She folded her arms over her chest. “Daisy doesn’t want it. Give it to another naughty girl.”
This time when he smiled, it stuck. And it was beautiful. And for a moment she forgot about that stinking paddle and just stared at him.
Then he turned it. “But it has Daisy’s name on it.”
And yes, it did. In flowing script. Right along the handle.
“You had it engraved?” she yelled.
“Yep,” he replied. “Now, just got to find a good place to put it.”
“The fireplace?” she asked hopefully.
He gave her a stern look. “Nope. And if it ends up in there, I won’t be happy. I also ordered a back-up for my cabin at the ranch.”
Did that mean he was going to invite her out there one day? So far, they’d spent all their time at her place. Not that she minded, she loved this house.
“I think we’ll put it up on the mantel for the moment,” he told her. “Might end up hanging it somewhere once I figure out the best place for it.”
Hmm, she wasn’t sure she wanted that thing hanging in her house. She sent the paddle a dirty look.
She’d find that paddle a nice home. In the garbage.
Then Jed turned back and she dropped her face to the Legos with a smile. Hey, she had an awesome present and her daddy was here.
Death of the paddle could wait for another day.
* * *
“Sugar? Where are you? You playing hide and seek or something?” Jed called out.
And something. Shit. She frantically chewed on the mouthful of gummy bears, knowing she was gonna be in trouble if he found her before she was done. Didn’t really dawn on her to spit it out. She was totally in Little headspace. She raced towards the large sideboard that ran along one wall of the dining room and managed to squeeze herself between it and the wall as she chewed.
“All right, little girl. I want you to show yourself right now.”
Uh-oh, that was his strict voice. He wasn’t playing around now. Why had she put so many gummies in her mouth at once?
Amateur move. She’d gotten so excited when she found where he’d hidden them, that she’d grabbed a whole lot at once. Then when she heard him calling for her, she’d panicked and shoved them in her mouth.
And now she was in deep trouble. Because Daddy didn’t want her eating any sweets that he hadn’t given her. Which is why he’d hidden all of hers.
“Gonna count to three, and you don’t want me to get to three.”
Her bottom cheeks clenched together at that threat.
“One.”
Uh-oh.
“Two!” Jed called out. Shit!
She stepped out, placing both hands over her mouth as if she thought that meant he wouldn’t notice she was chewing frantically.
He walked over to her. “What’s in your mouth, little girl?”
She shook her head. She couldn’t talk right now.
“Spit it out.” He held up his hand to her mouth.