"I'm sorry. I-I was upset, and I took it out on you."
The color in her cheeks hadn't faded since he'd asked if she was ready to apologize. With her head down and her hands clasped behind her back, she looked exactly like a repentant little girl. And he'd never seen anything more adorable in his whole life. "I never should have blamed you for what happened. Please forgive me?" The last was said with a tremble in her voice.
"Of course. I trust you learned your lesson?" Luca's eyes met Jason's over her head.
"Yes, sir," Evie replied quietly.
"Good. Jason, I'd like a word."
Luca strode out of the room. Taking a moment to comfort her, Jason gathered Evie into his arms and lowered his lips to hers. "I'm proud of you, tesoro. I'll be right back."
"Okay."
After another brief kiss, he followed Luca into the kitchen. "What's up, boss?"
When Luca turned back to him, the fury on his face made Jason take a step back. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"
"Whoa." Holding up his hands, Jason shook his head. "What are you talking about?"
"How the hell could you spank her so soon? I just figured you'd take her upstairs and give her some time to cool down."
"Thatiswhat I did."
"Bullshit." The growl in Luca's voice nearly had Jason taking a step back in retreat. "She's been crying."
"Yeah." Laughing at the absurdity of it all, Jason ran his hands through his hair. "She cried because she felt guilty about what she did and because of her asshole parents."
"Oh." Luca visibly relaxed, but he didn't quite look convinced. "You didn't spank her?"
"No. She might have earned one, but it didn't feel right." He chose his next words carefully. "Not to say I won't at some point, maybe even soon. And when that happens, I need to know you're going to stay out of it."
"Shit." Luca scrubbed a hand over his face. "I'll try."
"I guess that's all I can ask for. Thanks, boss." They walked back to the living room together, in time to hear Teagan bark out a disbelieving laugh.
"Are you fucking kidding me? I wouldn't sit for a week if I talked to anyone like that."
Luca stopped short, and the way his mouth fell open had Jason swallowing a laugh. "Teagan Anne!"
Her head whipped around and the color drained from her face. "Crap."
"That's all you have to say for yourself, little girl?"
The color came rushing back to her cheeks with a vengeance. "Sorry, it just slipped out."
Luca pointed to the stairs. "Our room. Now."
"But, Daddy!"
"Now, little girl."
"This is bullshit! How does Evie get away with cussing you up one side and down the other and I'm in trouble after one little slip up?"
"Jay dealt with Evie as he saw fit. Just as I'm about to do with you."
Shooting Jason a death glare, she shoved off the couch and stomped up the stairs. Luca sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Thank you for the apology, Evie. You'll be getting one of your own from Teagan when we're finished."
Evie's eyes went wide and she looked from Luca to Jason and back again. "Oh, I, that's not necessary."