Page 8 of Little Bits of Daddy (Montana Daddies)

“Clint?” a soft voice spoke through the phone.

Clint let out a breath as he heard her voice. The knot in his stomach unraveled. What would he do if he ever lost her?

“Little darling, are you all right?”

“Yes,” she said hesitantly. “I’m really sorry. I am. I wasn’t thinking. I’m sorry to be such a bother.” Her voice hitched on that last word and he ran a hand over his face worriedly. He’d really thought they were past this. He should have known better. You couldn’t unravel years of feeling rejected and worthless in a few months.

“Baby girl, you are not a bother. Hear me? I am not upset with you.”

“You’re not?” she asked, sounding unsure.

He sighed. “I worded that wrong. I’m not upset because I think you’re a nuisance. You could never be that. I love you. I want you to be safe. I’m upset because you put your safety at risk. If Jed hadn’t found you, then you could still be out in the dark and cold on your own. That makes me feel sick to my stomach with fear.”

“I know,” she said quietly. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

“I don’t make rules for your safety because I want to be mean. Or for the fun of it. They’re there for a reason.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Then you also know that when I get home, you and I are going to have a big talk, right?”

“Yes.” Her voice sounded small, almost childlike. He wondered if Kent had left her alone to talk to him. Probably. She didn’t like showing her Little side to anyone else. He’d been so busy that he hadn’t spent as much time with Charlotte as he would like. That needed to change. Because they both needed more time together.

“But nothing you do will ever make me let you go. You are mine. No matter what. Got that?” They weren’t the most eloquent of words. He was a rancher, not a damn poet. But he meant them.

“I love you too. I really am sorry.”

“I know, little darling. No doubt you’ll be even more sorry after a session with the paddle.”

He heard her gasp. Yeah, he thought that would get her attention. He hoped she’d be too focused on the idea of being paddled to get in any further strife.

“Not a paddling! I don’t want one.”

He could just picture the cute pout on her face as she spoke. “Then you should have taken more care with your safety, baby.”

“But Kent is already punishing me. I’m grounded. I’m not allowed to leave the house without him. I have to go to work with him.”

“That all seems fair,” he told her.

“But-but how is it fair to get punished twice!”

“That’s Kent’s punishment. But you’re mine and those are my rules you broke, which is why I’ll deal with you breaking them when I get home. You scared us both, baby girl. I’d be lost without you.”

She sniffled. “I know. I scared myself too.”

“Good. That means you’ll think twice before breaking the rules again.” He added a hint of menace to his voice.

She was definitely going to be too focused on the punishment to come to get into any more trouble while he was gone.

“I love you. You are never a nuisance. Understand?”

“I understand. I love you too.”

Charlie ended the call,her shoulders slumped. Even though she felt better after hearing his voice and listening to his reassurances, she still missed him.

She went over to the office door and opened it. Kent turned and walked over to her, taking the phone out of her hand

“You all right, little bit?” he asked, cupping her cheeks to raise her face.

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