AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No, thank you. I rather like my seat.”
“Title for the rest of the day. You and I will have a talk this afternoon.” Elias cocked an eyebrow but finished his pancakes without a retort. It could be tricky to tame his brat when I couldn’t figure out where his head was at. My promise seemed to be enough for the moment.
“I thought you and I were going to have a talk too?” Emma bit down on her lip. “You, um, said about the ice and the skates and the whole reason I’m here?”
“I haven’t forgotten, darling.” I reached across the table and patted her hand. “You need to be fully rested before we address your repercussions.”
“I’d like to get it over with today if possible. It’s been sitting in my brain.” She chewed on her bottom lip.
“You should probably talk with Emma first. She needs your attention more than me.” Elias stood up, clearing his plate from the table.
They were both lucky that patience was my strong suit.
“Yes, Emma,” I assured her. “We’ll talk today, but it will be on my schedule.”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
I grabbed my dishes and brought them to the sink. Elias collected them from my hands, rinsing the dishes and setting them in the dishwasher. “Go upstairs to your room and wait for me.”
“Luke–”
“Two.”
Watching Elias fight the urge to battle, his jaw clenching and releasing as he stared at me, poked at my resolve.
“We were in the middle of discussing rules and such with Emma. It’s not appropriate for me to leave and miss the rest of the talk.”
“We’ll finish the conversation later.”
Elias threw the dishrag he’d been holding to the floor. “This is not how any of this works.”
He wasn’t making much sense. I thought everything was falling into place even better than I pictured it, but clearly something else was bothering him. “Okay. You can tell me all about it after I join you upstairs.”
“I hear the words, but I’ve never been in”—Elias gestured at the air between us—“this before. I’m a bit lost, Sir.”
“Yes. I understand, which is why I’m giving you the courtesy of a countdown.” Retrieving the rag, I draped it over the sink. “Please go upstairs.”
“I have things to take care of. We can talk after you’re done with Emma.”
“Three.”
“I’m sorry, Emma. I fucked up a perfectly good meal because I’ve apparently got insecurities.” He backed away from me, kissing Emma on the cheek, then planting another kiss on her forehead.
“You didn’t fuck up anything. I promise.” She smiled sweetly.
“I believe you. What’s happening right now has nothing to do with you.”
“You don’t have to apologize to me, Daddy. I’ll be okay.”
Elias straightened and returned to my side.
“I’m going where you told me to, Sir, but I’m not happy about it.”
“Trust me when I say you’ll be less happy in a few minutes.” I walked around the table, hugging him once before turning him toward the doorway. “Go on.”
“Yes, Sir.” Elias did as instructed without another word.
“Are you sure you haven’t been together for a while?” Emma raised her eyebrows. “You seem to know exactly what Elias needs.”
