I’m not sure how I feel about being such an open book, but there’s not really much to be done about it. Determined to change the subject, I cock a brow in Cat’s direction. “What about you? You’re looking rather pleased with yourself this morning?”
Her smile turns wicked. “Oh, I am. Evander’s men came through for me and tracked down my little scam artist. I’ve been talking to her for over a week and things are going… better than I could have asked.”
Before I can press for more details, the sound of my Little girl calling for me distracts me.
Looking over, I spot her running toward me, slipping on the sand with every step, her expression serious. “Daddy! I need you!”
Worry slams into me and in a second, I’m on my feet, making a beeline for her. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Did you step on something? Show Daddy where it hurts, baby.”
“Huh?” Confusion knits her brows together as she stares up at me, but a moment later it clears and she giggles. “I’m not hurt, Daddy. I was coming to tell you I needed to potty.”
“Ah.” Thank god it’s just a bathroom emergency and not a real emergency. “Well, you’re going to need to use your diaper, little one. I don’t have a catheter on me and it wouldn’t be safe to use it on you at the beach anyway.”
Camilla rolls her eyes and my palm physically itches to connect with her wet bottom. “Iknowthat, Daddy. I already did.”
For a moment, I can only stare down at her. “What?”
“I said Ineededto potty. As in, I needed to and I did. So I need a new diaper, please.”
The way she says it, so matter-of-factly, as if she hasn’t just rocked my world with this new revelation, stuns me to my core. “You used your diaper.”
“Uh-huh.”
“All on your own. Without me forcing you.”
“Yup.”
“Why?”
Another roll of her eyes, followed by a withering stare. “Because I needed to pee. Why else would I use my diaper?”
“No, I mean.” Closing my eyes, I pinch the bridge of my nose and pray for patience. “For weeks you’ve refused to use it unless I made you. What changed?”
When I open my eyes, she’s smiling up at me, love shining from her bright blue eyes. “You did. I only fought it at first because I wanted that to be something Ionlyshared with my forever Daddy. And that’s you.”
“Camilla…” Hauling her into my arms, I hold her against me, my face buried in her wet hair as emotion threatens to overwhelm me. “My sweet little sunshine. I am so proud of you, little one.”
“Thank you, Daddy. But, um, could you please change me now? It’s kinda uncomfortable.”
“Of course, baby.” But I hold her close another moment, dropping my voice for her ears only. “And as soon as we get home, Daddy is going to teach you what happens to naughty little girls who roll their eyes and sass their Daddies.”
She inhales sharply, her breath hitching. “Is it gonna hurt?”
“Absolutely.”
“Then I can’t wait.”
Epilogue
Alexis
Excitement beats at my chest as I toss the last of my clothes into my brand-new suitcase and zip it shut. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I reread my last message from Catharina, though I’ve read it so many times I have it memorized at this point.
I’m sending a car to pick you up at noon. The plane will be waiting for you when you arrive. All you have to do is show up and reap the rewards of your cunning little plan.
I’ll admit, when she first reached out to me, I was terrified. I half expected to be slapped with a lawsuit considering I’d been using her likeness to scam her peers out of alotof money.
The absolutelastthing I expected was for her to strike up a surprisingly friendly conversation. A conversation that culminated with her offering me an all-expenses-paid vacation at one of her properties on some tropical island, as well as five grand to go “buy myself something pretty” for my trip.
