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Nor will it save Juliet. “Let’s see.” Picking up the monitor, I switch to a view of the hallway, and we watch as they creep toward the stairs, carefully making their way down the steps.
Maxwell rubs at his chin, a smile tugging at his lips and excitement dancing in his pale eyes. “Do we meet them at the bottom of the stairs or see what they have up their puffy little sleeves?”
“I vote we wait and see. I’d like to know exactly how naughty they were planning on being, so we can plan their punishments accordingly.”
“Agreed.”
We follow their progress via video down the stairs, right past the room we’re sitting in, and to the kitchen.
“What are you up to, naughty girl?” I murmur as I watch Juliet open several cabinet doors, then disappear into the pantry.
She returns a moment later, a triumphant smile on her face as she holds up two bottles of champagne. Victoria cheers, pumping her fists in the air as Juliet places a bottle on the island and begins fiddling with the top on the second bottle.
“And I believe that’s our cue,” I say, jumping up from the couch and heading for the kitchen, Maxwell hot on my heels.
Our little brats are so engrossed in opening the champagne bottle, they don’t even notice when we enter the kitchen.
“What do you two think you’re doing?”
Victoria jumps back from Juliet, as if the sudden space will somehow make her seem less guilty. Wide-eyed, she throws her hand behind her, shielding her bottom from the spanking she knows is coming.
Beside her, Juliet’s head jerks up. Unfortunately, our surprise entrance comes at the same exact time she manages to free the stopper from the bottle. The cork goes flying—straight at Maxwell’s face.
It’s like I’m watching in slow motion as the errant piece of cork buzzes through the air, smacking Maxwell right between the eyes. Victoria and Juliet stand rooted to the spot in apparent shock, the former with her hands still firmly behind her and the latter with bubbles pouring down her arm.
It takes every ounce of self-control I have not to burst out laughing.
“Fuck!” Maxwell slaps a hand over his forehead, wincing as he rubs at the red mark the stopper left behind. His expression is furious as he points at his naughty Little girl. “You have three seconds to find an empty corner and put your nose in it, Victoria Rose. One.”
With a shocked little squeak, Victoria spins in place and runs for the first empty corner she finds.
“There should be a couple ice packs in the freezer if you want one, Maxwell.” Gesturing toward the fridge with one hand, I grab the champagne from Juliet’s hand with the other and set it on the island. “I need to take Juliet to get cleaned up before we deal with… all of this.”
Maxwell grunts, and again I’m forced to swallow a laugh as I take Juliet’s hand and drag her toward the half bath just off the kitchen.
“What on earth were you thinking, little girl?” I ask when the door shuts firmly behind us.
“I-I don’t know. Is Uncle Max okay?”
My heart melts a bit at the clear concern in her voice. “He’ll survive. What you should be worried about is the state of your bottom, naughty girl.” Shaking my head, I flip the faucet on and grab a washcloth from beneath the sink. “Where are you supposed to be right now, Juliet Sloane?”
She sniffles pitifully, her bottom lip trembling just a bit. “In my room.”
“You are in so much trouble, princess,” I say with a sigh as I scrub the sticky liquid from her arm. “Even if you hadn’t just beaned your Uncle Max in the head with a cork, you’d still be in a world of hurt.”
“I’m sorry, Daddy. We didn’t think it would be a big deal.”
When she’s all clean and dry, I pin her with a stern look. “You didn’t think it would be a big deal, or you didn’t think you’d get caught?”
Juliet’s head drops, and I know without her answering what the truth is. “I dunno.”
“Well, unfortunately for you, I’m pretty sure I do know. Come on, princess. Time to face the music.”
Juliet
Crap, crap, crap.
We are insomuch trouble.