Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
“You shouldn’t work so much, Daddy! You should play with me.”
“Maybe in a while.” He set her down on the floor just as her tummy grumbled. “But let’s get you some food first.”
She stiffened, wondering how he was going to get the food. Would he have someone send something up from the kitchen?
“Relax, Spitfire. Daddy has it all sorted.” He moved behind the bar and shifted things around.
She decided to let go of her worries and grabbed one of the wooden dolls, setting it up on a stand and then sorting through the outfits. She managed to distract herself from her hunger and her cramps.
Ooh, this outfit was so cute!
“Baby girl, here is your snack. I want your water all gone within the next thirty minutes.”
She glanced over to see he had a sloth plate filled with cut-up vegetables and pieces of fruit. There was ranch dressing for dipping and pieces of cheese with crackers. And some chocolate! Yum. As well as a sippy cup with a sloth on it.
“You bought all this for me, Daddy?”
“Grady did. Now, drink and eat.”
She ate the chocolate first. Then a few pieces of cheese and nearly all the of the crackers. But left everything else.
Yucky.
A few sips of water and she forgot all about drinking the rest as she created a few buildings from the blocks and colored in a picture before going back to the wooden dolls.
“Baby girl,” Steele interrupted her.
Ooh, he must want to see what she created.
“Look, Daddy!” She held up her doll. “Isn’t she pretty?” She gave the doll an admiring look. She had on a bright green skirt, a purple crop top, and some kickass boots.
“Umm. She looks interesting.”
“Daddy! She does not! She looks hot. I wish I could wear this.”
“You can wear whatever you like,” he said. “Although you won’t be wearing that for anyone but me or Grady.”
She rolled her eyes. Silly Daddy. But he didn’t have to worry, she wasn’t actually going to buy that outfit.
“It’s been forty minutes, baby girl.”
“Really? I is having such a good time that it’s flying. Whoosh!” She ran her hand through the air.
“That’s good. But not what I meant. What did I tell you to do?”
“I don’t know, Daddy. Did you tell me to have a good time? Good news! I is.” She grinned up at him.
“Good to know,” he said dryly. “But Daddy wanted you to eat more than just the crackers and cheese. And to drink your water, didn’t he?”
“That’s so boring, Daddy. I is busy.”
“Right now, you’re in trouble.” He pulled her up onto her feet and walked her over to the corner. “Five minutes corner time. Daddy is going to put some water in your bot-bot. Seems the only way to make sure that you eat and drink is to feed you myself.”
Well, she wasn’t going to argue with that.
But she really didn’t think it was necessary for her to spend time in the corner.
“Daddy, I don’ts want to be in the corner,” she grumbled as he positioned her with her hands on her head.
“Is your tummy cramping?” he asked in concern.
She thought about lying.
Then thought again.
“It’s a bit sore, but not too bad,” she admitted.
“We need a heating pad for you. Grady should be on his way here, I’ll get him to pick one up for you.”
“Daddy no!” She turned to give him a firm look.
“Excuse me?” He gave her a frosty look back. “Are you allowed to say no to Daddy?”
She pouted. “But, Daddy. I don’ts need it.”
“I say you do. And what I say goes.” He cupped the side of her face. “I’m always going to give you what you need, my baby.”
Darn it.
He knew just how to make her insides go all gooey.
“Corner time,” he ordered.
With a sigh, she turned around. Unfortunately, because she seemed unable to stay silent or quiet, that five minutes turned into about forty hours.
Slight exaggeration, but that’s what it felt like.
“Come here, baby girl.”
Turning, she moved toward where Steele was sitting on the sofa, shaking his head. “You’re terrible at corner time.”
Well, she didn’t know why she’d want to be good at corner time. That seemed silly.
“Sorry, Daddy!” she told him, trying to actually look sorry.
She wasn’t sure she succeeded.
“You’re a brat. But you’re my brat. And you’re adorable.” He drew her onto his lap, settling her back against his arm before reaching for her bot-bot.
She opened her mouth and eagerly sucked it into her mouth. She played with her fingers as she drank down the water, moving them up and down.
Effie loved about being held like this. Having her Daddy feed her a bottle. It was soothing. It made her feel safe.
Cared for.
When the bottle was empty, he helped her sit and rubbed her back.
“What a good girl you are for drinking all your water,” he told her.