Max had sent Saylor with Jerico and Aspen. The team leader would keep an eye on his little girl to watch for any post-event trauma response. Aspen’s previous neighbor had threatened her repeatedly before Jerico had swept in to pluck his little girl and her dog from the dangerous situation. Saylor had become good friends with all the Littles. She would have a great time with Aspen.
His phone vibrated quietly, and Max glanced down to see a blurry picture of two women and an enormous dog dashing through a sprinkler. He struggled to keep his concerned, professional expression as they discussed the serious threat. Sending a quick TY to Jerico to thank him for the update, Max focused back on the discussion.
Finally, he and the other explosive ordinance disposal expert got the okay to head out. He talked to his counterpart for a few minutes as they walked out to the parking lot. By the time Max got into his truck, he had pushed off the challenge of defusing the bomb and focused solely on seeing Saylor.
His phone buzzed with an incoming text. At the next red light, Max scanned Hank’s message. His teammate had debated whether to tell him or not, but ultimately felt Max needed to know. Saylor hadn’t followed Hank’s directions to stay in a protected spot, potentially putting herself at risk. Everything had turned out okay, but Sammie’s arrival could have gone very differently. Quickly, he sent Hank his thanks. Saylor would need a lesson only a warm bottom would teach her.
When he reached Jerico’s home, his teammate met him in the driveway. “She’s zonked out and is napping on the couch. Want to take her home?”
“Yes. I need to have her close.” Max didn’t hesitate to share his real feelings with his teammate. Jerico understood completely.
Walking into the now cheerful house decorated with colorful pillows, Max spotted his Little snoozing away on the couch under a soft throw. Her hair was still slightly damp from the fun she’d had with Aspen and Rexy. Max walked silently past Aspen, who napped in a large recliner with her rainbow stuffie, Bowbow, tucked under her chin. Scooping Saylor into his arms, Max whispered, “I’ve got you, baby. Let’s go home.”
“Daddy,” she sighed and tucked her head snugly into the crook of his neck to press a sweet kiss before drifting off again.
Jerico led the way outside, opening doors to help Max tuck his Little safely into the truck. After stretching the seatbelt acrossher body, Max stepped back to close the door quietly. He held his hand out to Jerico.
“I owe you, man.”
“You don’t. They had fun. Saylor had a delicious lunch. She’s a good girl,” Jerico said. “Are you keeping her?”
“Forever and ever,” Max answered.
“Good. See you tomorrow. Saylor’s welcome to hang with Aspen tomorrow if you want to drop her off.”
“I’ll let her sleep in. Thank you for the offer. I appreciate it.”
Jerico nodded and headed back for the house as if the most precious woman in the world waited for him. Max climbed into the truck and drove slowly home, avoiding bumps and braking too suddenly so his precious cargo could continue to rest.
She blinked her eyes open as he pulled into the garage. He loved her sweet, sleepy look of happiness upon seeing him. “Stay where you are, baby. I’ll come carry you in.”
A short time later, Max sat down on the couch with Saylor on his lap. “Little girl, do you have anything to tell me?”
“Like what, Daddy?” she asked, looking confused.
“Did you follow all of Hank’s directions?”
“Yes. All of them,” she rushed to assure him.
Max met her gaze and waited. She swallowed hard and squirmed slightly, visibly struggling to decide what to do. He didn’t say anything to relieve the tension. This was a lesson she needed to learn.
A few seconds later, she blurted, “I was supposed to stay behind the bleachers when Sammie appeared, but I could tell she wasn’t a threat.”
“How?”
“Well… she’s a girl and she looked nice.”
“Sounds like a good disguise for someone to get close enough to take a target out,” he said.
“Maybe, but it all worked out okay.”
“You didn’t follow Hank’s instructions. What if she’d pulled out a gun? Hank might have been able to overpower her, but you split his attention, jeopardizing both yourself and Hank.”
“I didn’t think about that,” she whispered.
He hated scaring her, but he had to rely on her doing what trusted experts ordered—immediately and without question. “You’ve earned your first spanking, little girl. Do you need to potty first?”
“Yes.”
