Page 65 of Their Forever Daddy

She didn’t really start fighting him until they got to the top of the stairs. Then she dug in her heels, shaking her head as he tried to pull her along behind him.

As sympathetic as he was feeling toward both his girls at the moment, he was determined to give Edie the privacy he’d promised. “Jesse, you can walk down these steps on your own, or Daddy can carry you. But if I have to carry you, then you’re going to be riding around town with a very sore bottom. Which is it going to be?”

“Daddy, no! They’re gonna see!”

Her voice had dropped to a loud whisper that was probably meant to be discreet but unfortunately failed miserably at actually being so. “See what?”

With an annoyed glare, she gestured to her clothes. “See me!”

“So? You look adorable.”

“I look Little.”

“Baby.” He was doing his best not to laugh, but a hint of amusement crept into his voice. “I don’t think anyone down there is going to be bothered by your clothes.”

“You don’t know that!”

“Considering Edie threatened to call their Daddies if they didn’t play nice, it seems like a safe bet.”

“Just cuz they have Daddies doesn’t mean they’re Little.”

His babygirl had dug in her heels. So he changed tact. “Do you really think Edie would be friends with them if they were super judgmental about Littles?”

“Oh.” The corners of her mouth dipped down into a thoughtful frown. “I guess not.”

“Exactly. So, what’s it going to be? Spankings or donuts?”

“Daddy!” Gasping with pure Little outrage, she glared up at him. “You can’t take my donuts away!”

“I can and I will if you don’t get that adorable little butt out the door in the next thirty seconds.”

“What are you waiting for, slowpoke?”

Relieved to hear her sounding a bit more like herself, he led the way down the stairs. When they hit the main floor, he slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her close, with his body blocking her from view of the living room. He paused, just long enough to meet Edie’s gaze.

His little pixie jerked her head toward the front door, clearly telling him to get moving. And as much as it felt like feeding her to the wolves, he had Jesse to think of. It was like being torn in two, leaving Edie behind as he guided Jesse out to his car.

They were several minutes away from the farm before she spoke. “Daddy?”

“Yes, baby?”

“Do you think they’ll ever stop hating me?”

His heart broke at the sadness in her voice. “Who said they hate you?”

“They did, more or less. Not this morning, but before, when I ran into them in town.”

What the hell was he supposed to say to that? It was obvious Edie was incredibly close with her friends, and those types of groups could be very unforgiving when it came to past relationships. “I think… we should just give Edie some time to talk to them. She clearly doesn’t hate you, and if they love her as much as I think they do, they’ll just want her to be happy.”

“Yeah. I guess.”

Linking his fingers with hers, he brought their joined hands to his lips. “It’ll be okay, little outlaw. I promise.”

She gave a noncommittal hum, so he let the subject drop. And hoped he’d actually be able to keep that promise.

Chapter 24

Edie

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