Page 68 of Little Bits of Daddy (Montana Daddies)

He rubbed her back. But her tears didn’t slow. Poor little darling.

“Charlotte, I need you to stop crying now. Come on, this isn’t good for you.”

No response. He knew her reaction was partly due to exhaustion. She’d worn herself out. He should have seen it before now. Bear had warned him. Fuck, could he have messed this up anymore?

How to get her to stop and listen, though? Well, he could think of one way. And it was probably something they both needed right now. For him to take control.

“Little darling, listen to Daddy.”

Instantly, he felt her paying attention.

“I want you to stop crying now, baby. Daddy is going to make everything better. I promise. First, though, you need to calm down.”

She sniffled and he grabbed some more tissues, wiping her cheeks then helping her blow her nose. He placed her back on the bed so she was reclining against the pillows and he was facing her, his hands on the mattress as he leaned into her.

“Charlotte, I am so sorry.”

She blinked, staring at him like he’d grown a second nose or a really hairy mole.

“What?”

“You said sorry.”

He frowned. “I know how to say sorry.”

“You never say sorry.”

He sighed. “I’m saying sorry now. Although, you shouldn’t have eavesdropped on a private conversation.”

“Sorry,” she muttered, glancing down at her lap.

He reached out and tilted up her chin. “Nothing good ever comes from listening to other people’s conversations, little darling.”

“I know,” she whispered. “I’m in trouble, huh?”

“Well, since we’re both in trouble we’ll call that one even. What you are in trouble for is wandering off without telling me and for not letting me know that you weren’t feeling great.”

“I didn’t realize I wasn’t feeling well. I mean, I guess I’ve had a few dizzy spells.” She rubbed her head. “I thought I was just a bit stressed and tired.”

He placed his hand around the back of her neck, massaging. “I don’t want you to be either of those things. And if I wasn’t working so much to get some time off then I would have noticed. I should know better. I employed Linc as the ranch manager to free up my time, so I could take care of you better.”

“You always take care of me,” she protested.

“Not well enough this time.” Guilt filled him. “And I didn’t mean what I said, little darling.”

She bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes again. Christ, he hated when she cried. He really hated that he was the cause.

“Don’t cry, baby,” he crooned.

“Sorry.”

He wiped her cheeks again.

“I didn’t mean to force you into a wedding you didn’t want. We don’t have to have the wedding at a church. And I don’t need the horse and carriage. And you can wear what you want?—”

“Hey, look at me. Look at me.” He waited until she raised her eyes. “I want this wedding, Charlotte.”

“But you’d be happy with a quick ceremony in Vegas, you don’t want all this other stuff?—”

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