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I nk took her hand, squeezing it lightly as they followed Bonnie into LittleLand.

Betsy’s mouth dropped open as she took in the enormous space with a domed skylight that gave the room plenty of light. It was colorful and fun. The walls were painted with murals.

There was so much to take in.

“This place is amazing,” Betsy said as Bonnie led them toward what was clearly a Christmas area. There were two Christmas trees flanking the entrance. They walked in and there was only one word to describe it.

Magic.

For a big huge space, Bonnie had done a good job of sectioning off areas with shelving, lighting, and decorations.

Christmas lights flickered above them on what had to be a false ceiling. They walked along the red carpet with displays on either side. There were Christmas trees, Santas, nutcrackers, and naughty elves doing naughty things.

“Does a naughty elf visit you?” Bonnie asked. She was now walking rather than gliding. Turning, she walked backward.

“Bonnie,” Titus grumbled.

Betsy jumped. She hadn’t even realized that he was behind them.

Bonnie sighed. “Some of us have overprotective Daddies. And some of us have overprotective bodyguards.”

Oh.

Titus was her bodyguard? Was she in trouble? Greer hadn’t mentioned that part.

They walked out into an area with shelves filled with Christmas decorations and racks of clothes.

Betsy moved to the clothes. She was instantly thinking about how she would mix and match things.

And how she could display everything better.

“Wow. I never thought of putting that top and skirt together,” Bonnie said as Betsy held up two items. “You have an eye for clothes, huh? I thought that when I first saw you.”

“Oh. Thank you. I dressed like this as it’s my foster daughter’s first day at school.”

“Ahh, impressing the principal? Principals scare me. They’re so stern and rule driven.” Bonnie shuddered. “Rules suck.” Her phone buzzed and she drew it from her front pack. It was bedazzled in pink and purple jewels.

Sunny would love it.

“I’ve got to go do a couple of things. If you need me, there are buzzers everywhere. Just hit one and I’ll come running. Or gliding.” Bonnie waved and disappeared with Titus lumbering behind her.

“Daddy, this place is amazing,” she whispered. “Complete with a princess and an ogre.”

He grinned. “Ogre, huh? So you’re glad I brought you here?”

Betsy nodded. Oh, yes. “Can I choose some things?”

“Of course you can. Although, we might need a cart.”

A throat cleared and they glanced over to see Titus standing there with a cart.

“Bonnie thought you might need this.” Turning, he strode off without waiting for them to reply.

Although she thought she heard him mutter something about this not being part of the job description.

But she might have imagined that part.

Hopefully he didn’t hear her call him an ogre.

Oops.

“Ooh, look at this onesie, Daddy!” She held up a reindeer onesie. “They should put this one up on display. It will sell big, but people need to see it. Ooh and this pretty skirt with this top!” She showed him a pleated white skirt with images of Christmas trees on it. Then a red top with a big bow at the back.

“Hmm, I like the bow. It’s like I get to unwrap my very own Christmas gift.” He winked at her.

“Daddy!” she cried, shaking a finger at him. “You’re so naughty. Santa might leave you coal in your stocking.” Panic suddenly filled her as she realized something. “Oh no!”

“What is it?” he asked, glancing around.

“I have to get Zippy a stocking! I can’t believe I forget about that. Idiot.”

“Betsy,” Ink said firmly, placing his hands on her shoulders. “You are not to call yourself an idiot. Understand me? There’s plenty of time to get her a stocking.

He was right. She was overreacting.

“I just don’t want her to feel like we don’t care about her.”

Ink leaned down and kissed her forehead. “How could she feel like that when all you do is worry about how she feels? You got this, baby. And I’m here to help you. You are not doing this alone. But today is about you, all right? At least until school’s out.”

Letting out a deep breath, she nodded. “You’re right.”

“Us Daddies always are. But it’s still nice to hear.”

She rolled her eyes at him. Then realized her mistake as he grasped hold of her arm and placed his foot up on a shelf.

Before she knew it, she was over his thigh getting several smacks to her ass.

Thank the Lord he didn’t remove her skirt or panties. That would have been too much!

He righted her, helping her steady herself with a hand on her arm as she rubbed her bottom.

“Daddy! Someone could have seen that.” She glanced around, but they were alone.

Ink raised an eyebrow. “First, there’s no one else here. Second, do you think that anyone shopping here would be horrified by a Daddy spanking his girl for rolling her eyes at him? For the second time in the last hour? In fact, they might think that I didn’t spank you enough.”

“You did! You did!” she cried hastily. “I promise. No more rolling my eyes.”

“We’ll see, won’t we? Someone has been neglected lately. I think she needs Daddy to pay more attention to her. With his hand on her naughty bottom.” He shook his head, appearing sorrowful but she knew he really wasn’t.

The rat was looking forward to spanking her.

She narrowed her gaze. “I think you just want to spank my bottom.”

Ink grinned. “You know me so well, Brown eyes.”

Happiness filled her.

She did know him well. And she adored every inch of him.

He held out his arms and she snuggled into his chest, sighing deeply. She had been missing having some time just to themselves. When she could let go and forget everything else.

“Now, how about we keep shopping for more things for your room? Then we can go get the outside decorations and head home for lunch and a nap.”

“What sort of nap, Daddy?” she asked.

He patted her bottom lightly. “Any kind my girl likes.”

Half an hour later, the cart was bursting. Betsy kind of felt bad at how much stuff she had.

“Are you sure, Daddy?” she asked as he steered the cart toward the check-out counter. “I really don’t have to get all of these things. I can put back some of the outfits or the shoes. I don’t need light-up shoes.”

But they were adorable.

“Hey.” He stopped then turned to her, cupping her chin. “What’s this all about?”

“I just . . . we got a new house and we have Zippy now. And two boys in college. Plus, it’s nearly Christmas. I was thinking that I’d tell Santa that he doesn’t have to bring anything to me this year because I have so much.”

Ink drew her close and hugged her tight. “Listen to me. If I didn’t think we could afford this stuff, I wouldn’t buy it. Our finances are fine. We made money when we sold the warehouse. And the business is doing really well. Stop fretting. Little girls don’t need to worry about this sort of thing.”

Big girls did, though.

And sometimes she had trouble shutting off her adult voice. But Ink was right. He wasn’t reckless with money. And she knew their finances were fine. He didn’t hide anything from her.

“All right, Daddy. Sorry.”

“Good girl, Button. Now, come on.”

They approached the counter, finding Bonnie bouncing up and down behind it. Why was she jumping up and down like that?

As they grew closer, Betsy realized that there was a small, round trampoline behind the desk.

“Oh! That seems like so much fun!” she said.

“It really is,” Bonnie said as she jumped off and landed on her feet.

For a moment, she wobbled and looked like she was going to fall over. Then Titus appeared and grabbed her arm, steadying her.

“Bonnie. Careful.”

Yikes.

He really was a scary dude.

Bonnie just waved him off and smiled at them widely as she moved closer to the counter.

“Are you all right?” Betsy asked.

“Of course! Titus just likes to fuss. He’s a real mother hen.”

Hmm. Yes, he looked like a mother hen.

Not.

Thankfully, he faded into the background as Bonnie oohed and aahed over the things she had in the cart.

“Oh, that’s my favorite onesie. I think I’ll wear it in the shop on Christmas eve. And this outfit goes together so well! You have a real eye for fashion.”

“Thanks.”

“You know, I’m only using about a third of this building at the moment for the toy shop. I was thinking I could make another area dedicated to just clothes.”

“That’s a great idea.”

“And I’d really like to do a trampoline park for the last part. That’s why I was practicing right now. I’m getting really good. I think I could graduate to a bigger trampoline for front flips and things.”

“Not happening,” a deep voice grumbled from the shadows.

Betsy jumped at the sound of Titus’ voice. Jeez, she couldn’t even see him.

How did he do that?

Ink put his arm around her as Bonnie sighed and started ringing everything up.

“My biggest issue is finding someone to run those parts as I couldn’t do it all by myself.”

Ink paid and Bonnie smiled as she handed him the receipt.

“I don’t know what you do now, but if you ever want a job, come and see me. I think you’d do a great job with the clothing part of the store.”

Betsy stared at her in amazement. Could she do that?

No, she wouldn’t be any good at that.

Right?

“I, um, that’s really flattering, but I?—”

“Already have a job. I get it.” Bonnie looked so disappointed that Betsy felt bad.

“Oh, it’s not that. But I have a lot going on at the moment and I’ve never worked retail before.”

“But you’d be amazing, I can already tell.”

She didn’t know how she knew that. Betsy thought she’d be too quiet and nervous to talk to people. But she didn’t have problems talking to the other Littles, did she?

“Think about it, okay?”

When they were outside and in the truck, Ink turned to her. “Bet you weren’t expecting a job offer, were you?”

“She doesn’t even know me, why would she want me to work for her?”

“Baby, she would be lucky to have you work for her.”

Darn it. He always said the sweetest things.