Page 47 of Daddy's Heart

Ryder yanked open the passenger side door and settled a hard glare on her.

“Sam, you have one hell of a punishment coming when we get home. I really wouldn’t push it right now with a flippant attitude. You will tell me everything that’s going on, but not until I ask you to tell me. Right now, you are to sit your ass in this car and keep quiet. I don’t want to hear a sound out of you until I tell you otherwise. Am I clear, young lady?”

Her throat worked as she swallowed, and her eyes widened. The tinge of fear she’d had when he’d first barged into the office washed away by the acceptance. She’d be getting her punishment, and she wouldn’t be fighting him about it either. The woman was smart. She knew when she was beat.

She lowered her gaze and climbed into the truck, folding her hands in her lap. He reached in and grabbed the seatbelt, pulling it over her chest and clicking it into place. He could feel the warmth from her body as he moved across her, but he wasn’t giving into carnal thoughts. Not now. Not until he knew what the hell was going on and figured out how to keep his little girl safe.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you,” she whispered as he started to pull back out of the truck.

He paused, looking into her eyes. His face was so close to hers, he could feel her soft breaths wash across his cheek. “I think you’re sorry you got caught more than you’re sorry you kept something from me. But we’ll sort that out at home. Right now, quiet.” He tapped her lips with his finger, then stepped down from the truck and shut her door.

His little girl was sorry.

But not as sorry as she was going to be.

He hadn’t lied when he’d said he was a strict Daddy.

His little girl was about to find out how strict he could be.

Chapter 19

She was a fool.

An absolute buffoon to think George would have kept his big mouth shut. She hadn’t meant to deceive Ryder; she’d only wanted to keep him from getting hurt.

“Ryder—”

“I swear to you, Sam, if you say another word, you are going to be sorely sorry.” He pointed a finger between them.

The air in the elevator thickened. His irritation was palpable, and she needed to do something to alleviate it. Soothe him in some way—and derail his punishment ideas at the same time.

The spanking he’d given her for swearing at him hadn’t been light, and he’d been going easy on her then. He didn’t look willing to show the same kindness now.

The muscles in his neck were tight, his jaw locked, his glare hot and focused on the door. He wouldn’t even look at her. She had to make it right.

“Ryder…Daddy,” she whispered.

He made a sound, a cross between a growl and a groan, right before he grabbed her arm and spun her around, pressing her to the wall of the elevator. She cried out, trying to scramble away, but he pinned her with one hand flat to her back while his other fired off half a dozen spanks to her ass. The thin fabric of her summer dress might as well have been laying on the floor for all the protection it offered from his strict hand.

He didn’t speak a word once he released her.

She pried herself off the wall and stood back beside him, rubbing her ass while she stared at the numbers flickering above the door. When they arrived at his floor, he casually placed his hand on the small of her back, leading her out of the elevator and down the hall.

If anyone had seen them, they never would have known her ass tingled from his firm, well-placed smacks, or that each step she took brought her closer to her demise.

She stood behind him while he unlocked the door. His t-shirt stretched across his broad shoulders and tapered down at his waist. She wanted to slip her arms around his middle and hug herself to his back. But from the tension she sensed in him, he probably wouldn’t be open to that.

He pushed the door open and moved to the side, his arm sweeping behind her to bring her inside. She hurried her steps down the hallway toward her room. Maybe he needed more time to calm down. It was late, perhaps if she fell asleep, he’d leave her be until the morning, and by then, have forgotten all about it entirely.

“Not so fast, Sammy. You and I are having a conversation. Get your ass in the living room. I’ll be right there.” He hooked his arm around her waist and turned her away from her safe haven.

“Daddy, I swear, I’m sorry. And I think—”

“Still talking even when I said not to.” He gave her a quick smack to her ass and propelled her gently into the living room. “Don’t worry, I can fix that. I want you out of your dress, just in your panties, no bra, when I get back.”

She gave a worried glance at the large windows. The blinds weren’t drawn; anyone looking in would see them.

“The windows—”

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