Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
He patted the side of the bed with one hand. “Gave me a fright having you in this big bed with a fever. I would have rather been able to tuck you into a crib where you wouldn’t have been able to fall out in the night.”
“Oh.” She hadn’t thought of that. A crib. Her heart beat faster at the idea. She shouldn’t have been surprised. After all, they’d gone down a younger path in the last day and a half. Littles who wore diapers, drank from bottles, and suckled pacifiers would logically also have a crib for when they were very Little. She might even like the idea, if she let herself.
He grinned and continued, “It would also be easier to change your diapers on a proper changing table. The height and straps would make it safer to take your temperature and give you medicines.” He reached down to pat the thick diaper between her legs.
She swallowed again, trying to wrap her mind around this possible future with Hunter—her Daddy. For real?
If she was honest with herself, she hadn’t let herself think too hard about the future. She’d enjoyed every moment with her Daddy, but she’d been afraid to believe it could be permanent and forever. Or maybe she’d been too scared to let herself think of their relationship as quite so definite.
This was a serious conversation that was probably overdue. It was likely Daddy hadn’t brought it up before because he’d been letting her get used to the idea of them. He was so kind like that.
Unless he had doubts. Did he have doubts?
He frowned. “What new thought just put that fear in your eyes, Pumpkin?”
She shrugged and looked away, embarrassed to be doubting him, or worrying about him doubting them as a couple. It was silly. Wasn’t it?
“Pumpkin…” he warned in his serious Daddy voice. “I know you don’t feel well and you’re tired, but you need to be honest with Daddy. We must always be honest with each other. Did I scare you with my talk of nurseries, cribs, and changing tables?”
She shook her head slowly. “No, Daddy.” It was true. The mention of those things somehow made her feel safe and secure and loved.
“Then what made you flinch?”
She met his gaze, finding her bravery again. “Are you sure about this, Daddy?”
His eyes widened. “Am I sure about us?”
She nodded, her face heating.
“Not a single doubt,” he responded immediately. “I’ve been certain from the moment you stepped into my ER. I knew you were my Little girl in seconds, Pumpkin. I didn’t want to scare you by rushing things. I know you miss your husband and need time to adjust to letting a new Daddy take care of you. But you’re mine, Pumpkin. Forever.”
She pursed her lips as tears fell down her cheeks. His words were perfect. It was still hard to believe this could be real and forever.
He pulled her in for a hug, rocked her back and forth, and rubbed her back. “I love you, CC. I’ll tell you every day until you know in your heart it’s true and real.”
She nodded against him as she clutched at his shirt, her arms wrapped around his back. If he really was her forever Daddy, she would eventually believe him. Especially if he told her every day like he promised.
Chapter Sixteen
The rest of that week was hard for Hunter. He had to work long hours, especially after taking two days off. He had to leave CC the following morning to fend for herself when what he really wanted to do was stay with her every hour of every day.
He hated the doubts that crept into her head from time to time, and he preferred to be nearby when he saw that look on her face that indicated the doubts were back.
CC went back to work after two days off, and he called her often to make sure she was taking it easy. She was his world. He didn’t want her run down.
The comical part was he recognized he himself was growing a bit run down too. As a Daddy he wanted to be everything for CC. She deserved it and needed it. She was still weak, and he worried about her getting enough fluids and eating properly when he wasn’t with her.
In the evenings, he went straight to her house, made sure she ate well, and put her to bed at a decent hour. After she went to sleep, he stayed up a while, researching furniture for a nursery and planning which room in his house would be ideal.
The back and forth between his house and hers couldn’t go on indefinitely. It was exhausting. His own house had been neglected since he only stopped by to grab more clothes, water his plants, and make sure everything was secure.