Page 34 of Sawyer
He'd thought about going to the all-night grocery store and buying a tube of sugar cookie dough, some frosting, and some sprinkles and cooking the damn things himself. But Lele seemed so excited, he hadn’t wanted to disappoint her. Besides, she wasn’t really up to going inside anywhere else, and there was no way in hell he was going to leave her outside of the grocery store unprotected.
By the time they returned home with the two sugar cookie sandwiches, she was asleep. She’d moved the cushion from her rear and had used it as a pillow against the window. Back at the house, he’d lifted her out of the car. Smiling sleepily, she snuggled into his chest, never fully waking.
Damn, she was cute. Reluctant to let her go, he placed her on the couch and covered her with the throw blanket.
He watched her sleep, mesmerized by the peaceful look on her face. Setting the bag of cookies on the end table, he sat down next to her.
Her eyes fluttered open. When her eyes focused on him, her smile lit up his world. He’d never known anyone as trusting as his Half-Pint. He wanted to protect her from everything that might cause her pain. The only one he couldn’t protect her from, the one who could hurt her more than anyone, was himself.
Blinking, she asked, “What time is it?” She arched her back off the couch and stretched like a cat. Did she know when she did that it pressed her tits against her thin top, allowing him to see the outline of both her nipples?
He doubted it. Lele didn’t do coy and provocative. He doubted she knew how. God help him if she ever figured it out.
Pulling her to her feet, he said, “Time for Little girls to be in bed. I’m going to stay tonight. I’ll camp out on the couch.”
She rubbed her fists in her sleepy eyes. “I thought we were having cookies.” A yawn interrupted her before she said, “I’m not sleepy.”
He arched a brow. “Half-Pint, you are the poster child for sleepy. I’ll tuck you in, and you can get some shuteye.”
“I don’t need any shuteye. Hey!”
Tired of arguing, he bent over, hooked an arm behind her thighs, and tossed her over his shoulder.
“No fair,” she cried out. Followed by a squeal when he pulled back her covers to reveal black sheets decorated with a neon cartoon kitten pattern. He lowered her gently to her bed.
She groaned, covering her face with her hands. “I know what you’re thinking. A grown woman shouldn't have neon kitty sheets, but I thought the black sheet would be easier to hide under, and the kitties’ glow-in-the-dark eyes would scare away any bad guys who broke in.”
Uh, no.
“Who told you a grown woman shouldn’t have whatever the hell sheets she wants?” Sawyer responded, then another thought hit him, “Scratch that, who’s been looking at your sheets?”
“Nobody.” At his quirked brows, she added. “Well, nobody other than Hector. But he wasn’t being mean. He was just trying to help me fit in with people here.”
“You mean narrow-minded, judgmental people who like to stick their noses in other people’s business? Those kinds of people?”
“Maybe? I don’t know the people here. But it didn’t matter. No one ever wanted to come over to visit anyway. Are you sure you wouldn’t rather sleep in my bed with me?”
“Would I rather? Absolutely. But I want to talk to you about a few more things before I do that.”
“But why?” She looked so disappointed he’d pulled her into his arms.
“Because, Half-Pint, if I get in that bed with you, we are going to do everything you can imagine and a few you probably can’t. And I want us to take our time, so you don’t look back one day with regret if things don’t go the way I hope they will.”
She didn’t look convinced. Glancing at the bedroom door, she said, “My couch is going to be uncomfortable. There’s no way you’re going to fit.”
“Half-Pint, I’ve slept in ditches with stagnant water and alone in shacks in the Middle East with enemy bombs leveling buildings all around me. Trust me, your couch is not going to be a problem.”
But his Little girl was stubborn when it came to putting everyone else first. Who had taught her that was her role in life? To be the least important and always the one excluded and left out. He had a feeling he knew, and if he was right, that man, or men, were going to disappear and never be heard from again.
“If we can’t share the bed, then I should sleep on the couch. I’m smaller.”
Oh yeah. This was something he was going to have to work on with his babygirl. Looked like bedtime would have to wait. Takingher by the hand, he led her to one of the empty corners in her room.
“Wait, what are we doing?”
“We aren’t doing anything. You are going to stand with your nose in this corner, hand clasped on the top of your head.”
“But Daddy! Why?”
