Page 6 of Daddy's Laws

Rolling her eyes, Shannon grabbed the phone and gave her friend a reassuring smile. “Of course, I do. It wasn’t even that big a deal. These two meanie heads just overreacted.”

“On that note,” James said, reaching down to cup Olivia’s chin in his hand. “I believe my little girl may need a bit more of a reminder as to who is in charge around here. Enjoy your vacation.”

Olivia’s eyes widened, the brown deepening with a mixture of fear and excitement, but the call ended before she could respond.

“Now.” Bryant grabbed the phone from her hands and tossed it onto the damp bedspread before giving Shannon his full attention once more. “Let’s discuss the rules for your stay here.”

CHAPTER3

If Shannon’s eyes got any wider, they were liable to fall right out of her head. “What rules?” Her attempt at haughty disdain was ruined somewhat by the high squeak of her voice.

It took all his willpower not to grin like the cat who’d caught the canary. For months now, he had been trying to figure out how to get the blonde bombshell over his knee and in his bed. Fate—or more accurately, a meddling brat—had dropped her right into his lap, and he wasn’t about to waste the opportunity he’d been granted.

Forcing his mouth into a stern line, he gave her his best ‘Daddy’ glare. “If you’re going to stay in my house, you’ll be expected to follow my rules.”

Her brows furrowed and she crossed her arms over her chest. “But it’s not your house! It’s Olivia’s house!”

“Partly. I own the majority share, so it’s mostly my house.” That was a card he never would have played with Olivia and James directly, but he saw no reason to avoid using it to his advantage now.

The seconds ticked by on the charming little seashell clock Livvy had bought for the bedside stand as Shannon openly struggled with her next move. He saw when she decided on it; the corner of her lip twisted up into a satisfied smirk and she tossed her wet hair behind her. “I’ll just go home, then.”

Ah, his little girl wanted to play hardball, did she? Well, he was more than happy to oblige. Feigning indifference, he shrugged. “All right. Drive safe.”

Lips parting to form a surprised ‘O’, she blinked rapidly. It was obvious she’d been expecting him to back off, not wish her well and send her on her way. “That’s it? That’s all you have to say?”

“Of course not.” There was that smug smile again, which he happily removed for her. “Text Livvy when you get home so we all know you made it back safely.”

“You’d really kick me out for not playing your perverted little games?”

Fighting back the spike of temper, he gave another careless shrug. “My house, my rules, princess.”

Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “I’m not your princess. God knows you’re no prince charming.”

“Ouch.” He pressed a hand to his chest. “You wound me,princess.”

Despite her obvious annoyance with him, the corners of her lips twitched. Still, neither of them gave an inch, instead choosing to sit together in silence until the sky turned red and then black. Every bone in his body wanted to push her to demand an answer, but he knew how to wait out an opponent and so he kept his peace until she finally cracked.

“Hypothetically... If I stayed, what would the rules be?”

Years of courtroom appearances had taught him how to hide his excitement when things went his way. Keeping his expression and tone as even as possible, he explained what he had in mind. “All I ask is that you at least try to keep yourself safe. Which, first and foremost, means not going in the ocean alone. If you’re going out, I’d like a heads up so I know when to expect you home.”

“Keeping tabs on me, Monroe?” There was no mistaking the bitterness in her tone, but he ignored it for now.

“Hardly. It’s just good manners to let your roommate know when to expect you home so they don’t worry. I’ll do the same for you.”

“And if I don’t follow your rules?”

He wasn’t quite strong enough to hide his smirk. “That sore bottom you’re sitting on isn’t enough of an answer?”

Seeing her cheeks blush as red as her backside had under his hand was a delight he couldn’t ever imagine tiring of. She tried to cover her embarrassment with another flash of temper. “If you think I’m going to let you lay your hands on me again, you’ve got another thing coming.”

“Then, as I said, make sure to text Olivia when you get home so we know you made it safely.”

A murderous glint flashed in her eyes, and he almost wished she’d act on it so he could have an excuse to spank her again. “You can’t just kick me out!”

“Did you sign a rental agreement with Liv for your week here?”

He had his answer in the way the color drained from her cheeks. “That doesn’t matter. We had a verbal agreement, and I have texts to prove it.”

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