Page 123 of Her Daddies' Everything

“Um.” She stared down at the money, then at Tobias. She wasn’t following. “It’s money.”

“I put enough down to cover the drinks. And a good tip,” he said to her with a frown.

“Ah, yeah, but,” she leaned in close to him, “see, I leave extra for Esme because she needs a hip replacement. Only, she wouldn’t let me do a collection. Got quite upset about it. So now, I just leave her a huge tip.”

He stared at her for a long moment, not looking happy. Then he picked up the bills that she’d put down and handed them to her.

“What are you . . .” Her voice trailed off as he then took his wallet back out and put down some more money. “I don’t get it.”

He raised his eyebrows. “When you’re out with me, I pay.”

“Um, okay.” Kind of alpha, but her friends could be like that, too. She never paid for food or drinks when she was out with them. “But I wasn’t paying for the food or drinks, it was extra for Esme.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

She kind of thought it did. “That doesn’t seem fair for you to have to pay that much extra. Maybe I could?—”

“Gonna stop you right there, Immy. You offering to pay anything for me is a spanking offense.”

“It is not!” She gasped in outrage.

“It is.”

“Says who?”

“Says me. Now, stop testing me and let's go.”

He was out of control. Obviously, he needed some reining in. Which meant that he probably needed to be the victim of an Immy-joke.

Hmm. What to do, though?

Put hair dye in his shampoo? Hair removal cream in his shower gel? Slime in his shoes?

That one was a classic.

They walked up to Dev, who was sitting at the bar.

“Hey, Dev,” she said cheerfully.

“Who’re you?” he grumbled.

She leaned into Tobias. “We always play this game. I’m a bit worried that he has dementia.”

“Don’t have dementia, girl, and my hearing is excellent. Just don’t remember you.” Half-turning in his seat, he flicked hisgaze from her to Tobias. “Why you got a gang member with you?”

“Now, that’s just rude. Tobias isn’t a gang member, Dev. Although, half the people in this room likely are. And so what? It’s not nice to stereotype.”

Tobias groaned for some reason. “Immy. Quiet.”

“Uh, no. I won’t be quiet. Dev, be nice to Tobias. He’s a good man.”

“I’m really fucking not. And it’s time to go.” Tobias nodded at Dev before he picked her up and swung her over his shoulder.

It took her a moment to realize what was happening. And then she had to catch her breath. It really was no fun being carried over someone’s shoulder.

Sounded romantic when you read about it, but in reality it kind of made her feel sick and dizzy.

“Put me down! Tobias, put me down!” She wriggled in his hold.

---