AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Waffles! And ice cream?”
“Absolutely.”
“Wait, really?”
“If anyone deserves ice cream for breakfast today, it’s you.”
The excitement she felt over the ice cream quickly gave way to guilt. Tears filled her eyes and she shook her head. “I don’t deserve ice cream.”
Stopping at the top of the stairs, he turned to her. “Why not?”
“I broke the rules. And I got hurt and you got arrested and MaryAnn shot someone!”
“That’s all true.” Lifting a hand, he feathered his fingers over her cheek. “But this seems like punishment enough.”
“Oh.”
“You seem disappointed, little one.”
As always, she struggled with how much to tell him and exactly how to say it. “I guess I am. I broke your rules, even though I knew better. When MaryAnn called, I knew you were going to spank me but I did it anyway because I wanted to.”
“Well, I think it’s safe to say I won’t be spanking you for anything until your cheek is healed.”
“But Daddy, I can’t wait that long,” she whined.
“Then I’ll have to think of something else.” He nudged her forward and they started down the stairs again. “Since you broke the rule because of a phone call, I think a week without phone privileges sounds about right.”
“A week? I can’t go a week without my phone! What about work?”
“You’re taking at least that long off to heal. Patty is covering for you in the meantime.”
“You can’t really expect me to give up my phone for an entire week, James.”
They’d reached the bottom of the stairs, and he once again stopped to face her. Only now, disapproval was etched into every line of his handsome face. “I do expect it. Do you know why, little one?”
Her heart nearly beat out of her chest at the serious, stern tone. “Because you’re my daddy?”
“Exactly right. And as your daddy, I can and do expect you to follow my rules. And I expect you to accept whatever punishment I decide on when you break those rules.”
“But a week is a really long time!”
“It’s nothing compared to the eternity I spent waiting for you to come out of that house. I expected you to leave in a body bag.”
Guilt twisted her stomach into knots. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“I know, little one. And while this is going to be a long week for you, I would never let your career suffer. I’ll have your phone with me at all times in case something urgent comes up. But there’s no social media, no texting, no internet for a week. Understood?”
With a heavy sigh, she nodded. “Yes, Daddy.”
“That’s my good girl. Now, let’s get you some ice cream.”
––––––––
