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B etsy wasn’t sure how long he spanked for.

It felt like forever.

All right. So forever might have been a bit of an exaggeration. But when he lifted her off the counter and drew her into his arms, she was sobbing. And there were real tears sliding down her face. Her poor bottom was throbbing. She kept sobbing even after he stopped for good effect.

It didn’t pay to let Daddy think that he might not have spanked her hard enough.

No. That was a rookie mistake.

“Good girl, Brown eyes. All done now. You took your spanking so well.”

“I k-know, Daddy. But thank you for t-telling me.”

He let out a small chuckle as he carried her to her playroom. After unlocking the door, he sat her down on the bed.

“Ouch! Daddy! My bottom hurts.” She tried to stand up, but he placed his hand on her shoulder.

“Sitting on a hot bottom is part of the punishment. You know that, Button.”

She did.

It was just that sometimes she wished he’d forget.

Walking away, he searched through her drawers until he found a pair of pajamas she’d chosen the other day from LittleLand.

Gosh, that felt like ages ago. So much had happened since then. She hadn’t even really thought about the job offer from the other woman.

Right now, it was the last thing on her mind.

Ink laid her back and got her dressed into the soft pants. They were green, red, and white striped and felt like heaven against her skin. Then he stripped off the rest of her clothes and put her in a long-sleeved matching pajama top.

“There you are. All cozy?” He lifted her up so she was sitting again.

She nodded. “Uh-huh. I like these clothes, Daddy. They feels good.”

“I’m glad, Button.” He crouched in front of her, placing his hands on her thighs. “We need to have a talk about how stressed you are. I don’t like that you’re scared.”

“I just don’t want anything to happen to Zippy. I don’t know why I’m so jumpy. It’s silly, isn’t it?”

“It isn’t silly. Nothing that you feel could be silly. Understand?” he said firmly. “But I don’t like that you’re so scared you’re jumping at shadows and having trouble sleeping. Nothing is going to happen to you.”

“I know. He wouldn’t even be interested in me. We don’t know he’s coming for her or where he is. I don’t know why I’m so . . . so upset.”

“Because you care so much. Because you worry about everyone else. And because you know that bad things can happen.”

She let out a deep breath. She should have known that he’d get it even when she hadn’t. Not completely.

But bad things could happen to good people.

“I’m going to do everything I can to protect all of you. No matter what is going on, that’s my main focus, my job. To love and protect you.”

“What about you? Who protects you?”

He took hold of her hand and kissed the back of it. “I do. I have this, Brown eyes. I’m not saying don’t be cautious. Don’t be careful. But I am saying you don’t have to spend every moment jumping at shadows. If you want to go shopping, you can. All right?”

“All right.”

“And I definitely want you to sleep.”

“I’ll try.”

“You’ll do more than try. I think that’s part of the problem, that you’re not getting enough sleep. So you’re going to have a nap now.”

“A nap?” she groaned. “But, Daddy, I’ve got other things to do!”

“No, you don’t. I’m going to make you a bottle and you can have a nice nap. Doesn’t that sound good?”

It sounded boring.

“I think there’s more exciting things we could be doing, Daddy.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Like what?”

“Christmas shopping!”

“Nope. You need sleep. You can play with your toys for a few minutes while I get your bottle ready.”

He settled her in her teepee and handed her Stella. She already had Stella’s things in the teepee from the other day.

“Oh, Stella. Why am I being so silly?” she asked. “You think it’s because I didn’t take you shopping with me? But you can’t come everywhere with me . . . no, people won’t understand a big girl like me carrying a dolly around. Floppy doesn’t get to go either.”

The doll scowled. Wow. Stella was really upset with her.

“I’m sorry, Stella. But you don’t get everything you want,” she told her doll firmly. “Now, don’t you stomp your foot at me, young lady!”

Yikes.

What just came out of her mouth? She’d sounded like Daddy just then and that wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

“You have to have your bottle, Stella,” she told her doll, picking up the baby bottle. “Be a good girl.”

“Is everything all right in here?” Ink asked.

She jumped slightly. “Daddy! You surprised me. You shouldn’t sneak up on me. It’s not very nice.”

“I’m sorry, baby. Didn’t you hear me come into the room?” he asked, crouching down.

“No, I was too busy scolding Stella. She is being naughty. She’s upset that I didn’t take her shopping today and she’s refusing to have her bottle.”

“That is very naughty. Perhaps you should put her into Time Out,” he suggested.

“I can’t do that, Daddy! It’s not nice. I’m not you.”

He shot her a look. “Are you saying I’m not nice, Button?”

Uh-oh.

“I didn’t say that, Daddy,” she said hastily. “In fact, I was just telling Stella what a really nice Daddy I have. The bestest, greatest, most amazing Daddy in the world.”

“Nice save,” he muttered.

“I thought so.”

“Come on, leave Stella for the moment. It’s time for your bottle.”

She sighed. “Daddy, I don’t drinks from a bottle. I’m a big girl.”

How could he not see that?

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Yes! I know how old I am, Daddy!”

“So you don’t want to sit on Daddy’s lap and be cuddled up against his chest as he feeds you a bottle?” he asked.

Wait! When he put it like that . . .

“You know, maybe I could have a bottle. But I don’ts need the nap.”

“You need the nap,” he said firmly. “You have dark marks under your eyes. You haven’t been sleeping and you’re jumping at shadows. Bottle and nap.”

Reaching down, he lifted her, then carried her over to the rocking chair. It was painted white with a soft peachy-pink blanket resting over the back of it.

He sat in the chair and she saw he’d already put her bottle on the small side table next to the chair.

After he settled her back against one arm, he reached over and grabbed the bottle, placing it against her lips. Opening her mouth, she started to suck.

Betsy had no idea how he thought she was going to sleep.

There was no way.

Not . . . happening . . .

Ink carefully removed the bottle from between her lips and set it to one side. He didn’t immediately put her into bed. Instead, he rocked the chair back and forth as he stared down at her sleeping face.

He knew he should put her into bed, but he was enjoying holding her too much. She was so beautiful. Her perfect mouth was slightly open as she breathed in deeply.

Ink hated the dark marks under her eyes. Betsy worried so much over everyone else. She needed someone to look out for her because she’d never do it for herself.

Resting his head back against the chair, he closed his eyes for a long moment.

They couldn’t find Zippy’s foster father. It was like he’d disappeared into thin air. That couldn’t be possible, though.

So where the hell was he?

Betsy made a small noise of fear.

“Hush, baby. You’re all right,” he soothed, tightening his hold slightly. “Shh. Shh.”

She immediately quietened.

He’d just hold her for a while longer and leave the rest of the world behind.