He placed a finger on her lips. “What did I tell you to say when I give you something?”
Oh. Right.
He removed his hand. “Thank you, Daddy. But still—”
“Nope.” His hand went back over her mouth. “You just need to stop after thank you, Daddy. I don’t want to hear how I shouldn’t have. I wanted to do it. Besides, you’re gonna be stuck here on the ranch for a bit and unfortunately, I can’t take much time off to keep you entertained. This will help keep you out of getting into trouble.”
“I don’t get into trouble.” She pouted.
He snorted. “Right. Sure. Your life is safe and boring.”
“It usually is! I’m never in trouble. I’m not interesting enough to get into trouble.”
“Careful,” he warned. “That sounds suspiciously like putting yourself down and you know how I feel about that.”
She bit her lip worriedly. He ran his thumb over her bottom lip, freeing it. Then he shocked her by leaning down and running his tongue across it. “I don’t want my baby getting bored. When she gets bored, she does naughty things like clean when she should be resting. So I’ve got to make sure she’s got plenty to keep her entertained. Tomorrow we’ll get you some more clothes and some toys and set you up a play area. That will help.”
Play area. Toys.
Holy. Hell. Where did she start with all that?
It was like she’d entered some alternate reality. Where she was no longer a boring bookworm and she’d become someone to be treasured and desired.
She had to say, she liked it. A lot.
“Where are Princess Nana and your blanket?” he asked.
In the other room. Because she hadn’t been certain that he’d really meant it when he said he didn’t mind her sleeping with them.
“In my bedroom.”
“This is your bedroom now. I want all of your stuff in here. Go get them. I’ll grab you a bottle of water.”
“Oh, you don’t need to—”
“I want to. Go.”
She practically scurried out of the room, grabbed snuggly, Princess Nana and her bag she used to carry around her diabetic supplies. She’d already checked her blood sugar levels so she hopped back into Linc’s bed. The sheets were smooth and fresh. The bed was enormous. She felt tiny sitting in it.
He walked back in with two bottles of water, one of which he set on his nightstand. He undid the lid of the other one and handed it to her. She took just a few sips.
“Drink some more, Mari-girl. I’m not convinced you drink enough. I’ll ask Doc about that.”
She took a few more sips to appease him. But she thought she drank plenty of water.
“We’re really going to see a doctor tomorrow?”
“The ranch doctor. Technically, he works for Kent. But he looks after everyone who lives on the ranch.”
“Umm, what about insurance? My aunt is bound to take me off hers.”
“That’s all covered. If you need anything he
can’t give, you’ll be under the ranch’s insurance.”
“Really?” But she didn’t work here. She didn’t contribute anything.
“Yep, I’ll set it up tomorrow. Don’t worry. If Clint was here, he would insist on it. Now, Doc can be a complete grouch, but you’ll get used to him. He’s softened up some since Caley came to live with him.”