Page 51 of Break Me, Daddy

Love turned the gray of Lottie’s eyes to a deeper blue as she lifted her hands to Frankie’s cheeks. “I love you so much for worrying about me. But Braden is just giving me exactly what I need. I have so much to do with the wedding planning and everything, but I haven't been getting any of it done and it’s stressing me out. So Braden has been making me lists to help me stay organized and to take some of the stress of remembering everything that needs to get done off my shoulders. And, well, a good spanking and a good cry does wonders for my stress levels as well.”

Frankie couldn’t really argue with that, considering how antsy she’d been feeling before the doctor had finally cleared her for spankings. Afterward, she’d felt so light and free of all the weight of her usual worries.

Too bad that weight had come back with a vengeance the next day.

“All right. If you’re still happy, I’m still happy. But I’ve got my eye on him.”

Laughing, Lottie grabbed Frankie's hand and dragged her into the kitchen where Abigail was busy putting dinner together. She looked up from the pot on the stove, her usual smile stretched across her face. “What are you girls up to?”

It was a question she’d been asking them for years, and Frankie shot back the same answer as always. “Making trouble.”

“Nuh-uh!” Just like Abby’s question and Frankie’s answer, Lottie’s denial was part of a time-honored tradition. “We’re being good Abby, I swear.”

“Hmm. Then why are you invading my kitchen, Miss Charlotte?”

“We were hoping you’d make us some of your award-winning peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Please, Abby?”

How anybody could say no when Lottie put on the puppy dog eyes, Frankie didn’t know. She assumed Braden had some sort of superhuman resistance to them, but luckily Abby did not possess those same powers.

“Of course I will. Sit down at the island and I’ll make you a big stack of them. And a glass of milk for each of you.”

Eyeing the hard wooden stools positioned at the island, Lottie blushed. And even though she didn’t comment, Frankie noticed she also didn’t take a seat.

While Abby moved around behind them making lunch, Lottie leaned on the marble top of the island, her expression serious. “So, this deal with Holden. You’re okay with it?”

Frankie jerked a shoulder. “Do I have a choice?”

“You could tell him to piss off and move in here with me and Braden for a while. Since going to your parents’ house is obviously out.”

“I thought about it.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Because he’s right. I need him.” It was the truth, as cold and heartless as it may have been. And if she couldn’t tell Lottie the truth, who could she tell? “As shitty as it sounds, I don't think I can do this again without him, Lottie.”

Lottie slowly nodded her head. “I get it.”

Surprised by Lottie’s answer, Frankie raised her brows. “You do?”

“Yeah. There’s something… steadying about a man like that, isn’t there?”

“There is. And I need steady right now.”

“Are you going to tell him about your dad and the ticket?”

“Ticket, yes. My dad is my own issue to work out.”

Judging by the way Lottie’s lips turned down into a frown, she didn’t approve. “You’re never going to get anywhere if you keep hiding things from him, babe.”

“Maybe I don’t want to get anywhere. Maybe I like where I am.”

Lottie snorted. “Okay. Sure. Whatever you need to tell yourself.”

Two plates appeared in front of them, with two perfectly cut sandwiches on each. For a moment, Frankie simply stared down at the offering. Now that it was in front of her, she wasn’t entirely sure she could make herself put it in her mouth.

But Lottie was watching her, with those big, worried eyes. And if nothing else, she hated to make Lottie worry.

Besides, maybe if she told Holden she ate a sandwich today, he’d go a little easier on her when she fessed up to the speeding ticket.

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