“Okay, but say you’re lonely at night too!” Franny whisper-yelled so loud that Jameson could hear her, but he still waited for me to repeat it.
One side of his mouth curled up. “Go on, Mia. Say what Franny told you.”
A blush rose to my cheeks as I said, “I’m lonely at night.”
“Are you, now?” Jameson pushed off the doorway. “And a dog will help?”
Franny looked between us with narrowed eyes and whispered in my ear fast, “Say yes, Mia!”
“Yes. A dog would help.”
“You want adogkeeping you company?” His hands were on his hips.
She grabbed my hand and put her other hand to her chin as if thinking. “Well, tell him I did a report on rabbits.”
I smirked to myself, because she was such a good little negotiator. The truth had come out. A pet for her was necessary, not me.
She elbowed me, and I rolled my eyes, not thinking much of it as I repeated her words. “Franny’s done a whole report on rabbits, and we think she’s ready to take care of one.”
Franny leaned in. “For company, and it’ll teach her responsibility.” She glared at me expectantly to repeat.
“It’s to keep us company, Jameson. You understand? Plus, it will teach her responsibility.” I batted my eyelashes at him.
Franny whispered, “And will be my best friend.”
“And it will beoneof her best friends, because of course I’m her best friend at the moment.”
Franny snickered at that and then eyed her father as if calculating how much more work we had to do in order to get him to say yes. He was staring at me with those eyes and took a sip of coffee as Franny whispered in my ear, “We almost have him. Just say, ‘Please, Daddy.’”
We were on a roll now, and I didn’t even think as I blurted out, “Please, Daddy. We promise to …”
The words died on my lips as Jameson choked on the coffee he was drinking from his mug. He set it down so hard that some of the dark liquid sloshed over the rim of it. “I’ll consider it,” he grumbled.
A low whistle came from the doorway, and there stood Callahan. He must have seen the look in Jameson’s eyes, because he called to Franny, “Let’s go look around the house to see if there’s a place to put a bunny cage while Ms. Darling and your dad discuss it, huh?”
“Uncle Cal, you really think I’m going to get one?!” Franny skipped out of the room while Jameson’s eyes stayed glued to me, like I was all he could see, and he wanted to see everything.
“Jameson, I’m sorry. You don’t really have to get her one—”
“Say it again.”
“What?”
“Beg again, Ms. Darling, and you might get exactly what you want from me.”
I chuckled but felt his command shoot directly to my core because I had no self-control. Still, I tried to make a joke of it because maybe that’s all this was anyway. “Oh sure. Should I saydaddytoo?”
“I’m not opposed to it.” His voice was full of gravel.
“Please, Daddy.”
That must have pushed him over the edge, because he sucked on his teeth and slowly reached behind himself to remove the gun holstered at his back, placing it on the desk with a heavy thud that echoed through the room. Then his fingers went to his belt, and I watched how he loosened it with measured precision.
“Bend over the desk, Mia Darling. You’ve been a bad girl today.”
“Bad enough that you’re going to punish me?” I raised an eyebrow now, because I couldn’t stop myself from being defiant with him. I grinned, planting my hands on my hips instead of obeying him outright. His eyes flared at my challenging him.
He was so used to being in charge and in control that I think he expected me to submit easily every time. Did he ever let goof the reins? Would he with me—just a little, so that I could worship the man he didn’t let many see?
