Page 97 of All Too Well
Ainsley grins. “Half the fun is watching you come up with a plan.”
“You forget, I know how much you hate not knowing things.”
There are perks to this arrangement. For one, I know her very well. We don’t have many secrets from each other. Now we have even fewer.
One thing I’m sure of is that Ainsley does not like being left in the dark. She wants to make the plans—always has.
“I’m learning that there are some things worth the anticipation.”
The water is still running, which means I have a few seconds to show her just how much anticipation can heighten what’s coming later. I move my hand behind her, where I can just barely run my thumb along the small of her back. She shivers, and I lean my face close to hers, where our lips could touch, but I don’t seal the deal. “I promise tonight the only pain will be from how long you wait before I make you come.”
“Daddy! Ainsley! I’m ready!” Rose yells as she runs out of thebathroom, and we break apart so fast it’s like we weren’t even together.
Ainsley moves quickly, walking toward her. “I’m so excited. What should we read? Do you have a favorite? Your pajamas are so cute.” She fires the questions off in one breath.
Rose smiles up at her, taking her hand. “I’ll show you everything.”
“Hey, pip-squeak,” I say with a wide grin. Rose turns around, her brown hair spiraling like rays of the sun. “Do I get a good night hug? Since I’ve been relieved of duty tonight.”
She releases Ainsley’s hand and rushes over to me. I pull her into my arms, squeezing her and kissing the side of her head. “I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you the most of anyone.”
Rose giggles and hugs me tighter. “Is it too tight?”
I make a gasping noise, feigning that I can’t breathe. “No.”
She releases me and takes my face in her hands. “Daddy, you have to breathe.”
“Oh, sorry, you’re just so strong.”
“Because I’m like you.”
I grin. “Don’t snore so loud you wake the bears.”
She sighs dramatically. “I won’t.”
I made up a story about a little girl who snored so loudly she woke all the animals in the forest. They came to make sure she was okay, and the bear liked her so much he moved in. It was silly, but Rose loved all the sound effects of the animals I acted out.
“Good night, my little Rosebud.”
“Good night, Daddy. Come home safe if there’s a fire,” she says as she heads back toward Ainsley.
“I always try.”
She grins. “Try the hardest.”
I wink and Rose laughs before taking Ainsley’s hand. “Come on, Ainsley, we have books to read!”
“Books? How many do you want to read?”
Rose’s laugh is deep, and warmth grows in my chest. “Until I fall asleep.”
An hour later Ainsley emerges from Rose’s bedroom. I’m on the couch, watching the game, when she plops down next to me. “We read eighty-two books, and she would’ve had me keep going.”
I chuckle. “Eighty-two, huh? You’re a speed reader.”
Ainsley smiles. “Okay, maybe it was less than that.”
