AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She had to smile.
“Each type of food needs to stay in its own lane,” he lectured in a deep voice. “I mean, who do carrots think they are? Trying to mosey up to their clear superiors . . . the apple.”
A giggle escaped, and he kissed the top of her head. “That’s better. I don’t want you to ever worry about me being upset with you. If I am, I will explain why, and we’ll talk about it, okay? I won’t just shut you out.”
Cate breathed out a sigh of relief. “Okay, Daddy.”
“Now, is ranch okay touching carrots?” he asked as he set her down.
“Of course!”
“Whew!” He placed his hand over his chest and stumbled back as though he’d been shot. “Because if you said no, well, we really were going to have a problem, young lady.”
Her Daddy was so silly.
“You’re a Silly Billy, Daddy.”
“Wait. Who is this Billy? Do I know him? Where is he?” He looked around.
“Daddy!” She smacked her hand against her forehead. “Obviously, Billy is make-believe.”
“Hey, careful. We don’t want to hurt that big brain of yours.” He grabbed hold of her hand, rubbing away the very slight sting.
His words were teasing, but she thought he looked serious.
“I can’t hurt my brains with a small slap like that!”
“Well, let’s not risk it. I don’t like it when you hurt yourself.”
Shit. He didn’t know, did he?
No, there was no way for him to know. The scar on her wrist was so faint, thanks to the plastic surgeon, that you’d have to look hard to see it.
Cate breathed out a sigh of relief.
“Eat up, baby,” he told her, reaching over to pick up a piece of carrot. He dipped it into the ranch and held it up to her mouth.
She took a bite. Yummy. Then another one.
Wow. She was really hungry. She grabbed a piece of apple and hummed happily, her feet kicking back and forth.
Then she noticed that Ethan wasn’t eating. He was just staring at her with a smile on his face.
“This is good, Daddy. Aren’t you going to eat any?” He had her old plate in front of him.
“Hmm? Oh yes. Daddy was just enjoying how happy you looked.”
She did feel happy. And surprisingly light.
Seemed a spanking and some Daddy time was what she’d needed to get past being overstimulated and overwhelmed.
“What are we gonna do this afternoon, Daddy?” she asked. They were having a late lunch.
“Hmm. Well, Daddy might need to do some shopping.”
Oh. She’d thought they might do something together. But wait . . . did that mean he was going to leave her?
You’ll be fine.
