Page 29 of Guiding Little Gabi

It took all her effort to answer, mainly because her heart was now lodged in her throat. “I don’t think it’s funny at all, Sir. I’m very sorry. I’m just nervous, and I get what my mom calls the silly giggles when I get nervous. You know, that feeling that makes you laugh at the worst possible time.”

You do realize you’re babbling like a Rocky Mountain brook, right?

Ignoring Beetlebrenda’s snark, Gabi shifted her hand to the small of her back, palm open and facing her Daddy. It was one of the things they’d always done, even before she’d known she’d wanted Raleigh as her Daddy. One of them would put their hand behind their back while the other person stepped closer to hold on to it. It was reflex. She didn’t expect him to take her hand now.

She’d been miscast in the role of his Little girl. He deserved someone better. Someone who wouldn’t make foolish decisions over and over. He deserved someone perfect. That wasn’t her, and it never would be.

Derek’s stare still held her almost immobile. She felt like a deer caught in the headlights. She couldn't hold back the babble. “I know we pranked everyone two days ago. I can see why you’d think we did the same thing today, but we didn’t. I promise. We messed up. I get it. But it wasn’t on purpose. We just wanted to make red, white, and blue foam.”

Heat radiating from a muscular chest warmed her back while a large hand enveloped hers and gave a gentle squeeze. She was overwhelmed by a relief so intense she had to bite her bottom lip to prevent herself from bursting into tears.

He stood behind her, supporting and reassuring her she wasn’t alone. He might not want to be her Daddy anymore, even at the Ranch, but at least he didn’t hate her. At least she hadn’t lost him completely.

Sadie spoke. “It’s true, Daddy. We didn’t know it would turn everything in the hot tub purple. We sure didn’t know it would overflow onto the concrete.”

Derek nodded. “I didn’t think you were the type of girls who would do that, but it’s nice to have that confirmed. Let’s start at the beginning. Can someone walk me through what happened?” When no one volunteered, he turned back to Sadie. “Let’s begin with you, darlin’. Whose idea was it to go to the hot tub?”

“It was mine, Daddy. But at first, we were just going to the giant tub so we could all be together. Daddy, Gabi told us about her friends at home and the club they have. They’re the Musketiaras. Isn’t that the cutest name ever?”

Derek didn’t take the bait. “It is, but I need you to stay on point, angel. What does this have to do with the hot tub?”

“Only everything, Daddy! We wanted to meet in the giant hot tub so we’d have enough room for all the permanent Littles who want to help pick a name for our club. Didn’t we, Wren?”

Wren nodded. “I had some ideas about club colors and adorable matching T-shirts we can get. We were thinking about calling ourselves the Rancheritas. What do you think, Master Derek?”

Derek didn’t even hesitate. It was as if he picked out names for girls’ clubs every day. “I think that’s fine, darlin’. I’m sure whatever you come up with will be lovely. But I don’t feel like we’re getting any closer to why I have a purple hot tub and concrete. Tell me this—who introduced the idea of taking bath bombs to this meeting?”

Pippi slowly raised her hand. “Um… I guess I did, Master Derek. But I just thought extra foam in the hot tub would be fun. I wanted to, you know, make foam beards and hair. Not to mention coming out with softer skin. I didn’t mean to turn anything purple.”

Derek gave Pippi a smile, which was really nice as far as Gabi was concerned. Pippi might not be an angel, but she was shy. Gabi liked that Master Derek treated her gently.

“I feel like we’re closing in on the crux of the matter. Who decided to add the color?”

Wren shrugged. “I guess you could say it was me. I thought white foam was boring, so I suggested everyone bring red, white, or blue bath bombs so we’d have red, white, and blue foam.You’re not going to believe this, but all those colors of bombs still make white foam. How boring is that?”

Gabi couldn’t say why, but she had the feeling Master Derek was beginning to be amused. Not that it would change anything, but she still liked him more for having a sense of humor.

“Are we getting closer to the purple part of the story?” Derek asked.

Chef Connor spoke up next. “I notice you haven’t shared anything yet, Hayleigh Anne. Care to tell us how the food coloring went missing from my kitchen?”

Tears shining in her eyes, Hayleigh turned to her Daddy. Chef Connor was having none of that. “Oh no, young lady. Master Derek is asking the questions right now, so you will look at him. Rest assured, I’ll have many questions of my own later when we’re alone.”

Turning back toward Master Derek, Hayleigh nibbled her lip. “I got the food coloring from my Daddy’s kitchen and brought it to the hot tub. I just wanted the foam to have color. I didn’t think about it all mixing together to make purple. And I didn’t know the jets would make the foam go crazy like that. I’m really sorry, Master Derek. I’ll do whatever it takes to make it better.”

Master Derek’s gaze softened even more. “I don’t believe there was any malicious intent, darlin’.”

“It wouldn’t matter if there was,” Sadie announced, managing to capture everyone’s attention once more.

Derek’s brows almost met his hairline. “You’re going to want to explain that statement, young lady. And it had better be good.”

Sadie winked at Gabi. And Gabi heard violins playing the intro strains to the band Europe’s “The Final Countdown” in her head. She had no idea what Sadie was about to say, but she just knew it was going to be bad.

Sadie fluttered her eyelashes and drove the first nail into Gabi’s coffin. “It matters to you, Daddy. And me, of course. But legally, actions carry more weight than intent. Isn’t that true, Gabi? Tell Daddy what you told us.”

Every eye in the room turned to Gabi, including the ones right behind her she couldn’t see but felt boring into her head.

A chill glinted Master Derek’s blue eyes. “Yes, Gabrielle. Why don’t you share with all of us?”

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