Page 186 of The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The Second Collection
Emily screws up her pretty face. “All I’ve really been able to do is distract her. She’s hurting, and she won’t tell me why.”
“Something went very wrong during her last scene with Ten,” Logan offers.
“It was before that, Daddy,” Emily says. “I mean, I think Master Ten is part of it, but he’s the symptom rather than the cause.”
“What do you think is the cause, Emmy?” I ask. Logan’s subbie is sensitive, which makes her insightful. Her vulnerability means Logan has to be twice as protective of her, but I don’t think he minds at all.
“I think she wants someone to love her.”
“We all want that, baby doll,” Logan says gently. “Even if we don’t all want it in the same way.”
Emily shakes her head. “I think she wants someone to love her,for her, not because she’s a subbie, or because she’s into butt stuff. I think she wants what we have, Daddy.”
“Ah.” Logan nods.
“What you and your daddy have is pretty special.” I smile at each of them. “I’m thinking I’ll take it slow with her, so she understands I’m not just looking for a play partner. I have more to offer.”
“Good,” Emily says emphatically. “That’s better than Master Theo.”
I lift an eyebrow at her, surprised by her vehemence. “What do you mean by that, sweetie?”
She glances at Logan. That’s a very guilty glance.
“Remember the rules, little girl,” Logan warns.
She turns a brilliant pink. “Sorry. I didn’t mean anything by it, Master Mac.”
Logan clears his throat. “We also have a rule about lying, Emily.”
“That’s not fair! I have to be honest but if I’m honest about Master Theo then I’ll break the other rule.” She shudders. “I don’t want to break your rules, Daddy, and I never,everwant to ride the pony again.”
Jesus, he had her ride a wooden pony for punishment? No wonder she doesn’t want to break a rule.
I hold up my hand to restore the peace. “I’m not trying to get you to break a rule, Emmy. I can guess what you mean.”
“It’s Master Theo who’s mean,” she mutters, darting a glance at Logan.
“Emily,” he growls.
“Well, he is. He was mean to you about the thing with Rick, and he was mean to Laurel, and he was mean to Bren, not giving her cuddles when Itoldhim?—”
“Emily, enough. We talked about this. Theo had a job to do during Rick’s stalking, and we have to respect that. He did give Brenna some cuddles.”
“She wascrying, Daddy. Like her heart was broken in fifty thousand pieces. She wouldn’t have cried like that if he’d given her good cuddles.”
Logan runs his hand through his hair. I can’t see any response he can give, and apparently Logan can’t, either.
“Well,” I say. “If the Navy taught me anything, it was how to give good cuddles.”
Emily giggles and that breaks the tension around the table.
“Em, I promise, if she gives me the chance, I’ll cuddle the fuck out of her.”
She smiles at me and wiggles in her chair.
The African soup is a big hit.
Brenna eats all of hers in less than five minutes. When I see those chocolate eyes, now lit with a mischievous twinkle, straying to my bowl, I offer her the rest of mine.
