Page 165 of Daddy's Wild Girl

Satisfaction filled him. God, he loved hearing her call him Daddy.

Bebe wonderedwhat he’d gotten her.

Excitement flooded her. She liked presents. Sometimes she felt guilty about how much she liked them. Did that mean she was materialistic?

“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked.

How could he tell something was wrong? Sometimes it felt like he was a mind-reader.

“Do you think it’s awful that I like gifts? Does that make me materialistic? I mean, they don’t have to be expensive. I just like the surprise . . . I didn’t always get gifts as a kid. My parents would always forget my birthdays. And I think my dad’s personal assistant was the one who bought my Christmas presents. Because I never got anything I asked for.”

“Jesus, baby, you’re fucking killing me here.”

“Sorry,” she told him.

“And don’t apologize. I just . . . I’m sorry they were so terrible. I can promise I will never forget your birthday or what you ask for from Santa.”

She bit her lip at the idea of asking Santa directly. “I’ve never even sat on Santa’s lap.”

“Well, you can this year and every year after. Santa makes a special trip to Sanctuary.”

He did?

Oh, she was so looking forward to that!

“I hope I’m still here.”

He placed his hands over her fidgeting ones, drawing them to him, but she couldn’t look at anything but his serious face. “You will be. Because I want you to stay here. Forever.”

“Forever?” she asked.

“It might be too soon, but I don’t care. I love you Bluebelle Benner. You’re the best thing to ever happen to me. Every time I think of you, I smile. You light up my life in a way that hasn’t ever happened. I think ever since my dad died, I’ve been in a funk. I didn’t realize it, but I didn’t want to go anywhere or do anything. And now I want to experience life. With you by my side. It’s okay if you can’t say it back. I don’t want?—”

“I love you too!” she cried, throwing herself forward to wrap her arms around him. It’s why everything meant so much to her. Why she didn’t want to mess it up. Because losing him would devastate her. “So much.”

“Good. Then it’s agreed you’ll stay?”

“I will. But there’s the house in San Francisco.”

“Let’s not worry about that now. We can sort that out. Now, I’ve got gifts for you, and no, I don’t think it makes you materialistic to want them. It’s okay to enjoy someone doing something nice for you. Far as I’m concerned, you haven’t had enough of that so you should let me do it for you now. Without guilt.”

“Okay, Daddy.”

He kissed her lightly, then drew away.

Bebe gasped as she took in the things on the coffee table. There was a large kite with squirrels all over it, four tubs of slime in different colors. As well a toy tool kit in a pale yellow. Then there were the outfits. A white onesie with squirrels all over it and a dress made of the same material. A hat with a squirrel'sface on it. Squirrel slippers. There was definitely a theme. There were also plastic plates, a baby bottle, and a pacifier.

“I found someone online who could create Little onesies and outfits as well as put decals on things like baby bottles. So I ordered all of this. The kite was actually the most difficult to find. What do you think? Do you like everything?”

“I love them, Daddy! Can I fly the kite? Oh, there’s no wind.”

“Not today, no. We’ll save that for another day. And I haven’t set up an area for your tools yet. How about the slime?”

“Yes, please! Shall I do it outside?”

“Why would you do it outside?” He gave her a puzzled look.

“Um, because I don’t want to make a mess.” She was trying really hard to be tidy.

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