Page 16 of Daddy's Little Sunshine

“What the hell did you do? Buy the whole grocery store?” Lainey was stretched out on the couch, watching him with obvious amusement.

Glaring at her, he kicked the door shut behind him. “I didn’t know what you liked.”

“Oh.” She at least had the grace to look a little ashamed. “That was nice, but you didn’t have to.”

“Yeah, I did.” He hauled the bags into the small kitchen. “I don’t know how long you’re going to be here, we need to eat, and I can’t risk dragging you out in the open right now. And I’m sure there’s a reason we shouldn’t eat pizza every night, even if I don’t know what the hell it might be.”

She rolled off the couch and padded over to the kitchen. Fuck him, she was wearing those tiny little shorts again. And when she bent over to grab a bag off the floor, they rode up high enough for him to see the bruises his belt had left on her ass. Maybe it made him an asshole, but damn if he didn’t enjoy seeing his marks on her.

“So, um, I’ve been thinking.” Her tone put him on alert. “I can’t stay here forever.”

“I know.” Opening the fridge, he dumped the fruit he’d randomly selected into a drawer. “I’m working on it. I know some people who might be able to help.”

“Okay. But I was thinking, what about the church?”

“The church?” It took a minute for him to realize what she was talking about. “You mean those whackos who believe we’re all gifts from God or whatever? No way.”

“Why not? They have connections. They’ll help us.”

Shaking his head, he grabbed a box of cereal and tried to figure out where the hell it should go. “I don’t trust them. They’ll want to put you on display, which will just make you a bigger target.”

She rolled her eyes. “They have tons of members and none of them have been attacked by anybody.”

“That you know of.” Picking a cabinet at random, he shoved the box of cereal inside. “The answer is no. It’s too big of a risk. End of discussion, little girl.”

“Ugh.” A cabinet door slammed shut and lightning flashed outside as she stomped back to the couch. “Fine. I guess you’re stuck with me. Asshole,” she mumbled.

Jesus. How the hell had he gotten himself into this mess? By being a goddamn Good Samaritan and look how that had turned out. Not that it was fair to her, either. She’d lost her job, her home, basically her entire life in the space of twenty-four hours. Of course, she was pinning her hopes on whoever she could find. Who could blame her?

Donovan blew out a breath and put the last of the groceries away before joining her in the living room. Sitting on the edge of the coffee table, he dangled his hands between his knees, and grudgingly offered a compromise. “Let me call some people and put some feelers out about the church. Then we can decide if it’s a good move. Deal?”

She pouted and rolled her eyes. “You mean you’ll decide if it’s a good move.”

“Probably. Which I know pisses you off, but you have to trust me, sunshine. I’m trying to protect you.” He tried for a playful smile. “Daddy knows best.”

Her lower lip was still pushed out, but she couldn’t hide the flush on her cheeks. “Okay.”

“Okay.” Donovan tapped his fist on his knee, wracking his brain for something to cheer her up. “Since we’re stuck together, how about a little practice?”

The pout finally disappeared. “Practice?”

“Yeah. Hiding you away isn’t going to help anything if freak storms follow you around. You need to learn to control it.”

Shifting in her seat, she shrugged. “I’m working on it.”

“Good. Stand up.”

Pushing off the couch, she crossed her arms and scowled at him. “What now?”

“Watch the attitude, sunshine,” he warned. “Or this won’t be nearly as fun as I want it to be.” He left her standing there while he went back to the kitchen and filled a bowl with water. Despite her still crossed arms, he could tell her curiosity was gettingthe better of her. Donovan placed the bowl on the table before sitting in the middle of the couch and patting his knee. “Come on, sunshine.”

She eyed his lap warily. “Why?”

It was a legitimate question, given their short history together. He reminded himself to be patient with her. “Because I said so. And good girls do as they’re told.”

“I don’t want a spanking,” she said with a whine he should have found grating, but it was damn near adorable coming from her.

Grinning up at her, he patted his knee again. “You’ll like this one. Promise.”

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