Page 75 of Daddy's Naughty List

“That was a close one,” Carly said, her eyes glittering with the thrill of nearly getting caught.

“Too close.” Running a shaky hand through her hair, Jesse let out a nervous laugh. “We need to work fast if we want to get these decorations up before we get caught.”

“Agreed.” Noelle stood back from the porch, frowning up at the house. “One question. How the hell are we supposed to get the lights up there without a ladder?”

Crap. Noelle was right. There was no possible way to hang the lights without actually climbing up to the gutters.

“The grownups will murder us if they come out here and find us on a ladder,” Jesse said with a groan.

“Well… maybe there isoneof us who wouldn’t get murdered…” Ginny turned to look at Taylor, the corners of her lips slowly curling upward.

She wasn’tentirelyconvinced Ian wouldn’t break his no-spanking streak if she did something that dangerous again. But out of all of them, she had the best chance. And Jesse looked so dang sad she couldn’t bring herself to say no.

“All right. I think Edie keeps her ladder in the shed.”

Chapter Twelve

“Uh-oh. That’s not a happy look,” Dom said as Matt made his way back to the kitchen, his lips turned down in a frown.

“Nothing’s wrong. They’re all out there, having a blast. I couldn’t find Taylor and Jesse at first, but they were hiding by the porch to scare me.”

Cocking his head to the side, Rex gave Matt a long, hard look. “Then why do you look like someone just ate the leftovers you’d been saving and looking forward to all day?”

“That’s a very specific analogy.” Blowing out a breath, Matt shook his head. “And I’m not sure. Maybe it’s just my Daddy radar, but I have a feeling they’re up tosomethingout there.”

“As long as they’re not doing anything dangerous, let them be.” When Matt glared at him, Dom just shrugged. “What? They’re Littles. Getting into trouble is built into their DNA. Let them live their lives.”

A year ago, Ian never would have imagined that he would consider Dom the voice of reason in the group. But he found himself nodding along, despite Matt’s scowl. “Seriously, Matty. They’re fine.”

“Yeah, I guess. I just worry. Carly’s still recovering from having the baby and she has a tendency to let herself get swept up in things, especially when she’s in Little space.”

“That explains why you’re being a bit more of a helicopter Daddy than usual,” Dom said with a laugh. “Can’t say I blame you.”

“Maybe. It’s just?—”

A loud crash from outside cut off whatever else Matt was going to say. For a moment, they all stared at each other, stunned.

Matt recovered first, turning on his heel and racing for the front door. “Carly!”

With the spell broken, they all raced after him, out the front door to where a group of shocked Littles stood staring at the tall ladder laying on its side just a few feet away.

Fear gripping him by the throat, Ian pushed past the others, running down the steps to Taylor. Her face was white as a sheet and when he pulled her into his arms, she was trembling.

“Are you okay, baby? Are you hurt? What happened?” Pulling away slightly, he ran his hands over her arms, then her legs, relief flooding him when he realized nothing was obviously broken.

“I’m sorry, Daddy, I’m so sorry.” Tears filled Taylor’s eyes as her trembling grew more pronounced. “Please don’t be mad.”

“Why would I be mad?”

“Um, well…” Trailing off, she looked past him.

He turned, following her gaze to the ladder. And the box of Christmas decorations beside it.

Before he could question her, however, Edie’s voice rose above the murmurs and crying surrounding them. “You were trying to dowhat?”

Grant laid a hand on the back of her neck, obviously trying to soothe her temper, not that it was doing any good if the fire in Edie’s eyes was anything to go by. In front of them, Jesse stood with her head down, the pink hair she’d been growing out falling like a curtain in front of her face. “Perhaps we should take this inside,” Grant said, his tone even and calm. “Dom, would you be able to check the girls over for injuries, make sure we don’t need to take anyone to the hospital?”

“Of course.” Scooping Noelle up, Dom let her wrap herself around him like a baby monkey, her face buried in his neck. “Come on, girls. Let’s go inside so I can look you all over.”

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