“Half an hour nap instead of an hour, and an hour later for bedtime.”
Pausing just inside her nursery, I turn my head to raise a brow at her. “That doesn’t sound like much of a compromise. That sounds very much like a Little girl getting what she wants.”
“It’s a compromise when you consider I usually stay up until one or two in the morning writing,” she says with a shrug.
“Well that isabsolutelynot happening.”
“I figured. Hence the compromise.”
Since it is partially my fault she’s so behind on her writing, I consider her offer as I put her in her crib. “All right. But I reserve the right to change the terms of our agreement if you seem tired or out of sorts.”
“I’m a writer. I’malwaysout of sorts, especially during crunch time.”
“Do you want me to agree to your compromise or not, little girl?”
A blush steals across her cheeks. “Yes, Daddy.”
“Good girl. I’ll be back in thirty minutes to get you up. You don’t have to sleep but you do have to stay in your crib.”
“I know, Daddy.”
Leaning down, I press a kiss to her hair. “All right. I’ll be back soon.”
“Daddy?” Her soft voice reaches me just as I’m about to turn out the lights.
“Yes, bug?”
Pulling herself up in the crib, she stares up at me, perfect white teeth worrying at her bottom lip. “Will you… Will you read me a story?”
My heart does a slow roll in my chest. “Of course, baby. What do you want me to read you?”
“Anything. I just kinda miss how you used to read to me all the time.”
Before everything went down with our uncle, reading to my little lovebug was one of my favorite pastimes. Picking out a book to read together, then spending hours with her curled up on the couch beside me while I read. I can’t believe I haven’t thought to do so before now.
Crossing the room to the large bookcase up against the far wall, I pick out one of the books I’ve been carefully stocking my nursery with for years. I move to pull the large glider closer to her crib before changing my mind. Instead, I scoop her out of the crib and carry her to the glider, settling in the oversized chair with my babygirl on my lap.
Josie snuggles in with a sigh as I open the book.
And read.
CHAPTER 22
JOSIE
Iwake from my nap still cradled in Daddy’s arms in the glider and for several long moments I simply lie there, unwilling to move and ruin this perfect moment. Being read to has always been one of my favorite things in the whole world, but being read to byhim…
God, I’ve missed this. More than I really want to admit.
“There’s my sleepy girl.” Daddy’s voice is thick with amusement as he presses a kiss to the top of my head. “Did you have a good nap, baby?”
“Mmm. Yes.” Arching up, I stretch my arms and legs. “But I really do need to get to work.”
Surprisingly, I’m not as eager as I was before my nap. Probably because I don’t want to leave the comfort of Daddy’s lap to get to work.
And I really don’t want to think too hard about what that means.
“All right. Do you need to potty?”
