Well… if you insist.
Colt
Once I manage to get my babygirl out of her head, she comes alive in the toy store. And while I normally wouldn’t buy more than a few things on a single shopping trip, I don’t have the heart to kill the light in her eyes.
By the time we finish buying her one of just about everything in the store—including the oversized dinosaur—I’m a bit worried about getting everything home. But my friend Maxwell’s plane should have plenty of storage and if it doesn’t, well, I’ll just arrange to have everything shipped.
“All right, little firecracker. We have one more stop to make and then we need to head to the airport.”
Her bottom lip puffs out. “But I’m having fun.”
God, it’s tempting to give into that adorable pout. And if I hadn’t already told my family the good news, I might actually agree to stay an extra day or two.
But I have already spilled the beans, which means they’ll be waiting for us, and her Auntie Gray will have my head if we don’t show up on time. Not to mention the glares I’ll get from her Uncle Eli if we aren’t there for the wedding feast he no doubt started preparing for us the moment Ford shared our news.
“Sorry, babygirl. We have a plane to catch.”
That sweet pout takes on a dangerous edge as her eyes narrow. “I don’t want to go. I want to stay here.”
I have to fight the urge to smile at the hint of my little firecracker peeking through. Forcing my expression into stern lines, I meet her glare with one of my own. “And Daddy said it’s time to go.”
“No.”
“Tabitha. Would you like to fly home with a sore bottom? Because I can easily arrange that.”
Color floods her cheeks and she drops her gaze. “No, Daddy.”
“Then be a good girl and give Daddy your hand so we can go.”
She sighs, so softly I almost don’t hear it. But she does place her hand in my outstretched one, much to my disappointment. While I won’t allow her to so openly defy me without consequences, I was enjoying that little glimpse of the girl I met last night and it kills me a little to have to be so hard on her.
And, I can admit, I’m enough of an asshole to be disappointed she didn’t give me another reason to spank her pretty little bottom again.
With her small hand tucked in mine, I lead her out of the arcade to another gift shop in the hotel. This one has more “traditional” gifts rather than ones geared toward Little ones and their caregivers. And one wall, the one I’m focused on, contains nothing but row after row of round glass globes with various scenes contained in them. Some of them are simple “Las Vegas” styled globes with the city sign or slot machines or the skyline. Others are geared more toward Little boys and girls with princesses and unicorns and, to my Little girl’s delight, more dinosaurs.
“Daddy, look!” Her voice pitches up to a squeal as she tugs on my hand, pulling me toward a section of dino-themed snowglobes. “They're so cute!”
“They are very cute, though not as cute as my babygirl.”
Fresh color fills her cheeks, but this time it seems to be from pleasure rather than humiliation. “They’re definitely cuter than me.”
Leaning down, I drop my voice low so only she can hear me. “What happens to naughty Little girls who tell lies?”
“I’m not lying!”
“You absolutely are. You are the cutest damn thing in this hotel and if you lie about it again, Daddy will punish that naughty mouth right here in the middle of the store.”
Cheeks flaming red now, she presses her lips into a thin line. But she doesn’t argue, so I drop the subject and turn back to the snowglobes. “All right, little firecracker. You have a very important job.”
When she looks up at me, her wide golden eyes are full of terror. “Me?” She squeaks.
“Yes.” I nod solemnly. “I promised my nieces new snowglobes to add to their collections, but I need help picking them out. So it’s your job to find the perfect globes for them.”
“Oh.” Perfect white teeth worry at her bottom lip. “But what if I don’t pick the right one?”
“I believe in you, babygirl.”
The truth is, Lanie and Josie will be thrilled with anything I bring them. But instinct tells me that if I let Tabby pick something they’ll squeal and gush over, it will be a much-needed boost to her self-esteem.
