Guilt sits in my stomach like a rock. “I really am sorry,” I say quietly. “I know better than anyone not to make snap judgments about people. In my line of work, I get to see who celebrities really are beneath all the glamour and it’s always surprising to people when I tell them that their favorite actor is really a creepy perv in real life. Please don’t be mad at me.”
He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes, not like before. “I’m not mad. You should pick out a couple of books to take back to your nursery with you. Bedtime is at nine, but if you want to stay up and read for a bit, I’ll allow it.”
“Okay.”
One dark eyebrow raises and my bottom clenches, as if anticipating a punishment. “How do you answer me, kitten?”
Kitten. Relief lightens the rock in my stomach. At least if he’s calling me by my pet name, he isn’ttooangry. Right? “Yes, Daddy.”
“Good girl.” Tilting his head to the side, he goes very still, as if he’s listening for something. “Your Auntie Cat is here.”
“What? How do you know?”
A second later, I hear it. The telltale click of heels on the marble floor, and then she comes bursting through the library doors, her face alight with anticipation.
Holy shit. Auntie Cat is fucking Catharina Montgomery. Heiress to the Montgomery oil fortune. Any gossip columnist worth their salt knows it’s next to impossible to land an interview with her.
Pulitzer fucking prize, here I come.
“Evander! There you are. Lucas said you might be hiding back here.” Her gaze lands on me, dark eyes bright as she claps her hands together. “This must be naughty little Natalie. I heard you’ve been giving your uncles quite a run for their money already.”
“Have I?” I can’t help but grin back at her. “Can’t say I hate that.”
Head thrown back, Catharina lets out a long, loud laugh. “Oh, she isdelightful, Evander. Just a head’s up, Jasper is on his way and he is not nearly as excited to meet our newest addition as I am.”
“If Jasper values his tongue, he’ll keep his opinions to himself.”
Catharina’s eyes sparkle at the threat. “This is going to be so much fun to watch.” Bending down, she places her hands on her knees. She’s much taller than I remember from the few times I’ve caught glimpses of her at events, but maybe that’s because she’s wearing her customary stiletto heels and I’m in sneakers. “Your Uncle Max tells me you came all this way on a ship. That was a very naughty thing to do, putting yourself in danger like that. But I like your spirit.”
“Well, apparently Evander got me on the ship and sent Lucas to babysit me so I don't think I was ever actually in any danger.”
Glancing up at the man behind me, Catharina arches an elegant brow. “You let her use your first name?”
“No.” Evander’s tone has taken on an edge that has my spine going ramrod straight. “She knows better. Who am I, Natalie Quinn?”
Whoops.“Oh. Uh. Daddy?”
“And who is Lucas?”
“Papa.”
“Good girl. If I have to remind you again, I’ll be reminding you over my knee. Understood?”
“Yes, Daddy. Sorry, I just forgot.” I didn’t forget. But referring to him asDaddyin the third person, to someone else just felt too weird.
Guess I’ll have to get over that, if I ever want to sit comfortably again.
Before Evander can say anything else, a loud, angry voice echoes through the hall. “Evander! Where the hell is she?”
“Uh-oh,” Catharina says in a sing-song voice as she scoops me up, surprising me with her strength as I wrap myself around her. Despite Evander’s warnings about her, not to mention what I’ve heard of her through my job, she seems a far safer choicethan the furious man about to descend upon us. “I hope you like fireworks, little one. Because you’re about to get a show.”
Chapter Seven
Evander
Glancing over at Cat, I send her a warning look. “Keep her out of the way.”
While I’d love nothing more than to have my Little girl in my arms, I don’t want her in harm’s way if Jasper decides to throw a punch. Not that he’d ever intentionally hurt a Little one, even one he’s pissed at, but Jasper can be a bit of a hothead. And, I’m willing to admit, I enjoy pushing his buttons.
