Page 29 of Finding Little Fiera

She looked at the floor she’d just glided across, as if watching an instant replay that would prove him wrong. Turning back to him, she frowned. “I slide on the floor all the time. It’s no big deal. I didn’t fall or anything.”

This girl was going to be the death of him. She had no fear. At least none she heeded. “New rule. No running or sliding across the floor in this house or any other.”

Yep. It was definitely wonder he saw in her eyes. He was going to kill Erwin Pierce. The people of Wilder would thank him.

“I’m sorry, Daddy. I won’t do it again.” Before he could comment, a mischievous twinkle brightened her eyes. The one that warned him to brace. “And I’ll get that order put in for you.”

Knowing he was going to regret it, he asked, “What order is that?”

She grinned. “You know. The industrial-sized roll of bubble wrap. Although maybe one of the giant bubbles you can get inside and just roll around in would be better. What do you think?”

He was in so much trouble. She was drawing him in fast. It wasn’t like he lacked experience, but he’d never felt like thisbefore. He wasn’t the leap-before-you-look type. He was Mr. Slow and Steady wins the race. At least he used to be.

“What do I think? I think you're going to need a bigger boo-boo bag when I get finished with you. Tell me you know I’m serious about the no running or sliding rule, naughty girl.” His voice cracked like a whip, not loud, but sharp enough to let her know he was serious. “You may think that boo-boo bag means you aren’t in big trouble, but you would be wrong.”

He folded his arms, watching her shoulders slump. “I get you, Daddy. Promise.”

After grabbing Hopsicle, she walked back to the couch, planting each foot with deliberate care, heel to toe, dragging out every step as if the floor might crack beneath her like thin ice if she moved too fast.

Just what he needed. A smartass little firefly.

Her chin lifted a fraction, challenge still sparking in her eyes. He felt that challenge all the way down to his boots. Erwin might have wounded her, but he hadn’t broken her. Not even close. She wasn’t cowed. Wasn’t crushed. She was testing her boundaries with careful little nudges, checking for weak spots in the fence.

He folded his arms over his chest, slow and deliberate. He let the silence stretch, thickening the air between them. He remembered this dance. Hell, he even enjoyed it when it wasn’t manipulative.

The sass sparked something in him. It was the same spark he got riding a wild horse in a rodeo. Heat coiled low in his gut. Challenge accepted.

When she climbed into his lap again, carefully this time, pressing the frozen frog to her forehead, he adjusted her automatically. One arm banded around her waist, the other steadied the ice pack against the goose egg still marring her brow.

She fit his lap perfectly. Now they could talk. “So when your sunglasses slipped, the only solution you could come up with was to take your sunglasses off?”

“I didn’t take them off, Daddy.”

“Oh, really? Then why weren’t they on your face when you ran into Laura?”

“They fell off by themselves. And the stupid things made me get tagged while I was bending over to pick them up. I tried to wear them, but they didn’t want to be worn. So, it wasn’t my fault.”

Triumph laced her voice, bright and victorious. He instantly recognized the sound of a Little who thought she’d found a loophole. Heat flickered low in his gut. He’d almost forgotten how much he appreciated a strong-willed Little. The challenge sharpened everything.

“I see.” His tone stayed even and measured. “And there was no way to put them back on while you were frozen?”

When she didn’t answer immediately, he waited, watching her. His face carved from stone, keeping his calm, unreadable stare locked in place. That same look had made hardened men back down without a word.

The silence stretched on, but he wasn’t going to be the one to break it. Inside, though, satisfaction and anticipation wound through him. She was testing him.

That was good. Heat flared in his chest, ignited by focus, not anger. He kept that focus on his little firefly. She was full of fire, and he preferred his fire where he could see it. He barely restrained his grin when she finally came up with an answer.

“Nope. I didn’t have time before Sadie unfroze me.”

“But you did have time to stuff them into your back pocket.”

“Yes… I mean, I did, but that was easier. And anyway, if I’d put them back on my face, they’d have just fallen off again.”

The adorable glint in her eye told him she thought she had outsmarted him. “So, when you came to ask Daddy for help, what did he say?”

“But, Daddy, I didn’t come ask you for help.”

“That’s the problem. When you have a problem. When you’re feeling bad or out of sorts. Or when you feel like it for any reason at all, you come to Daddy. And do you know the most important time you come to Daddy?”