Page 21 of Lilly's Little Labor Day

He read it loud and clear. Shaking his head, he said, “There will be none of that. I suggest you come to bed without throwing a fit.”

Or what? Lilly wanted to know.

Would he spank my bottom for disobeying or throwing a fit?

His steely gaze suggested he would.

She listened to wisdom and obeyed, taking hold of his extended hand and allowing him to pull her from the couch.

“I’ll sleep on your floor,” he said as he guided her upstairs and toward the bedrooms.

“You don’t have to. I’ll be fine,” she said, though it was far from convincing.

“No. I told you I’d stay by you tonight. I keep my word.”

“Always?”

“Yep.”

“No one always keeps their word,” she countered.

“How do you think I’ve made it this far?” he asked. “I have a reputation of doing what I say I’ll do.”

“Yeah, but this isn’t some multi-million-dollar business deal. We’re just talking about sleeping arrangements,” she said.

“There’s no difference,” he said. “How you do one thing is how you do everything.”

“You sound like such a Daddy right now,” she said with a laugh. She instantly realized the words that had just left her mouth and stopped walking. She winced while silently vowing to keep better control of her tongue.

She was shocked when Edward didn’t seem to mind.

“It’s good business practice,” he said. “But I suppose it comes in handy being a Daddy, too.” He winked.

She giggled.

“Now come on, in bed you go,” he said.

“The floor is hard,” she noted. “It wouldn’t hurt for you to sleep in the bed with me. It’s big enough. No big deal.” She hoped she was sounding as casual as she was trying for.

A heavy silence hung over her bedroom as they stepped in.

“Sure. I guess that’s alright,” he said. “I just don’t want you to feel weird. I’ve invaded your space enough tonight.”

“You mean when you snooped on my computer and opened my drawer without asking?”

He chuckled. “Yes. Those times.”

“And when you showed up to my date?”

He spread his hands. “I’m sorry it upset you.”

“But not sorry you did it,” she said.

He shook his head. “Not in the least. That guy was a jerk. I’d do it again. But let’s not talk about him anymore tonight. Or ever. You need to sleep well. Come on. In bed you go.” Edward pulled the covers back and patted the pillow. “That cute head of yours needs to lay right here.”

She did as told. In the meantime, Edward began shrugging out of his shirt as he prepared to settle in for the night.

Those abs! No freaking way! How is he so ripped?

---