Page 47 of Daddy's Little Worker
“I’m warming up a tomato soup I made last month and had in the freezer. And for something cold, I made Gazpacho soup the other day that you can try,” Daddy explained. “The tomato soup is almost done, and I’ll get the Gazpacho soup out and put some in a bowl.”
Frankie blinked several times at Daddy. She didn’t know who taught him how to cook. Was his food any good? If it was, she was going to have to figure out some way to stay with him forever.
“Surprised?” Daddy raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t think I could cook?”
Her shoulders went up as she jerked her gaze to the floor, feeling embarrassed that he caught her shock.
“My mother taught me when I was growing up. I took an interest in it from a young age. She decided to let me fall in love with it rather than shooing me out of the kitchen,” he explained. “It’s all thanks to my mother and her allowing me to be in the kitchen. Now, these lines look perfect. All is forgiven.”
Frankie looked at him and nodded. She really wanted a hug right now as he said those words, but she was just going to have to settle for the words instead.
“Come here,” Daddy said, holding his arms open.
Before she could even blink, she was in his arms, nuzzling her head into his chest.
“Oh, baby,” he cooed at her. “You really needed this, didn’t you?”
Frankie nodded, holding him tighter. She didn’t want it to end. Not so soon.
“Sweetheart.” His voice had gone all soft. “Any time you need a hug, you let me know. I don’t care what time of day it is or even if it’s in the middle of the night. If you need a hug, I will give you one. Does that sound okay?”
She hesitated for a second. Frankie had found herself needing a hug a lot recently. Ever since he had given her the first one, she found herself craving them all the time. She wanted to feel his arms wrapped around her, making her feel safe and secure, but also loved.
“How about this? When you need a hug, you come to me and ask for a hug. When I need a hug, I’ll come to you and ask for one. Does that sound okay?” Daddy pulled away slightly.
Frankie whimpered at the loss of contact but gazed up at him.
“Does that sound like a deal? We both come to each other when we need a hug, no matter what time of day or night it is.” He searched her face. “And yes, Daddies do need hugs as well. Sometimes we are fragile and need to feel like we matter.”
Frankie made an O with her mouth. She guessed that would make sense. Daddies were also human and needed love and care.
“So, do you think you can do that?” Daddy asked.
Frankie nodded. She was going to try, at the very least. She didn’t know if she was going to succeed at it since she had never asked for a hug before in her life.
But there was a first for everything, right?
“Now, let’s get you fed,” Daddy gently spoke.
CHAPTER 21
FRANKIE
Frankie was utterly bored. Daddy wouldn’t allow her to do any work at all. It was killing her just sitting around, doing nothing. But Daddy didn’t want her to overwork herself while she was still healing. It had only been four days since her attack, and she was making progress in her life. Her throat didn’t hurt anymore, and even though the bruises were still a nasty dark purple color, it was lightening some.
“Do I have to sit here all day?” she whined from her spot on the couch in his office. “I can work now. Dr. Mike even said I could.”
This was going to be another torturous day if she had to sit on his couch and watch him. She could be working right now, earning money, but instead, she was sitting on the couch, doing nothing.
“Yes, sweetheart.” Daddy looked up from his computer. “Just until the end of the week. And no talking. You heard what Dr. Mike said.”
Sighing, she leaned back into the couch and closed her eyes. Frankie had been sleeping a whole lot better since moving in with Daddy. He made her take some naps during the week on hissoft couch. He had spent well-earned money on this couch, but it still didn’t take away that she was stuck in here, bored.
On the first day, Frankie had colored and brought Lita with her, but she was growing bored with that. She had never had this much free time in her life, and she didn’t like it. She didn’t know what to do with herself. Maybe if she could go out and do things, it would be better, but she was stuck in this office.
“He said I could talk a little.” She rolled her eyes as she looked at him. “I’m just bored. I could be working and earning money.”
That was what she was really worried about. A full week of not being able to work was going to kick her in the bottom. Even though insurance covered all her medicine, which she found hard to believe and would be asking Dominic how much he had spent, it was still a worry. She didn’t know when Daddy was going to tell her she needed to find a new apartment, and she needed to have all the money saved up so she could move into one better than the last place.
