Page 35 of Big Daddy Christmas
About to grab a shower and then I’m headed your way! LET’S GET YOU MARRIED!!!
* * *
Tossing her phone on the bed, she hurried toward the bathroom, slowing only when she spotted the hot-pink silk robe Holden had bought for her birthday. Well, technically to make up for the birthday he’d missed out on when they’d been broken up, even though she’d been the one to end things. The fact that he’d still wanted to celebrate her, despite how she’d hurt him, was just one of the million little things she loved about him.
Curious to see what he was up to, she plucked the sticky note from the lapel and scanned his neat handwriting.
* * *
Take a shower and come downstairs wearing nothing but this robe. Breakfast will be waiting for you.
* * *
The brat in her was tempted to defy him, just to see what would happen. But her ass still ached from his rough treatment the night before and, if she was being honest, she just wasn’t in the mood to test him. She was too excited about her best friend getting married to make trouble.
So she showered, taking the extra time to exfoliate and shave everywhere, and even doing a deep condition on her hair before wrapping herself in the robe.
She paused, her attention drifting to the scale beside the shower. For two weeks, she’d been weighing herself every day, desperate to see the numbers go down so that maybe, maybe she wouldn’t hate herself going down the aisle.
But weighing every day was one of those habits she was supposed to be breaking. Once a week was fine, encouraged even, but every day was a signal she was falling back into an unhealthy mindset.
Turning her back on the scale, she wrapped the robe more tightly around her and headed down toward the kitchen. Halfway there, the most delicious scent in the world hit her nostrils and she had to stop herself from moaning out loud.
Muffins.
Not too long after they’d married, Holden had discovered her weakness for homemade blueberry muffins, and he’d spent the next few months perfecting a recipe she couldn’t refuse. Even on her worst days when she was the most in her head about her weight, Daddy’s muffins were the one thing she could never turn down.
Emotion clogged her throat and she had to blink back tears before she felt steady enough to finish her trek to the kitchen. Where she found him, her Giant Silver Fox Daddy, standing in front of the stove wearing a black apron that read Chef Daddy in blocky white letters on the front. It had been a gag gift she’d found while out shopping one day, and even though it was way too small for him to be very effective, he wore it whenever he cooked.
Another of those little things that made her heart beat double time whenever she looked at him.
Just like the glint in his eye when he glanced up the second she stepped foot in the kitchen. She swore he had some kind of Daddy radar, because it didn’t matter how quiet she was, he always just knew when she was close by.
That glint turned to a smolder as his gaze raked down her form. “Good girl. Take the robe off and have a seat at the table. Breakfast is almost ready.”
“I really don’t have time for that. We need to get going and head over to the hotel. Besides, Lottie got us a breakfast buffet, so I'll have plenty to eat there.”
One silvery brow raised, and she instinctively moved her hands behind her, as if that would somehow save her ass if he decided she needed a spanking. “I’ve already spoken with Braden and let him know we’re going to be a bit later than planned. And I know about the buffet. But I know you, and I know that even if you weren’t struggling you’d be too excited and distracted to eat. So you’re going to have breakfast before you go.”
“I can’t be late, Holden. My best friend is getting married.”
“You won’t be late for the wedding. According to the schedule you personally made up for everyone, the hair and makeup people won’t even be there for another hour after you’re scheduled to arrive, and you aren’t on the list to start the process for another two hours after that. Sit, Francesca.”
So much for her plan to be a good girl. Crossing her arms, she glared up at him. “I’m going to eat, but I’m not going to be late.”
“I understand this is a big day for you, baby. But you are my top priority, not the wedding. And I want to make sure that you not only have a healthy breakfast, but you don’t skip out on any meals the rest of the day. I had planned something fun to help you remember, but if you’d rather have a welted bottom and a plug covered in ginger oil as a reminder instead, I can easily pivot.”
The last thing she wanted was to walk down the aisle with a plug in her ass. “You’re being ridiculous. But fine.”
She reached for the belt on her robe, but was stopped by his hand covering hers. And when his other hand gripped her chin, forcing her to look up into his dark, concerned eyes, her stomach immediately twisted with guilt.
“Is it really going to upset you this much to be twenty minutes later than planned getting to the hotel?”
“I’m just worried about Lottie. I don’t want her freaking out because I’m not there. I’m her matron of honor, Holden.”
“Would you feel better if I let you call her?”
Relief loosened the knots in her stomach. “Much.”
