Page 12 of Daddy Reed

“Maybe we should,” I huff. “It’s safer that way.”

He doesn’t have to remind me I was brutalized in my own bed. I’m just being stubborn, and we both know it. Thankfully, he doesn’t call me out and continues to pet me like his favorite kitten.

“She reminds me a lot of you,” Reed says softly, dodging my swat. “I’m being serious.”

“I was much better behaved.”

“True,” he admits, “but you loved the outdoors. You loved getting dirty and playing with your brother. Your treehouse was your favorite place to be.”

“I never got on the roof.”

“Had you been born and raised in the wilderness, you may not be able to say that.”

Ignoring that statement, I watch Dawson as he crawls over to where Declan and Kota are trying to build a block tower. Kota sharply instructs Declan to keep the baby away. That it’s his job. Our other boys are well-behaved, but something tells me Kota will be a troublemaker one day.

“I can talk to her,” Reed offers, playfully tugging my hair, “but. . .”

I sigh heavily and fill in the rest of his statement. “But she has you wrapped around her finger. No, it needs to be me.”

He stays quiet, watching the kids play as I stew in my thoughts. Finally, when I’ve pouted long enough, I sit up and frown at him.

“Parenting is supposed to get easier the older they get,” I mutter. “Right?”

Reed snorts and then mutters low enough only I can hear, “It wasn’t with you.”

I discretely flip him off and then kneel to press a kiss to his handsome mouth. “Fine. I’ll go. If you hear yelling, don’t come to rescue the prisoner.”

He winks at me and then manages to smack my ass when I pass by. Despite my thundering heart and Reed’s all-consuming love thrumming through me, I harness my anger and attempt to focus on the discussion with my daughter.

The door is closed, and when I push inside, I find Destiny and Raegan sitting beside each other, whispering lowly. Warmth blooms in my chest to see them acting like sisters who are best friends. Maybe something good can come out of this after all.

“Dez, honey, why don’t you go sit with Daddy while me and Rae have a talk.”

Destiny leans her head against Raegan’s before standing and walking my way. I pull her to me for a quick hug and then wait until she closes the door behind her before speaking to Raegan.

“You could have broken your neck,” I say in exasperation. “Honestly, Rae, what were you thinking?”

She crosses her arms over her chest and glares my way. “I was thinking I’d like to stare up at the stars. I was thinking it’d be nice to have a peaceful moment to myself.”

There are plenty of places she could have escaped to get her privacy. And had she told us she needed it, we’d have allowed her to go. The whole disappearing act is where she went wrong.

“As long as you live here,” I tell her curtly, “you aren’t awarded those.”

“But Rowdy and Ryder and Ronan are? Why is that, Mom? Do you like them better?”

She pushes my buttons regularly just to see how far she can get away with disrespecting me. I don’t rise to her bait. Instead, I walk over to her bed and sit in Destiny’s vacated spot. Reaching down, I take her small hand in mine and squeeze.

“Your brothers are men now, but they’re not the problem here. The problem is you sneaking out and doing something dangerous alone. You could have been hurt.”

“But I wasn’t. I’m fine.”

“This time.”

She frowns at my ominous words. “Every time. I have been climbing trees far longer than I could walk.”

“It’s more than the roof and the sneaking out, Rae,” I grumble, shaking my head in frustration. “It’s everything outside of the fence that keeps us safe. It’s the worry that you were out there all alone. Something could have mauled you or worse yet. . .”

“Worse yet?” She laughs in disbelief. “What could be worse than a bear feasting on your intestines?”

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