I’m at fault? And what did I do wrong? All I wanted was to take care of my girl. I wanted to buy you a new car. I still think I should have gone for that option.”
“You can’t buy me a new car!”
“Why not?”
“Because! You just can’t! It’s too extravagant. Too expensive.”
“Might have been cheaper than fixing up your car.”
“Daddy!” She put her hands over her face. “I can’t believe you did that.”
“I want you safe. Now that that discussion is finished, let’s move on to your tone of voice.”
“How is that discussion over?”
“Because I say it is,” he replied.
Ooh, the arrogance of this man.
“You were very naughty to speak to Daddy like that. When it comes to safety, who is in charge?”
“You are, Daddy. But—”
“No buts, Little girl. I am in charge of safety and driving that car around wasn’t safe in its old state. So I did what was necessary and I won’t hear any arguments.”
“Urgh, you’re so frustrating sometimes.”
“And you’re so naughty. Now, you’re going to write your fifty lines from last night. Then you’ll get ten spanks once you’re finished for that tone of voice.”
“But, Daddy, that’s not fair.”
“I could give you the spanking before you do your lines and make you sit on a hot bottom.”
“You know what . . . I’m just going to get on with my lines.”
“That’s what I thought you would say.”
He got her situated with a piece of lined paper and a pen. This was going to suck.
“Daddy?”
“Yes, baby girl?”
“Thanks for taking such good care of me.”
“You never have to thank me for that.”
52
Aidan wasn’t happy.
He was so not happy that she expected steam to start coming out of his ears. He was pacing back and forth across the living room of his house. Livvy had taken the boys next door to visit Sunny and give her some gifts they’d bought for her.
And probably to avoid listening to Aidan lecture Greer.
Although he looked so mad that he was probably going to threaten to spank her again.
Not happening, buddy. Only one man spanks me now.
Yeah . . . maybe she shouldn’t say that to him.
“Why do you have your hand over your mouth? Because you don’t want to explain to me why I’m only now finding out that my baby sister has a stalker?”
She glanced over at Stone, who was leaning against the living room wall and looking far too amused about the fact that she was getting her ass handed to her. She glared at him.