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Becky started getting up and screeched when he landed a sharp slap on her thigh, partially exposed from under the blanket. She squealed her outrage at the sting his hand left.
“No. You will not misbehave while Daddy is talking. Listen to it all, and then you decide if it is something to argue about.”
“But you always win, and I don’t want you to win this time.”
He turned her head to place a soft kiss on her lips, then hugged her close to his chest. “I can’t allow you to put yourself in danger until I’m sure I’ve neutralized any threat. So, this is how it will go. I will talk to Jac, but I’ll be your bodyguard and driver when needed. If you go to yoga, I’m sure you could go with Ivy or Mallory. They’ll have no trouble doing that. I’ll pick you up.”
“Oh, you mean I don’t have to have a goon with me everywhere I go?”
“Goon? I’ll let the guys know their new title.” He kissed her cheek and laid his on the crown of her head. “You mean too much to me to compromise on this. I’ll still sit outside or in the lobby, but it will allow you to get some girl time in. Also, I’ll be the one at home. If I can’t be, for some reason, you will have to take another guy. I’ll try to keep the choices from the Alpha team, but I can’t guarantee it.”
“But my alone time.”
“Baby, I’ll leave you alone as much as I can... as much as you want, up to a point. I still want my baby in my bed, cuddling with me on the sofa, having dinner with me. None of that willchange. It’s just your trips out of the house and office that will be accompanied.”
“Okay. I guess that isn’t too bad. But who goes to the grocery store?”
“You order, and we will pick it up, or I’ll have them deliver it.”
Becky smiled. “Good, because I hate going shopping.”
Carter rubbed her chilled arms and tried to cover her, but she pushed it away. Right now, he had to pick his battles. This wasn’t one of them.
“I know. See, some good comes from this.”
Another sigh. “Fine, I guess. But I reserve the right to re-negotiate.”
Carter was glad she couldn’t easily see his face. His grin of victory would have turned into a grimace of a discontent. He took a break to eat his sandwich. Carter didn’t mind that the bread was drying out. He dipped it in his lukewarm tomato soup and was just thankful to have his girl with him.
After a moment, Becky asked, “Um, are you on Daddy duty?”
He swallowed his bite. “Yep. You will not disobey me, and I have the last say. New subject. You’ve been working on your dad’s paperwork to help him, and it’s frustrating you.”
“It is, really. I can’t figure out this crazy inventory number. Dad doesn’t carry much backstock; if it’s Uncle Karl’s, he must label it like that. And it’s too much besides. I’m going to have to go there pretty soon to figure this out.”
“Sure, we can go as soon as I can get a break.”
“What? You hardly ever go. My dad isn’t very kind to you.”
“I know why, but if I’m not discussing marriage with you, I’m certainly not discussing it with him.”
“I know. But we are going to need a conversation again.”
“Sweet love, as soon as this is resolved, I’ll have that conversation with you. And I promise we will settle it.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
He polished off his sandwich and left the cold soup. Stacking her chicken noodle soup bowl under his, Carter began again.
“Now, on to the next issue at hand. You left Kaden and Ivy’s place after drinking and walked to the house, in the dark, on the side of the road. What do you think Daddy is going to say about that?”
Becky turned and snuggled into Carter. “I just didn’t want to be a bother.”
“Not the right answer, baby. You are never a bother to any of our friends. But that isn’t news to you, so you’ll need to do better than that.”
“I’m sorry. It was a dumb thing to do, but I wasn’t thinking clearly, and not because I had a few drinks. I thought I could get there quickly.”
“Rebecca Shea...”
