Okay, so whatever it is she wants, it’s outside. Does she just want to go play? Or is this some new harebrained escape plan?
She slips outside, pulling the door shut behind her and I shake my head as I cross the room to turn the alarm off. Last thing I need is the security company calling and freaking everyone out.
Grabbing my own jacket, I shove my feet into my boots and slip out into the night behind my naughty Little girl.
Thankfully for my blood pressure and her ass, she doesn’t head for the woods like I was half worried she would. If she had, I would be cutting several switches and wearing every single one out on her bare bottom for putting herself in that kind of danger again.
But apparently she’s learned her lesson, at least about trying to escape into the woods, because she hugs the side of the house as she makes her way through the snow with clumsy, stumbling steps. Every few feet she pauses, her head swiveling as she scans her surroundings.
Looking for something. But what?
I get my answer when we round the corner of the house and she takes off at what could generously be called a run toward the barn where we keep three snowmobiles in case of an emergency.
Clever girl.
I’m pretty sure I’ve figured out her plan, but I want to be absolutely sure before I decide how severe her punishment should be, so I follow her to the barn. The lights inside are motion activated, so I have a perfectly clear view of my babygirl, tugging at the large tarp covering one of the snowmobiles.
Schooling my expression into stern lines, I step into the entrance of the barn and fold my arms over my chest. “What are you doing, little girl?”
Lanie jumps, her terrified scream piercing the night air as she spins and slaps a hand over her chest. “Axel! What are you doing out here?”
“I believe I asked you first.”
Even in the dark, I can see the way her cheeks redden. Hands behind her back, she shifts nervously from foot to foot, looking for all the world like a naughty Little girl who just got caught doing something she shouldn’t. “Umm. I was just… exploring.”
“Exploring. Outside. In the freezing cold. Without any pants on.”
“It sounds bad when you say it like that,” she whines.
“Well, how would you say it, then?” I gesture toward her with one hand. “Go on. I’m listening.”
“I put on a jacket. And a scarf, and a hat. And your socks are so big they’re kinda like really thick stockings which are almost like pants.”
“Melanie—” I pause, realizing for the first time I have no idea what her full name is. “What’s your middle name?”
She sighs, sounding so put upon I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. “Brynne.”
“Melanie Brynne Thorne.” I deliberately use my last name to remind her that she now belongs tome. “Tell Daddy the truth right now. Were you going to try and steal one of our snowmobiles?”
“Not steal. Just… borrow.”
“I see. And where were you planning to go with yourborrowedsnowmobile?”
“Anywhere but here,” she snaps, her eyes snapping with fire as she jerks her chin up to glare at me. “Into town to find the sheriff, probably, so I can tell him all about how you and your horrible siblings kidnapped me and beat me and held me hostage.”
“Sheriff Donnelly would love that story. She’s never quite trusted us. Not sure why.”
“Maybe because you hold people against their will and force them to be your babies?”
“Nah, can’t be it. You’re the first.”
Her frustrated shriek nearly has me losing my fight against the laughter bubbling in my chest. She really is adorable when she’s angry.
But adorable or not, she has also been very, very naughty.
Reaching into the pocket of my jacket, I pull my belt free, letting the leather dangle from my hands as Lanie’s eyes go round with fear. “Unfortunately, your trip to town is going to have to wait, babygirl. Clearly my lesson on trying to escape and putting yourself in danger didn’t stick the first time. Daddy is going to rectify that right now.”
CHAPTER 17
