It was kind of silly considering how hot it had to be outside, but she was a little cold. The air conditioning was cooler than she would have it. She guessed he wasn’t as used to the heat as she was.
“I’m good,” she told him. She didn’t want him to be uncomfortable for her sake.
He narrowed his gaze at her then crouched next to the sofa so they were at eye-level with each other. He raised one eyebrow. “You have goosebumps. You going to tell me you’re not cold?”
“I. . .um. . .maybe a little.”
“And why didn’t you say something before?”
“Because I thought that you probably weren’t used to the heat and I didn’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
“Okay, first, we talked about honesty—”
“But I was thinking of you!” she protested.
“Which is very nice, sweet pea. But I expect an honest answer to my questions, no matter what. Daddy can’t look after his girl properly if she lies to him.”
Oh.
She bit her lip. “Sorry, Daddy.”
“Two, your comfort comes before mine.”
She frowned at that. “Doesn’t seem very fair. Don’t I get to take care of you too?”
He looked a little startled. Had no one ever taken care of him before? He stared at her then stood. She froze. Had she upset him? Said the wrong thing? Damn it, why did she have to speak up and say anything?
But when he returned, he held a soft blanket in his hands. He laid it over her with a kiss to her forehead. “Now, we’re both comfortable.”
She relaxed with a smile. He hadn’t been upset then. He turned on the TV, right as a couple came together in a passionate kiss.
“That’s not very baby girl friendly,” he muttered. He quickly turned it to a cartoon.
She pouted. “Daddy, I liked the other show better.”
“I don’t think so. That was far too old for you. Little girls don’t need to be exposed to such things.”
She had to grin. “So, does that mean Little girls shouldn’t be exposed to other things?”
He stared down at her in confusion and she purposely moved her gaze to between his legs, her eyebrows waggling.
“Why you cheeky monkey.” He snorted. Then leaned in and kissed her lightly on the lips. “That’s different.”
“Yeah? Why is that?”
“Because what a daddy and his Little one share is special. Just for the two of them.”
She liked the sound of that. She’d never had something special. She didn’t even complain when he returned with the bottle of water. She just started drinking it while he rattled around in the kitchen. When he walked into the living area, she
expected him to sit in the recliner chair where his grandma always sat. Instead he moved to the couch and lifted her up. Then he lay down on the couch. She stared down at him in surprise.
“Did you just steal my seat?” It seemed a rude thing to do. And Macca wasn’t usually rude. Well other than the first two times she met him, she guessed.
But there were extenuating circumstances to explain that behavior.
He patted his chest then held out his hand. “Come lie on top of me.”
She still had the blanket wrapped around her as she took hold of his hand. He drew her down so she lay on him, her legs between his, her head resting on his chest. She could hear his heart beating steadily as he arranged the blanket over them.