Page 23 of Keeping Katie

Her pupils dilate as she lets out a breath, and I lower my arm. My cock is painfully hard. It has been all night around her.

“Tell me why you wanted to come home to sleep so badly.” I’m tired of asking. There is a reason she didn’t want to stay, and I want to know what it is. I want to know every single thing about her.

When she opens her mouth, I hold up my hand to stop her because she’s about to lie to me.

“Just remember, lying is naughty, and naughty girls get in trouble.”

Her mouth snaps shut as she stares at me in disbelief. She’s silent for several seconds while I continue to drive through the dark streets.

“It’s a silly reason.”

“Nothing you say is silly.”

She sighs and turns her head to look out the passenger window. “I have a stuffed rabbit I sleep with. My dad gave it to me when I was a kid. I can’t sleep without it. I know that sounds childish?—”

I grab her hand to stop her and stroke my thumb over it. “It’s not childish. There’s nothing wrong with sleeping with a toy. Cali and the rest of them do, too. What’s its name?”

When she doesn’t answer right away, I look over and find her staring at me as if I’m an alien. I squeeze her hand and quirk a half-smile at her.

“Pancake,” she murmurs.

Chuckling, I nod. “Pancake is a cute name.”

Even though a lot of adults have stuffed animals, the fact that she can’t sleep without it confirms my suspicions. She has Little tendencies. I noticed it the first time I met her when she had a cute scrunchie at the base of her ponytail. Then again, when I showed up at the shop the next day, she put rainbow sprinkles on top of her coffee. And tonight, when I covered her up after she fell asleep, she pulled the fuzzy blanket up to her face and ran it over her cheek. She might be an adult, but she’s going to be Daddy’s Little girl one day very soon.

When we arrive at her apartment, I get out and round the car to open the door for her.

“Thank you,” she says as she rocks back and forth on the balls of her feet.

“You’re welcome. I’ll walk you to the door.”

She looks like she’s about to argue but thinks better of it before she turns and leads the way to her apartment.

“How’d your rabbit get the name Pancake?” I don’t know why I ask, but something tells me the name is important.

Katie stops and looks up at me, sadness shining in those pretty blue eyes. “Every Saturday morning, my dad would let my mom sleep in, and he would make pancakes for the two of us. He always made mine in the shape of a bunny. We’d sit on the couch and watch cartoons while we ate.” A slow smile spreads on her lips. “Before he died, he told me to keep the Saturday tradition alive for as long as I could.”

My throat tightens. Fuck. I wish I’d been able to meet her father. He sounds like a good man. “How long did you keep it up?”

She beams at me. “I never stopped.”

I stare at her for a long time before I can swallow. “One day, maybe you’ll let me join you.”

When she doesn’t say anything right away, panic rises within me. Did I push it too far? We don’t even know each other, and I’m already trying to intrude on a tradition she held with her late father. Real fucking sensitive of me.

Then she knocks me on my ass.

“Maybe. It depends how good you are at making a bunny pancake.” She pushes the door open. “See you at eleven.”

Ismell the brown sugar before I reach her door. Cinnamon and nutmeg linger around it, too. Whatever she’s making, I want some. I can work out extra hard in the gym to make up for some sweets. Especially if Katie made them.

As soon as she answers the door, my protective Daddy side kicks into high gear. Something’s wrong.

She looks at me, her blue eyes a bit wild and confused. “Um, hi.”

My gut twists as I step inside, nudging her back into the apartment. I look around, scanning for danger. Or anything that explains why Katie’s clothes from last night are covered in flour, her hair is plopped on top of her head in a big messy bun, and she has dark marks under her eyes like she hasn’t slept.

When I don’t see anything to be concerned about, I take in her place. It’s cozy. Small. But it screams Katie. Lots of pinkand cream shades, all blending together perfectly. Fairy lights and lamps create a relaxing ambiance. This is definitely her safe space. Here and the coffee shop.

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