Page 76 of Giddy Up, Daddy

“Then maybe you’re just perfect for me.”

Chapter Twenty-One

“Hands over your eyes.”

She put her hands over eyes, dancing about in excitement. “What’s the surprise, Daddy? What’s the surprise?”

Five days had passed since Stafford had come home to find her up the ladder and spanked her.

Since then, he’d been making more time to spend with her. Two nights ago, he’d set up a movie night with blankets and hot chocolate. He’d even set up a place for Mr. Whiskers and Mrs. Flopsy to sit.

Her Little was slipping out more and more around him. But today he’d actually taken the entire day off. He’d been holed up in this room, getting her surprise finished.

To say she was excited was an understatement.

“I’m not going to tell you. I’m going to show you. Bear in mind, it’s a work in progress. All right?”

“I’ll love it, Daddy. No matter what.” Because he’d spent time doing this for her.

And that was worth so much to her.

“Take my hand and keep your eyes closed. Good girl.” He led her into the room.

“Now open your eyes.”

She opened her eyes, blinking rapidly to clear her vision. A gasp escaped her.

“Daddy! You . . . what . . . how? You can’t have done all of this today!”

“No, I got up early each morning to paint the room. And Grandpa Jack kept you busy while I snuck in the boxes of things I’d bought.”

“You shouldn’t have done all of this.”

“Do you like it?” There was a note of uncertainty in his voice. “We can change anything that you don’t like.”

“What wouldn’t I like?” She spun around, taking it all in. Three walls were painted white, but the fourth wall was a deep, dark purple. The bed was the same one that had already been in here, but he had put a white cover on it and a purple fluffy blanket lay over the end. There was also a matching fluffy purple cushion. There wasn’t much furniture, just two white wooden nightstands.

“The cushion and blanket came from the same shop. And then I saw this white, fluffy rug.”

That rug looked so nice. Skipping over, she lay on her back and moved her arms and legs back and forth like she was making a snow angel.

“This rug is the bestest rug ever!”

“Is it?” he murmured. “And what about the stage?”

“Oh my God! You built me a stage!”

In one corner of the room, there was a small stage built about half a foot off the floor. It wasn’t terribly high or big, but it was just perfect for her. There was even a purple velvet curtain that could be pulled around it.

“You know that friend I had come in to sit with Grandpa Jack while we had a picnic the other day? Well, he built this for me.”

That picnic lunch had been awesome. He’d driven her out to an elevated spot with an amazing view of the ranch andthey’d sat and watched the sunset as they’d eaten the food she’d packed.

“That was so sneaky, Daddy!” she cried.

He shrugged. “Us Daddies have to be sneaky sometimes so we can surprise our nosy Littles.”

“I only tried to peek once!” she protested.

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