Page 53 of The Captain's Little Girl

CHAPTER18

“Buttons?” Cricket whispered as her gaze focused on the stuffie. She looked around to find herself in Mark’s bed.

“Daddy?” she called.

Footsteps sounded immediately in the hallway. “Hi, baby girl. How are you feeling?”

“You smell smoky,” she said, wrinkling her nose.

“Just started the grill before coming in to check on you. I’m making hamburgers for you,” he tempted her.

“Yum. Is everyone here yet?” she asked, pushing herself up to her elbows. The movement jostled her tummy and she needed to go—now. Cricket threw back the covers and struggled to get up without triggering her tummy’s reaction again. Thankfully, Mark scooped her into his arms and carried her to the bathroom. He quickly unfastened her diaper and leaned her over to remove the plug.

Cricket scrambled to the toilet as he turned on the water to clean the plug and set it on a washcloth next to the sink. He opened a drawer to pull out an activity book and a pen. Mark set them on the counter next to her and said, “Call me when you’re ready to get up.”

He left the door open as he left, seemingly unaffected by her body’s natural reaction to the medicine. Cricket pulled the book toward her and turned to a random page. Setting the pen tip on the paper, she connected the dots to form a very elaborate seaside scene.

When she finished, Cricket cleaned herself up and wandered into the bedroom to find clothes to wear. A cute outfit of blue shorts and a multicolored polka-dot shirt lay on the bed. Fingering the material, Cricket knew it would feel so soft on her skin. She froze in place at the sound of Mark’s voice.

“Little girl, you didn’t follow directions,” he admonished her.

“But…” Cricket fell silent, unsure how to explain why she hadn’t called. When he continued to look at her, she admitted, “It was too embarrassing.”

“Daddies take care of their Littles when they’re sick, messy, sweet, and bratty—even when they don’t do as their daddies ask.”

“I’m not in trouble, am I?”

“You are. Five swats,” Mark announced, stepping away from the doorframe he lounged against.

“That’s not fair,” she protested as he turned her around.

The first firm spank was his response. Immediately, Cricket announced “One!” She didn’t want him to add more.

“Good girl,” he praised before landing four more on her bottom, leaving it hot and stinging.

“I’m sorry, Daddy,” she said with tears in her eyes.

“I accept your apology,” Mark said before lifting her up in his arms in a giant bear hug.

Cricket rested her cheek on his shoulder as she recovered. Her tummy growled loudly in the quiet room.

“Sounds like your tummy is all tuned up and hungry,” Mark commented. “Let’s get this pink bottom and the rest of you dressed so we can eat when our guests get here.”

* * *

A half hour later, Cricket bit into a thick, juicy burger—plain with nothing on it except for mustard and a bun. Her daddy had fixed it just like she preferred them. The little girls all sat on their daddies’ laps to eat.

“Try this,” Mark coaxed her, holding a thick green drink to her lips. Doniphan had brought a large pitcher of smoothies for the Littles to drink.

“I don’t think so.” She wrinkled her nose at its color. “What does it have in there? Spinach?”

“It’s really good, Cricket,” River assured her. “I love them.”

Mark held it to her mouth again and steadied it as Cricket took a sip and followed it quickly with a second and third swallow. She settled back against his chest and ate another bite of her hamburger. She hummed with happiness.

“Yummy, right?” River questioned with a knowing smile.

“The best!”

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