Page 49 of Awakening His Daddy

“It probably will.”

“Okay, light candles, light all the candles.”

“Maybe not all the candles.” He chuckles and lights one. “We don’t want to set off the smoke alarms.”

The lights go out again, and I shriek, again.

“Hey, it’s still okay. I’m here, and here’s a flashlight just for you.” I look up and reach for the small but bright flashlight.

“Thanks.”

He lights a few more candles and leads me back to the couch. The room isn’t as bright as I would like, but it’s better, and Joe is with me. He’ll keep my monsters at bay.

But now it’s really quiet in here.

“Can we listen to the radio?” I know that they keep a battery-operated radio here in case of emergencies.

“Sure.” My face lights up, “but no Christmas music.” My face falls.

“Why no Christmas music? Everyone loves Christmas music.”

“It’s just so repetitive and all the songs are the same.”

“You just said the same thing twice, only in a different way,” I point out with a laugh.

“Exactly like Christmas music!” He seems excited that I got his point.

“I don’t mind what we listen to,” I want Christmas music, “but I’d like to have something on.” Now my head slumps low. “I don’t like the quiet.”

“It’s okay, I’m here, remember?” He pulls me into a hug, and I nod against his strong, delicious chest. “If you let go, I’ll get the radio.”

“I’m good here.”

I can feel his chuckle through his chest, but then he gently eases me back and goes to the kitchen. I watch him the whole way and clutch my flashlight tightly, just in case I need it.

I hear the sound of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” get louder as Joe brings the radio into the living room and sits down.

He gives me a sheepish look. “It was the first station I found.”

I smile and snuggle closer to him. “Thank you. What should we do now?”

“We could go to bed,” he teases.

“We could go to bed,” I purr.

“I meant to sleep.”

“But that’s no fun, and I’m not tired.”

“How about cards?”

“Oh, I like cards.”

He opens the drawer on the coffee table and pulls out a well-worn deck of cards and shuffles.

“Go Fish?” he asks.

“Alright, but prepare to lose.” He deals. “Do you have any fives?”

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