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I was hoping that if I said it enough he’d understand, but so far no luck.

By the time we parked, I was back to being huffy and Dessie was trying not to laugh again. His little side was finding hisfrustrated Daddy more than just a little funny. “Good boys get rewards, Daddy.”

He was wiggling in his seat too much to be fully grown-up Dessie, so I sighed and glared at him. “I want big rewards for being a good boy.”

Dessie’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Yes, big rewards. Good ones, Daddy.”

“Hmm.” Still giving him a skeptical stare, I made him wait, so his wiggles got worse. “I’m going to trust you because you’re a good boy too.”

That had wicked giggles escaping but he nodded while wearing a completely unbelievable smile. “Yes. Good boy too.”

I rolled my eyes, making his giggles worse. “Real good boy rule, not Austin rules.”

Dessie was trying to nod but his laugher made it more like he was just jerking in his seat belt. “Yes. I. Yes. Daddy.”

So believable.

“Silly goose.” Shaking my head as I climbed out of the car, I grabbed his diaper bag from the back seat, a leather overnight bag that packed better than any diaper bag I’d been able to find, and went around to help him out. He was still giggling with his wide eyes sparkling with delight. “You look like you’re going to get us in trouble.”

“Because he probably will.” Somehow Austin had managed to sneak up on us, appearing like a demon who’d been summoned just by using his name. “Hello, cutie.”

Dessie waved, bouncing out of the car as he took my hand. “Hi.”

Staying big in the parking lot had been our goal, but since we hadn’t managed that, I nodded toward the building. “After you.”

Austin huffed like of course he’d go first. “I thought making introductions would be a good idea since it’s your first time coming.”

He wasn’t wrong, but we all knew it was more about his nosiness than how professional he was. Still, I played along because that was what people did with highly unstable nutcases. “Thank you.”

Dessie just beamed because two of his favorite people were getting along.

But I had to admit having Austin with us did make things easier, especially when seeing Dessie and me together dumbfounded the guy at the front desk. His eyes widened and I had a feeling he knew Dessie in some kind of work-related capacity because he glanced over at Dessie and raised an eyebrow.

Dessie just giggled and his thumb went right in his mouth.

Austin rolled his eyes but seemed to appreciate the drama because his lips were trying to curl up into a grin. “I’m sure you remember our newest member?”

The guy running the front desk nodded. “Yes, Sir.”

“Good. Good.” Austin let his smile out and gestured toward an inner doorway that seemed to lead deeper into the club. “You’ll also see that he’s taken it upon himself to keep the playroom free from flying crayons.”

That got another happy sound out of Dessie, who’d started swinging my hand as he nodded. It felt like it was a claimingsee,he’s my Daddykind of gesture but that might’ve been just my take on the situation.

“That is a difficult job.” The young-looking staff member’s dry delivery got another pleased giggle from Dessie.

“I agree.” Austin shook his head and started herding us toward the door. “Let’s go show you around.”

Realistically, I only needed to see the changing rooms and the playroom, but I knew I wouldn’t get away with that kind of tour. Austin just wouldn’t be able to help himself. This was his baby and I was going to have to appreciate it whether I wanted to or not.

“Thank you.” And I was well-behaved because that seemed to be a mandatory trait for Daddies and it made Dessie happy.

He was nearly bouncing as we walked into the main part of the club and I had to admit that he looked right at home there. There was a spring in his step and he pulled my hand like we had to go faster or he’d pop.

So I leaned over and kissed his head, tugging him closer as I pretended to glare at him. “You are very excited.”

Austin snorted but Dessie nodded happily around his thumb. He was the only person I was worried about, so I focused on him. “Alright, first things…cute clothes. Can you point to where we should go to change your clothes?”

Logically I knew I could’ve done it in the playroom, but I wasn’t surprised when Dessie used his pinky to point to the side of the room that had a wall of doors that looked like they were for very practical things, offices and such. “Perfect.”

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