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Her stomach dropped at the word ‘talk’. “What kind of talk?”
“Just a talk, little one.”
When they came to the guest bedroom, she slowed, but the silent tug on her hand propelled her forward.
“I should check on Shannon,” she protested, glancing over her shoulder at the door.
“Livvy, she’s fine.” Opening the door to their bedroom, he ushered her inside. “Change into your PJs and brush your teeth.”
“James, I have things to do.”
She started to turn back to the door, but his hands came to rest on her shoulders, gently forcing her to face him.
“The only thing you have to do right now is listen to your Daddy. Understood?”
The tone was gentle, but firm. It was one she knew well, and the little girl inside of her responded to it instantly. “‘Kay.”
“Good girl.” After pressing a kiss to her forehead, he gave her a gentle push toward the bed. “PJs, teeth, bed.”
Pouting just a little, she gathered the pajamas he’d laid out for her and went to do as she was told. Once she’d completed her tasks, she returned to the bedroom. Her Daddy was stretched out on top of their duvet, holding her e-reader and her favorite stuffie—Walter, a black and white kitten he’d gotten for her when they’d first started experimenting with their roles.
“Daddy? What are you doing?”
“Picking a book to read to my little girl.”
Pleasure, innocent and pure, bloomed inside of her. “Really?” With an excited squeal, she raced to the bed and clambered up beside him. “You haven’t read to me inforever.”
“I know. I thought you could use some Little time tonight. I know it’s hard being such a big girl all the time.”
Snuggling into his side, she hummed her agreement as she studied the device in his hand. “Oh! What about this one, with the witch? I’ve been wanting to see the movie, but I wanted to read the book first.”
“So you can complain about all the things they changed?” he asked with a chuckle.
“Duh. That’s half the fun. Please, Daddy?”
“Of course, little one.”
While he downloaded the book, she burrowed under the covers. With her head resting on his chest, she could feel the words rumble in his chest as he spoke them. Clutching Walter in her arms, she closed her eyes and listened to her Daddy’s low, soothing voice as he read.
She was out before chapter two, and she dreamt of magic lands where she was a beautiful witch so powerful, no mere mortal would dare try to harm her or the people she loved.
Chapter27
Shannon was in the kitchen when Olivia wandered down the stairs the next morning. “Should you be up? I would have brought you something,” Olivia scolded with a wide yawn.
Rolling her eyes, Shannon limped to the fridge. “I’m not an invalid, Liv.”
“I know that, but you’re supposed to be taking it easy. Want me to make you a smoothie?”
“I can do it.”
“Shay. I know you can do it. I’m asking you to let me, so I don’t have to worry about you falling and breaking your neck on top of worrying about some maniac trying to murder us.”
“Low blow,” Shannon muttered, but she settled onto a stool at the island and gestured towards the bag of frozen fruit and the yogurt she’d already laid out. “If it makes you feel better, mother hen, go for it.”
“Thanks.” Measuring out the ingredients, Olivia studied her sulking friend. “James and I have an open house this afternoon, so you’ll be on your own for a bit.”
“I could come, help set things up.”
