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“Daddy. Put me down. I can walk.”

“Never said you couldn’t, babygirl. But I want to carry you.”

Sighing, she wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her cheek on his chest. That was more like it.

“Come on, bluebell. Let’s go home.”

He carriedher straight to her room when they got back to the ranch. The neighbors and ranch hands had all understood, and no one objected to celebrating Friendsgiving the next day. Even the one special guest no one knew about.

His girl was exhausted after her ordeal. She needed a bath, a meal, and an early bedtime. And he was just the Daddy to make that happen.

Once he had everything set, he led Tildi into the bathroom. She was tense. Part of it was because of the day, but part of it was nervousness about how bad of a spanking she was going to get.

To be honest, he was having a hard time deciding what to do. What she’d been through was punishment enough as far as he was concerned. He’d have to pay close attention and make sure she didn’t feel guilty. He wouldn’t do anything tonight, anyway. Her bottom had to still be sore from the night before.

She wasn’t smiling. She wasn’t even looking at him. That meant she’d pulled into her own head. It was the last place she needed to be. He needed her focused on him and the life they had to look forward to together.

Luckily, what he had planned should do the trick.

“Hold Daddy’s hand, babygirl. I have a surprise for you.”

Curiosity lit her lavender eyes. Thank god. Taking out his phone, he pulled up the app he’d installed. “Are you ready, little one?”

“What are you going to do, Daddy?”

He winked. “Just this, babygirl.” He turned off the bathroom lights, plunging the room into darkness.

Tildi squealed and grabbed his arm. Before she could climb him like a tree, he pushed the button on his phone. The shades of purple lit the room, and twinkling stars decorated every surface.

The breath she drew in was adorable, as was the breathy, “Oh!” she whispered. Releasing her hold on his arm, she turned in a slow circle, taking in all the constellations projected aroundthe room. “It’s… it’s…” Turning her gaze to him, she finished with a whispered, “Beautiful.”

Damn if he didn’t feel like the king of the world. And he’d just gotten started. He brought up a romantic playlist on his phone and connected it to the speaker system. When the music started, he held out his hand. “May I have this dance?”

She stared at his hand, then up at him. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She nodded and he took her into his arms. They swayed to the music, and he sang along, meaning every sappy, heartfelt word of every song. As they danced under the stars.

When she seemed to tire, he moved to his next surprise. Turning both taps in the bathtub to their highest pressure, he added lavender bubble bath.

As the tub filled with bubbles, he slowly undressed her. He made sure to caress every inch of her body. After helping her into the bath, he got her settled.

Adorable was the closest word he could come up with to describe how she looked, sitting in the tub with bubbles all the way up to her chin. They were going to be taller than that shortly.

When he turned to lift the picnic basket he’d asked Ruby to put together, she thought he was leaving. “Can’t you get in, too, Daddy?”

Setting the basket on the counter extending from the tub, he grinned. “Not this time, babygirl. Tonight is all about relaxing and having Little girl fun. We’ll have big girl fun another time.”

Reaching into the basket, he pulled out three balls. Tildi watched as he pushed a button on each. The balls glowed in everchanging neon colors, and when he put them in the water, they lit the bubbles.

Tildi laughed. After the day they’d had, that was a more beautiful sound than anything on the playlist he'd made. Sheplayed with the balls, giggling and singing along with the music. And sinking further into Little space with every note. Perfect.

His final surprise, his piece de resistance, was the charcuterie board of cheeses, chocolates, and fruit. He’d found a board long enough to stretch all the way across the massive jacuzzi tub.

They nibbled and sipped sparkling grape juice until their stomachs were almost as full as his heart. When his Little girl’s eyes started to droop, he pulled the drain plug, dried her off, and got her into her pajamas. They lay in bed together, and he read her stories while she cuddled with Puff and colored a picture.

“Time for sleep, babygirl. Tomorrow is a big day with an even bigger surprise.” Hopefully one she would like, because he’d gone to a lot of trouble to make it happen at the Friendsgiving celebration.

“Bigger than all this? What is it? Tell me. Tell me. Tell me!”

He forced his face into a stern frown, even though he thought her antics were as cute as all get out. “Unless you want to end our date with a hot bottom, I suggest you change that attitude.”