Page 17 of Little Bits of Daddy (Montana Daddies)

“I don’t want to ever hear a lie coming from your lovely lips again, understand me? I don’t lie to you. I expect the same courtesy and respect in return.”

She burst into tears at those words as he suspected she might. He placed his free hand on her lower back, steadying her as these last ones were going to be the worst. He slapped his hand onto her upper thigh. She let out a loud screech. Another smack to her left thigh. Yep, she was going to feel this for a while. Smack! Smack! He laid the last six smacks down on her thighs until they were nearly as red as the globes of her ass. He took a step back, studying her crimson butt. Wasn’t the worst spanking she’d ever received, but he did feel bad for her, knowing she had more to come.

She was his baby. He had a responsibility to her. After the hell of growing up with her bitch aunt, he had to be a steady influence in her life. She needed to know he would always behere for her, always love her, and do whatever it took to take care of her. Which included punishing her when she broke the rules.

“Sorry. I’m sorry,” she sobbed.

“I know, little darling.” He rubbed her lower back, wanting to take her into his arms but also wanting to give her a little time to think over everything. Plus, he needed to go and talk to Kent.

“Here, lie on your tummy on the bed.” He helped her into place, lying on his side next to her. He pushed her hair back off her face as she turned to look at him. She was so beautiful it took his breath away. He wiped a tear away. “I want you to lie here and have a think. Not just about why you shouldn’t lie to me. But also about how scared I felt when I heard you were missing. About how devastated I would be to lose you. Because this pain you feel right now doesn’t even touch on the nightmares I’ve had these last few days. You are everything to me, Charlotte. I won’t be long. Make sure you stay right here.” He laid a kiss on her cheek, got up and left the room, shutting the door behind him.

He made his way swiftly downstairs. Not because Kent was waiting for him but because he didn’t want to leave her too long. Giving Charlotte too much time to think could backfire on him.

“Hey, thought you’d forgotten about me,” Kent said dryly as he walked into the study.

Clint rolled his eyes. “Can you do me a favor?”

Kent crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back. “Depends on what it is. If you’re planning on going away for a week and leaving me in charge of both brats again…”

“Both? What did Eden do?”

Kent sighed. “Friday night she called me, asking me to pick her up in town, but Charlie had just had a nightmare and I’d only just gotten her back to sleep, so I wasn’t going to wake her up and drag her into town to get our sister.”

“You sent someone else?”

“I did. I sent Zeke.”

Clint groaned and wiped his hand over his face. “Why did you send Zeke?”

“Because I trust him. And he won’t let Eden get away with any bullshit.”

Clint eyed him. “She hates him.”

“I don’t know if it’s hate so much as something else.”

Clint held up his hand. “I don’t want to hear it. I have enough to deal with right now. Just do me a favor and take Eden out for dinner, will you? I want some time alone with Charlotte.”

“Don’t want anyone to hear her scream, huh?” Kent asked.

Clint shot him a quelling look. “Why didn’t you tell me she was having trouble sleeping?”

Kent raised an eyebrow. “Wasn’t much you could do about it. We were managing.”

“She looks exhausted.”

“She missed you. We should have anticipated that there would be problems. I should have been keeping a closer eye on her to start. She’ll feel better now that you’re here.”

“How am I supposed to leave her again?” Clint ran his hand through his hair.

Kent frowned. “Because you know I’ll be on top of shit.”

“Yeah, but she’s not your responsibility.”

“I love her like a sister. The longer the two of you are together, the more secure she’ll feel. Don’t go too hard on her, huh?”

7

Charlie felt horrible. She hated that she’d let Clint down. She’d lied. She’d put herself at risk. And he was right. He always told her the truth. He always gave her every respect and she should do the same.

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