Chapter Sixteen
It had been a week since Bella found out about her mother, and she still had bouts of crying that sometimes scared him. He knew it was going to take a long time, but he was with her, and he would get her through it.
It didn’t help that they had a going-away party for her the night before. She had hugged everyone at least five times and cried most of the party.
Unfortunately, Helen’s arrest had gotten around the group, so Bella also had to deal with their pity, compassion, and her own embarrassment.
Caleb thought it helped that Helen had taken a plea bargain, so they wouldn’t have to go through a court proceeding. She was getting twenty-five years to life with the possibility of parole. He wasn’t so sure she shouldn’t just stay in prison because when she got out, she’d have no one and no money. She wouldn’t have any Social Security, and she’d have to get a job for the first time in her life.
He wasn’t going to spend any more time worrying about Helen.
The last box of things Bella wanted to take was carried out the door. They would be shipped to his place. They were only taking a suitcase and a carry-on for both for the plane ride.
“Are you ready, baby?”
Bella took one more look around and then nodded. She smiled at him. “Yes, Daddy.”
He grinned. He loved it when she called him that, and she knew it, so she did it quite a bit.
One night as they lay in bed holding each other and talking, he explained about the type of lifestyle some of his friends had. Her interest had been captured, and she asked one question after another. The more she knew, the more she admitted she thought it was also the type of lifestyle she wanted.
Caleb held out his hand. “Come on, little star, or we’ll miss our plane.”
She took his hand while he had the two carry-ons over his shoulder. The luggage was already in the car Michael had sent for them.
He got them into the back of the vehicle and pulled her close.
She wrapped her arms around his waist and then grinned up at him.
“Any chance we can become a member of the mile-high club?”
His body jerked in shock. “Jesus Christ, don’t say things like that. Your first time will not in an airplane bathroom.” He closed his eyes. “Fuck, now I’m going to be hard the whole time because I can’t get that picture out of my head.”
She stuck out her bottom lip in a pout that he found extremely adorable.
He looked away. “Stop, little star, before I take you over my knees and give you the spanking you’re asking for.”
Caleb turned back to see her grinning and rolled his eyes. “You’re going to terrorize your daddy, aren’t you?”
She looked up and bit her lip like she was thinking. “Yeah, probably.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “Damn, I’m going to have my hands full with you, and I’m going to love every bit of it.”
“I love you, Daddy.”
A groan tore from his throat. “I love you, too, baby. You’ve become my whole world, and I can’t imagine a day without you.”
“I hope not.”
The flight home went way better than his flight to California, and they made it home in a fraction of the time.
He pulled into the underground parking. After he parked, he came around for her and then grabbed the carry-ons and luggage.
“Let me help,” she complained.
A smirk crossed his face. “I got it, baby, but you can push the code to our condo.”
He studied her expression when the doors slid open, and she got a look at the living room and part of the kitchen. He hadn’t done a lot of decorating because he didn’t give a shit.
“I want you to decorate this place any way you want. I want you to make it yours.”
She nodded and stepped off the elevator into a small foyer with white marble tile.
“We have a cleaning lady, Roberta, who comes once a week or more if we need her. She’s been with us since we started. She takes care of everyone who lives here.”
She nodded.
He started to sweat when she didn’t say anything. “Baby, if you don’t like it…”
She twirled toward him, and his heart sank when he saw the tears.
“I’m not sad. I just realized that I have my very own home, and it’s a great feeling.”
He relaxed. “Down the line, we’ll talk about buying a house. Okay?”
“Perfect. Now show me the bedroom, Daddy.”
He groaned at the passionate look on her face. Jesus, he’d need every bit of strength not to throw her under him and fuck her until they both couldn’t walk.
That would happen. Just not today. He wanted the first time to be special and slow, something she’d always remember fondly.
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