Page 39 of Their Little Helper

I’d promised to protect him.

“Dally.” Calling out, and remembering not to call him Daddy, my legs started working before I’d really thought about it. “Wait up.”

Still good…Daddy had stopped and I sounded big.

I had to at leastsoundbig for an outside grown-up date or people would stare, and I really didn’t like people staring because it just made me want to be little even more.

Which made people stare more.

The cycle was anxiety inducing, so I was trying not to let it start.

“What?” Daddy stopped suddenly, making the man who’d been following too closely run into him. “Excuse me?”

Turning around, Daddy managed to glare at the man before the man tried to do anything and it confused the man long enough for me to get to him. “There you are, baby.”

Clearly Daddy didn’t think we needed to be subtle in person.

“I came to make sure you wouldn’t get robbed or pickpocketed.” There was no point in being subtle since the man hadn’t walked off yet. “Shoo.”

As Daddy laughed, the man’s eyes widened and he whipped around, heading off the way he’d come. I shook my head andthen tried to frown at Daddy. “You need to pay more attention to your surroundings.”

“Aww. That’s so cute.” He stretched up and kissed my cheek, still not worried about anyone watching. “One second. He’s gonna do something ridiculous.”

I nodded as he put the phone back up to his ear. “Sorry. Almost got pickpocketed again. People are just persistently stupid.”

Whoever he was talking to seemed to get louder but Daddy waved his hands around again and ignored them as his phone almost went flying. “Okay. Back to your problem. If you sleep with her, I’ll tell Mom. Period.”

Oh.

“You get one bad decision a year and you had that last month.” Daddy seemed to think that was a reasonable rule but I wasn’t so sure. “I don’t care how hot she is, she tried to set your car on fire and you’re still dealing with the insurance. They’re not going to pay out if you date the crazy pyro.”

He paused before snorting and rolling his eyes. “I don’t know if that’s rude, but at this point, I don’t care. You can tattle on me for my language but then you’ll out yourself for dating crazy again.”

Daddy was quiet for a few moments before he grinned…he’d won.

“I thought so.” Looking pleased and very smug, Daddy stood straighter. “Now, you go block the crazy woman again and I’ll go have my date. But I will tattle and I’ll tattle to everyone if it comes down to it. Literally everyone. You won’t be able togo to the grocery store without someone asking about your bad decision if you date the crazy woman again.”

Daddy seemed to know how to get his way because he made another satisfied sound and nodded to himself or to whoever was on the phone. “Good. Thank you. I’ll tell them.”

Oh.

That time silence came with another eye roll.

“Both. They’re wonderfully functional. Jobs. Good decisions. One of them just saved me from hurting the pickpocket. So helpful too. I won’t even have to be late to my date because of the cops again.” He paused, sighing and smiling. “I know. But you probably won’t like him. He’s got a penis and common sense.”

Daddy laughed as whoever was on the phone…one of his brothers I was guessing…got loud again and disconnected the call. “He’s a moron but he’s family. What can you do?”

Tell them not to date crazy women who set things on fire?

“I’m glad you were able to help.” Squeezing his hand, I looked around before nodding toward the deli. “Are you ready for lunch? I didn’t see Santos but he’s close enough to walk and is probably coming from the other direction.”

Another real name. I was doing great.

Daddy frowned. “That’s weird.”

“Um, what’s weird?” Me? The walk?

“You calling him Santos.” Daddy scrunched his face up as he said it. “I’ll get used to it, but it’s weird.”

---