“You’re mine. My girl. Understand?”
She nodded.
“Right, let’s get Aunty Marie back and pay for this.”
“I didn’t even notice that she left,” she admitted. She wiped at the stray tears sliding down her cheeks. Reaching over, he grabbed a tissue and helped clean her up.
“I’m going to take care of you. All you have to do is let me.”
“I’ll take care of you too.”
“I know you will, my girl.”
She was nearly skipping as they walked out to his truck. She couldn’t wait to get home and put on her long socks and light-up shoes.
“I wish I’d brought Squawkers with me.”
“Next time, Georgie-girl,” Ed promised as he put all the bags in the back of his truck. She’d gotten her bottom slapped inside for trying to grab some of them. It hadn’t even made Aunty Marie look up. She really was used to this.
“Can I have the steering wheel?” she asked.
“What do you say?” Ed asked.
Say? He gave her a look. Ooh. Right.
“Please, Big Daddy?”
“That’s my good girl.” As he rustled around in the bags, she had this strange feeling of being watched. But as she discreetly looked around, she couldn’t see anyone. She shook it off. Probably just weird paranoia.
“Right, let’s get home.” He handed her the toy and she squealed in excitement.
Ed led her to the passenger side of the truck. He had the booster seat he’d bought in one hand. She scowled at it. She really didn’t think she needed it. But he opened the door and set it on the seat.
“What if someone sees it?” she asked.
“Just tell them you get a sore butt sitting in my truck.”
Well, it was a well-padded seat with a soft cushion on top.
“Don’t worry, they’ll probably think it’s because I’ve just spanked your ass.” He winked at her.
“Daddy!”
He lifted her in with a chuckle and buckled the seatbelt. Then he kissed the top of her nose. “You’re so cute. Now behave, no tantrums or Daddy might just have to make that red bottom a reality.”
“Fine. Let’s go, though, Daddy. I want to race you home. See who gets there first.”
When he climbed in and started up the truck, she turned the key on her steering wheel. It made a noise similar to a V8 engine.
Not really. But this was pretend play. It didn’t have to be real.
She turned a corner really sharply.
“Whoa, Georgie-girl, watch out there. Going a bit fast around that corner.”
“Daddy, I’m a race car driver. I can’t go slow around the corners.”
“Well, I’m the Daddy of a race car driver, and I say she needs to be careful.”