Page 35 of Smoke

Elliot chuckled and Dawson grinned sheepishly. “I’m sorry, babygirl. Are you doing okay?”

“I’m fine.”

He started to say something, but then winced and cursed. “Fucking, hell, Elliot!”

“This may burn a bit,” Elliot mumbled. I thought maybe he was still angry with Daddy because he wasn’t being so super gentle with him.

“It’s a little fucking late to tell me now!”

“Oops,” Elliot said, clearly not feeling the least bit remorseful. “If you don’t want things to sting, maybe you shouldn’t get shot.”

Couldn’t argue with him there.

A knock on the door stopped their argument and Elliot’s Little girl Tinsley rushed in.

“Hi, Uncle Smokes! You’re nakey!”

I giggled. Daddy wasn’t nakey, but his shirt was off.

“Tinsley Kate, what has Daddy told you about running into his office?”

“Not to, Daddy.”

“So why are you in my office right now?”

“I knocked first!” she protested.

“Did I tell you it was okay to come in?”

“Nooooo.”

“Tinsley Kate!” her other Daddy, Tyler, yelled. He must have been looking for her.

“Oh no. I needa hide!” she said, running over to the couch and picking up Elliot’s white lab coat. She draped it over her head, making herself look like a ghost.

Tyler appeared in the doorway and spotted her immediately. “Tinsley Kate!” he scolded, “You know you are not supposed to be in Daddy’s office unless he gives you permission ahead of time.”

Tinsley stood completely still and didn’t answer him.

“Tinsley Kate!” her Daddy scolded again.

Unable to keep my Little from bursting through, I blurted out, “That’s not Tinsley. That’s a ghostie.”

“A ghostie,” Tinsley agreed, nodding. “Oooooo,” she howled, making spooky noises.

Dawson looked at me, his eyes bright with amusement. “Oh, Little girl, you are being so naughty right now.”

Blushing, I looked down, but I couldn’t just stand there and let a Little friend fend for herself against her big, growly tops.

Sliding from the chair I slowly tiptoed over to Tinsley and took her hand. “Is okay, Mr. Tyler. I’m a certified priest. I’ll get the spooky ghostie out of your house,” I said even though my bottom tingled with nerves. I guided Tinsley out of the room. We hadn’teven made it down the hall before all three men erupted in loud laughter.

“Oh, there is no way we can let those two be friends. They are dangerous together,” Elliot laughed. I was thankful Tinsley and I had seemed to shift the mood to something lighter even if that meant I might be in trouble later.

***

“I want you to stay right here, Little one,” Dawson told me after he’d finished drying my skin from the bath.

“I promise.”

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