Page 49 of Protecting Little Phoebe

“My bottom is already hot!” she told him.

“It can be hotter.”

Phoebe sighed. “All right, Daddy. I will try to nap. I really don’t think I’ll fall asleep, though.”

“You said that last night too.”

“I was just tired. It was all the glitter. Glittering makes me tired.”

“I don’t know that glittering is a word.”

“Oh, it is, Daddy. It totally is.”

He crouched to remove her slippers, skirt, and tights. Then he stood and drew off her sweater, leaving her just in a T-shirt.

“Come on, you need to go potty first. You haven’t been all morning.” In fact, she hadn’t drunk much at lunch or breakfast. He needed to get some water into her.

“I don’t think I’ve gots to pee, though,” she complained as he led her into the bathroom.

He placed her in front of the toilet, then drew her panties down before helping her sit. Then he stood and waited.

She stared up at him, her face growing red. “Daddy! Are you going to stay in here?”

“I was going to. Too soon?”

“Way too soon, Daddy. Like a hundred years too soon.”

“In a hundred years I’ll be well and truly dead,” he told her.

“Uh-huh. Me too. And then I won’t be able to die from embarrassment from you listening to me pee.”

Die from embarrassment. His girl could be a tad dramatic. “I’ll go and get the crib ready. Call out when you’ve finished peeing.”

“Uh-huh, I’ll do that, Daddy.”

He drew the covers back on the crib and grabbed Miss Bunny for her to cuddle. He thought about getting Snickerdoodle, but he didn’t want to leave her for that long. And she seemed to like Miss Bunny. Then he grabbed a sippy cup from the cupboard and filled it up with a bottle of water left over from their lunch.

“Daddy? Finished!” she called out.

“Good girl, have you washed your hands?” he asked as he entered the bathroom.

“Of course, Daddy.”

“Well done.” He took hold of her hand and led her into the other room and to the chair instead of the crib. Suddenly, she started tugging at his hand and he stopped, turning to her.

She was staring down at the chair. “I didn’t do anything wrong, Daddy!”

“What do you mean… of course you didn’t… oh wait!” He was an idiot. “I’m not punishing you, little girl. I wanted to give you some water.” He walked over and grabbed the sippy cup of water.

“Oh. Silly me. Of course you wouldn’t spank me. I’ve been so well-behaved.”

“Well, not sure I’d go that far,” he told her as he sat on the chair and drew her onto his lap, lying her back against his arm. Perhaps he should have chosen the baby bottle. But she drank down some water happily.

Damn.

He never thought he would be this lucky. He held the cup for her as she continued to drink. When she turned her mouth away, tugging at his hand, he sat it down again. She’d drunk about a third of it. She could drink the rest afterward.

Standing, he held her cradled in his arms, against his chest as he carried her to the crib and laid her down. He gave her Miss Bunny before tucking her in. “Are you all right with Miss Bunny?”

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