Page 190 of Daddy's Naughty List

Chapter Four

Rocky could still hear the shower. She’d been in there forever. He couldn’t imagine how she’d survived in that nightmare of an apartment.

Turning on the TV, he flipped through the channels before finding one that featured lighthearted cartoons. He fixed himself an evening glass of milk and concocted a chocolate one for Melissa when he heard the shower stop.

A few minutes later, he saw her peek around the corner. She looked enchanting with her wet, tousled hair and oversized nightshirt.

“Hi, sweetheart. Come on in. You can join me in my nightly tradition of a glass of milk.”

“You drink milk?” she asked, gliding into the room slowly.

“Every day. Healthy bones are important. I snuck some chocolate into yours,” he told her, holding out an icy glass.

“Yum. I haven’t had that for years.” She sat down on the chair next to his place on the couch to take a drink. “Mmm. That’s good.”

“I’m glad you like it.” Rocky held his glass out to toast her and smiled as she clinked her glass to his with a giggle. “I thought I might watch some TV to relax before bedtime. What do you like?”

She shrugged. “I don’t watch a lot of TV. I like to read in bed at night.”

Rocky pictured the inside of her apartment and realized she hadn’t had a TV. The living space had been completely empty except for the two rickety chairs. “I turned on cartoons, but we can change this to something else.”

“No, this is fine,” she answered, sliding back fully in her chair and taking another big drink of milk as she focused on the TV. Melissa jumped when the illustrated dog on the screen turned the corner to find a hairy monster waiting for him.

“Too scary?” Rocky asked, reaching for the remote.

“No. Don’t change it. I have to see the end or I’ll worry. I don’t sleep very well, but I’ll try to be quiet.” She dropped her eyes to her knees before adding, “I probably should have told you before you brought me home.”

“I think everyone has nightmares sometimes, Melissa.”

“Even you?”

“Of course. Watch. I think their plan to trap the monster is working.” He pointed at the screen.

A few minutes later, one of the good guys pulled the head of the monster costume off to reveal the angry, next-door neighbor. Rocky watched Melissa sag against the back cushion in relief. He made a mental note to make sure to time movies or programs so that she saw the bad guys get caught. And to choose wisely what she should watch.

As the cartoon ended, a wide yawn stretched Melissa’s jaw, and she slapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry.”

Rocky turned off the TV and announced, “Bedtime.”

“Oh, you can keep watching,” she assured him before raising her glass to drain the last sip.

“How about if I come read you a story?”

“You know how to read stories?” she asked, and then blushed adorably. “I mean, I know you know how to read.”

“I’ve been practicing. Go brush your teeth and I’ll put these glasses in the dishwasher. I left a new toothbrush and toothpaste out for you in the bathroom.”

“I’ve got one.”

“It’s always a good idea to have a new toothbrush. I keep an assortment in the first drawer. Browse through the colors and choose your favorite,” Rocky told her.

She darted out of the room. Rocky stowed the glasses and turned off all the lights. When he got to the guest room across the hall from the large main bedroom, he opened the closed door and stepped inside to select a book from the large shelving unit. With the perfect bedtime story in hand, he exited and carefully closed the bedroom door. He’d show that area to Melissa soon.

Stopping at the next door, Rocky knocked on the door frame as he peeked inside. Melissa was snug under the covers with all the lights on. “Comfy?” he asked, noticing a lump under the covers at her side. How long would it take her to share her stuffie with him?

He towed a chair next to the bed and turned on the bedside lamp. “How about if we turn off the big light?”

She hesitated before admitting, “I don’t like the dark.”

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