Page 55 of Their Forever Daddy

It sounded positively lovely. And they’d be far enough from town that the risk of running into anyone they knew was minimal. The deciding factor was the pleading look Jesse was sending her way. She’d always been a sucker for that look.

Sighing heavily, Edie nodded. “All right. If you’re sure nobody will recognize you, then okay. Let’s do it.”

“Yay!” Jesse squealed so loudly it made Edie wince as the sound pierced her eardrums. “Okay, it’s going to take me a bit to get ready, so I should probably get a jump on that. You stay down here with Daddy and get to know each other better.”

Before Edie or Grant could protest, she was up and running for the stairs. Edie looked back at Grant, letting a smug smile lift the corner of her mouth. “You always let her boss you around like that?”

“No. And she knows she’s going to pay for it later, which I’d guess was half the point.” His gaze zeroed in on Edie, and suddenly she wished she’d followed Jesse upstairs. “She’s right, though. We should talk.”

“I, ah, thought that’s what the date was for.”

“The date is for all three of us. This, right now, is about you and me.”

“And if I don’t want to talk?”

“Afraid that’s not really an option, little pixie. So, you decide how we proceed. I’m just as comfortable having this conversation with you over my knee if that’s what it takes.”

Scowling at the threat even as her heart galloped in her chest, she folded her arms and slouched back against the couch. “Do you always rely on spankings to get your way?”

“Only when I’m dealing with exceptionally stubborn little girls,” he teased with a grin.

“I’m not stubborn. I just don’t like being bossed around all the time.”

“Which is something we should discuss.” His expression sobered. “I certainly don’t want to stomp on your boundaries, but I do think you could use some bossing around.”

She would not squirm. She would not. “What makes you say that?”

“For starters, the fact that you do a significant amount of manual labor and I’ve seen you drink maybe one glass of water in the time I’ve been here.”

“Well, we’ve been a bit occupied. I drink plenty of water most days.” Depending on how you defined ‘plenty’ and ‘most’, it probably wasn’t a total lie.

The sound of running water met her ears, and Edie glared at the entrance to the kitchen. “You stay out of this!”

“Please tell me you’re not talking to your… err…”

Looking back at Grant, she couldn’t help but smirk. “My dead husband? I am, because he’s being a nosy sonofabitch!” She let her voice raise on the last half of her answer, and the tap in the kitchen shut off.

The look on Grant’s face was full of such pained confusion she couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him. “He’s calling me out for lying about how much water I drink. He knows I tend to get… sidetracked by other things and forget to drink. And sometimes eat.”

Flicking his gaze to the kitchen, Grant shook his head. “At some point, you’re going to tell me how you do that. In the meantime, we’re going to set up some rules.”

“What kind of rules?”

“Sixty-four ounces of water a day, minimum. Two full meals, preferably three, but I’ll allow for a healthy snack if you’re having an exceptionally busy day.”

Nerves danced up her spine at the steel in his tone. “Sixteen ounces, one meal.”

His jaw firmed, letting her know this wasn’t a fight she was likely to win. “While many aspects of our relationship will be up for negotiation, your health is not one of them. Sixty-four ounces of water, two full meals and one healthy snack. And for every ounce of water you miss, it’s one swat with the hairbrush. An extra ten for each meal or snack you neglect to eat.”

“I can take care of myself, Grant. I don’t need you babysitting my food choices.”

“And I won’t be. I’m not too concerned with what you’re eating, as long as you’re fueling your body with something. And hydrating properly.”

It had been so long since she’d had someone take control, her instinct was to balk. To tell him to fuck off and leave her the hell alone.

But he’d been very clear that being in a relationship with him would mean submitting to him. Still… she had to know for sure. “And if I say no?”

“Then I suppose you and I will have to settle for just being friends.” His dark gaze bored into hers. “But I have to tell you, I’ll be rather disappointed if that’s the option you choose. I love Jesse with everything I have, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to getting my hands on you again. And I’d hate to lose that opportunity just because you’re scared to let someone else be in control for a bit.”

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