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Steele grunted. “We will.”
She drew her mouth away.
“Done, baby?” Steele asked.
She nodded and slid down into the bed as Grady got up so Steele could pull up the covers. The drapes were already pulled. They were a dark gray. The whole room was done in tones of gray and cream.
It was gorgeous and understated.
Suddenly, she remembered something. “I needs Slowly!”
“Slowly?” Steele asked.
“My sloth. He’s in my handbag. I can’ts sleep without him!”
“I’ll get him for you,” Grady told her.
“Snuggle down, baby. Grady will be back with him in a moment. Shall I tell you a story about a princess and her knight?”
“What’s about a princess and the ogre?” she teased.
“I do not look like an ogre, brat.”
“But you sounds like one.” She giggled as he tickled her.
“I can see I should have spanked you harder,” he grumbled.
“No, Daddy! That would be mean. You shouldn’t be mean to Effie. She’s far too cute to be spanked.”
“Effie is very cute. But there is no such thing as being too cute to be spanked.”
“Bummer,” she sighed.
“Here you are.”
She glanced over as Grady walked into the room, holding her handbag and Slowly.
“Slowly!” She reached for him, tucking him in against her. Suddenly, her Big brain interfered. “I needs my phone. In case Brooks calls.”
Grady nodded and handed it to Steele. He set it beside her. “You can answer it if it’s Brooks. But no going on the internet or playing games without Daddy or Grady’s permission.”
Grady frowned slightly but didn’t say anything. She slid her thumb into her mouth with a sigh. She really was tired.
“What’s this?” Steele asked, grabbing her arm. Drat, her sleeve had moved up at some stage.
He was studying the bruise on her arm. “What’s this bruise from?”
“Oh, that’s nothing.” She tried to lower her sleeve.
“Effie,” Steele said in a commanding voice. “Who gave you that bruise?”
“Nobody gave it to me.”
“Do I need to remind you that you’re not to lie to us,” Grady said in a stern voice. “Tell us. Now.”
“I gave it to myself, all right?”
They both stiffened, looking at each other.
