The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The First Collection by Frost, J (great novels .txt) 📕

“Good. Then I’ll work on her. A Christmas wedding sounds perfect.”

“If I get one hint that you’re badgering Emily about marrying me, I’ll have your hide.” Lizbeth snorts, as little afraid of my threats as she was when we were kids. “I’m serious, Lizzy, butt out.”

“Eat my butt, big brother. If you can’t convince her to marry you, I will. Once Emily’s flashed Mum’s diamond at her, that’ll be the end of Skanky’s eyelash-fluttering and look-at-my-pregnancy-tits.”

“Your mouth, I swear. I need to have a word with Luke. Maybe loan him a gag.”

“Try it. I’ll volunteer your house for every birthday party the girls have from now until they’re twenty.”

She has me there. I’ve been to one of the twins’ birthday parties and swore I’d never even set foot in the state during another one. “Damn, that’s mean.”

“You ain’t seen nothing. I’m the mother of two pre-teens. You have no idea how low I can go. When are you going to ask her?”

“Chrissake, give me a chance. We’ve been dating for two months.”

“Luke asked me after he’d known me less than a week—"

“You two were nine, Lizbeth.”

“Spare me your excuses, lame-ass. Get Mum’s diamond out of the safety deposit box or wherever you have it squirreled away and get down on your knee.” She cuts her eyes at Emily. “Or, um—”

“Stay out of it. This is what we both need right now.” I stroke Emily’s hair and gently push her cheek against my thigh. She cuddles in until she’s pressed against my leg from hip to ankle. That’s better. “Can you go back out there and behave yourself?”

Lizbeth grimaces. “Truthfully? Probably not. But I’ve got to get going anyway. Traffic up was brutal. I’ll bring the girls up next week, once they’re finished camp. We’ll talk over the weekend and fix a day, okay?”

“Sounds good.” I hold out my free arm and give her a hug when she steps to me, which she returns. “You mind seeing yourself out? I need to talk to Emily.”

“No problem. I’ll give the girls Uncle Lolo’s love.”

“Lizzy, if you keep letting them call me that—”

She snorts. “They’ll call you whatever they want. I’m raising strong, independent women, you caveman.” She cuts her eyes at Emily again. “Be careful, Lo. She wasn’t herself today. We both know why.”

Yeah, I know why. “Drive safely, little sis.”

She punches my shoulder. “See you next week.”

I wait until the door closes behind her before I lift Emily’s headphones off and lay them on the desk. She doesn’t raise her head and I go back to stroking her hair, both to reward her submission and because it’s keeping me calm. “You’re in High Protocol for the rest of the day, little girl.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Did you buy anything? You may elaborate.”

“No, Daddy. I didn’t see anything I wanted. Lizbeth found a couple of bargains and Daisy got a dress she’s going to wear to Rick’s party.”

“Mm-hmm. Do you have any questions about what you saw when you walked in?”

She’s silent for a long moment, her shoulders hunching slightly.

“No, Daddy.”

“No?”

“No, Daddy,” she says more firmly.

“Good girl. What’s the most important thing between us? You may elaborate.”

“Trust and respect, Daddy.”

I wait to see if she’ll say more and when she doesn’t, I affirm. “That’s right, little love. Trust and respect. Can you stay focused on that for the rest of Miranda’s stay? I know she’s not making it easy.”

She’s silent again. I slide my hand under her chin and tip her head up so I can see her eyes. Definitely a shadow there.

“Tell me, Emmy. You may elaborate.”

Emily’s eyes slide away from mine.

“No, look at me.”

She meets my eyes again, reluctantly, as pink rises into her cheeks and nose, wetness to her eyes. Her expression shades to misery. “I’m sorry, Daddy,” she whispers.

“For what? You may elaborate.”

“I’m jealous.” Her chin trembles and it all pours out. “I know I shouldn’t be, Daddy. It’s just that she got to spend the afternoon with you while I had to go shopping with Daisy and Lizbeth and I know they were just trying to help, but I didn’t like leaving her here with you and I couldn’t enjoy the shopping because the whole time I was wondering what she was doing and I know that’s not being the bigger person and I’m sorry!” She finishes on a wail.

Oh, my sweet girl.

“Sh.” I soothe her. “Come. Crawl. Hands and knees.”

I walk over to the couch against the wall behind her writing desk, moving slowly so she can crawl beside me. Seeing her on her hands and knees, crawling because pleasing me matters more than her dignity, soothes every hurt.

I sit on the couch and beckon her up into my lap. I have her straddle my legs and pull her against my chest, tucking her head into my neck. She calls this our “koala-baby” position, and I cuddle my koala baby close.

“I would always prefer to spend time with you,” I whisper to her, pressing my lips against her temple while I rub her back. “I miss you every second you’re not with me. Being without you this afternoon was miserable. Miranda just wanted to claw at me. I ended up watching test cricket until I fell asleep. I missed my beanie blanket. Even while I was sleeping, I missed you.”

She gives a wordless little whimper, pressing her mouth against my throat.

“Daddy’s here, baby girl.” I squeeze her tightly against me, imprinting the softness of her breasts and the harder surfaces of ribs and hips onto my corresponding spaces. Melding us together through our separate skins. Here, like this, we’re one. Daddy and little. Dom and sub. Top and bottom.

I hold her for a long time, letting my hands roam over her, rubbing her shoulders and back, cupping her bottom. Soothing but also reminding her of who we are to each other. Neither of us speak. We don’t need to. We just need the reassurance of one another, and until that reassurance is lodged deep, I don’t