Page 155 of Her Daddies' Everything

“I don’t think so. You can like what you like, as long as it’s not harming anyone.”

“But isn’t it harming everyone’s backs?”

His face grew serious. “Are you saying you’re too heavy for me to carry?”

“Um, considering I’m a grown woman, yes.” Why was he upset about that?

“That’s the last time you’ll do that.”

“Do what?” she asked, feeling bewildered.

“Put yourself down. Don’t like it. Don’t do it.”

Oh yeah. He’d told her that before.

“I don’t really consider that putting myself down. But, let’s leave that and go to the other issue. You don’t like it so I shouldn’t do it? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Exactly what I’m saying. Glad that’s clear.”

“You’re not actually the boss of me.”

“Had this conversation, don’t need to have it again. I am the boss. I’m in charge. You do what I say.”

“Is there something worse than arrogant?” she asked. “Can you be double-dose arrogant? Because that’s what you are. You’re the DD of arrogant.”

“Being cute ain’t gonna get you out of your scolding.”

“I’m being cute?” She sat up straighter, smiling.

“Yeah. You’re being cute. You’re always fucking cute.”

“That’s a dollar.”

“Except when you’re telling me I owe you money for swearing.”

Another gasp escaped her as she leaned back against the sofa. Hey, she couldn’t help it. If he kept saying things like this, she was going to gasp. And if she was going to gasp, well, she was going to do a good job of it.

No point in doing a half-assed job.

“I’m not cute when I tell you that you owe a dollar?” she repeated.

“Nope.” His lips were twitching for some reason.

“Do you find this funny?”

“Yeah, forgot to mention that. You’re funny.”

“I feel like that might be an insult.”

“It’s not. Now, you want to tell me what you were thinking putting those up on your own?” He nodded to the decorations that she’d been hanging above the mantelpiece of the huge fireplace which they rarely used.

“How else was I going to put them up?” she asked.

“You put them up yourself every year?”

Okay. So this was dangerous territory. She’d been warned against lying, but she also didn’t want to admit the truth. “I think I might plead the fifth.”

“You don’t get to plead the fifth.”

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