Page 27 of Daddy's Little Patient

“Hmm.” She was so freaking cute when she was pensive, her forehead, nose, and chin all crinkling up as she considered her options. “Is there any way to make a bad news sandwich? Like the bread is the good news? I love bread.”

“Bread is really good,” he agreed, and thought about other good news he could give her. Luckily, babygirls were generally easy to please and he had some dino nuggets and smiley face fries in the freezer. He was pretty sure that would fit the bill. “Yes, I can make a good news sandwich. Do we need to put on your bib?”

“No, Daddy! You’re silly. It’s a metaphorical sandwich,” she told him, drawing out the word “metaphorical” as if he’d never heard it before.

“Such a cheeky little thing,” he murmured and pulled her in for a kiss. He could kiss Cricket all day but he had some news to give her, and he should get it done. Finally he managed to tear himself away. “You’re going to get your bottom spanked if you’re too sassy. You ready for good news number one?”

“Uh-huh.”

“We’re having dino nuggets and smiley fries for dinner.”

Oh, he’d been so right about her being easy to please. Owen didn’t know if his babygirl would look more excited if he’d told her they were going to Disney.

“Those are my favorites, Daddy! Thank you!”

Cricket gave him a big, smacking kiss, and then threw her arms around him and squeezed him.

“Maybe I should call you my little boa constrictor,” he teased, making his voice sound like he was being crushed.

“No, Daddy. I’m not a snik snak danger noodle nope rope. I’m a cricket!”

He laughed. “Danger noodle, huh? Right on. Okay, no snik snaks and no nope ropes. But I do think you give really good crushy hugs there, love bug.”

Cricket beamed at him, her cheeks appling. Love bug it would be.

“Um, do you have ketchup and honey?”

“To mix together?” he asked, vaguely horrified. Some of the kids he saw ate some weird shit but that would be a first.

“No, Daddy. Ew! Ketchup for my smiley fries and honey for my dino nuggets.”

He loved how she called him Daddy every chance she got. He didn’t know if it was because she was trying to get into the habit or whether she just liked it, but either way it was like a hit at the dopamine slot machine every damn time.

“I think I have both of those in the kitchen. I’ll check in a few minutes, and if I don’t have them I can run back to the store.”

“I don’tneedthem, Daddy. You don’t have to go back to the store.”

“I know you don’t need them,” he told her. “But this is supposed to be a treat and I want you to enjoy it. I like making you happy, Cricket. And picking up a couple things at the grocery store is not a big deal. I’d go a lot further for you.”

She blinked like she couldn’t quite believe her ears, and then hugged him again, not quite so hard this time.

“Thank you, Daddy,” she murmured into his chest.

“You’re welcome, babygirl.”

He cuddled her for a couple minutes, enjoying her softness and the way she smelled, and how their breath synched up. It would be nice to do this forever, but it was time for the bad news part of the sandwich.

Chapter Fourteen

Cricket loved how warm and strong her Daddy’s arms felt around her. And her mouth was already watering thinking about her tasty dinner. Even if he made broccoli with it and tried to pass them off as trees, she’d still be happy. Especially if he had some ranch dressing for her to dip them in.

“You ready for the not good news?”

“No.”

She felt the vibration of his chuckle.

“Well, we need to deal with it sometime. How about two more minutes of cuddles and then we can talk about it?”

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