Page 19 of Daddies’ Little Cubs (Ivory Mountain Daddies #3)
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
JACKSON
J ackson stood and watched his Little girl walk towards the front of the house before turning and looking at Emmett, “I just wanted to thank you.”
“Thank me? For what?”
“It’s clear that you love the girls and would do anything for them.
So thank you for being there and supporting them.
I also wanted to thank you for trusting me with her.
I know that it went against every instinct in your body, but having that faith in me shows the girls they are able to trust us, because you do. ”
Jackson could tell that he shocked Emmett with his candor, but he meant every word that he said.
It makes his heart happy, not only as a friend but also as a Papa, that the girls have someone in their corner who is willing to go to the ends of the world making sure they are okay.
Jackson and Eli are in their corner now, as well, but knowing there was other support people there makes a huge difference.
“Okay, yeah. You’re welcome, man. Those girls, along with my wife, are my world and I won’t let anyone cause any harm to them.”
“I understand Emmett and if I ever do cause harm to them, I would expect you to step in and stand up for them.”
“Daddy to Daddy, can I ask what she did wrong?” Emmett chucked out.
“Little brat was trying to justify her breaking a direction based on a technicality.”
“Ah! Seems like the apple didn’t fall far from the tree because Raelyn has done the same thing a time or two in the past. Never worked out for her, either.”
Jackson laughed, shaking his head. Knowing Rae and the antics that she tries to get out of, he knew he could expect the same from the twins.
At first Jackson pegged Jessa as the twin who would be sassy and push things, but Destiny has shown that she can be just as sassy and pushy as her sister.
He loved that they felt safe and comfortable enough to do so.
Slapping Emmett on the back, he made his way towards where Jessa was waiting not so patiently and ushered her outside to the car. He had barely sat in the driver seat when his Little asked again where they were going. What was he going to do with her?
“I told you, it’s a surprise! You don’t really want me to tell you that and ruin the surprise that I worked so hard to come up with.
” He heard her sigh and knew that he hit the nail on the head.
Dropping the conversation for now, Jackson sat back and enjoyed listening to Jessa singing in his passenger seat.
Did she sound like a drowning cat? Absolutely, but he enjoyed every second of it.
Jackson planned a bowling date for them, it seemed to be a hit if the squeal that Jessa let out was anything to go by when they pulled into the parking lot.
“OH MY GOD, I’M SO EXCITED! I LOVE BOWLING!”
Chuckling, he got out of the car and walked around to help her, “A few things, Little one before we go inside.” Biting back the grin at her dramatic sigh, Jackson continued.
“Hold my hand when walking in the parking lot. No wandering away, Papa needs to be able to see you at all times. Have fun! Do you think you can handle following those directions?”
“Yes, Sir! I can do that! I don’t want a repeat of this morning.”
“Me neither, Little Bear, now come on. Let’s go play. I promise to take it easy on you.”
“Oh, you don’t need to do that! I want us both to play our best!”
Jackson leaned down, pressing a kiss against her lips before leading them to the entrance. After grabbing their shoes and picking a bowling ball, they prepared the lane for their first game. He knows that she said to play his best, but he didn’t want to crush his Little girl when he won the games.
“Are you ready, Papa?”
“What did you say?”
“I asked if you were ready, silly. Can I go first?”
“You called me Papa again,” He stated after a moment. Jackson figured she slipped at the house and didn’t mean to say it. His heart soared to hear her say it again.
“I did? Well, you are my Papa, right?”
“Yes, Little Bear, that’s right. I’m your Papa.”
“Sooooo about my question. Can I go first?” Jessa sweetly asked him as if her calling him Papa was an everyday occurrence.
“Yes, baby girl, you can go first.” Just like that the moment was over, but the warmth he felt didn’t dissipate.
Jackson hoped that it never would. He watched her step up and prepare to throw the ball.
His eyes widened that her first frame was a strike.
Jackson was calling it beginners luck and focused on giving it his best, just like Jessa asked him to.
Jackson stood in astonishment. There was no way he was just out played by his Little. Wiping his eyes and contemplating putting on his reading glasses, Jackson looked at the scoreboard again.
Jessa: 168
Jackson: 118
The Little minx out played him and didn’t even break a sweat! Jackson was believing that she would barely score anything and had even offered to put bumpers on for her. Little did he know he was playing with a master in disguise.
“Excuse me, Little Miss. Just how did you get so good and why did you hustle me? That’s not very nice, Jessa.”
“Well, that was a fault on you Papa for ASSUMING that I wasn’t good at bowling. You know what they say about people who assume things. That it only makes a…”
“You don’t want to finish that sentence, Little Bear.”
He watched her cheeks flame red, “Where did you learn to play like that?”
“Where I lived before, the only fun thing to do was hang out in a restaurant parking lot like hoodlums or go bowling. Destiny and I opted to bowl and went as often as we could. It gave us a reason to get away from the wardens.”
“So, what I’m hearing is I stood no chance against you?”
“Well, I wouldn’t say no chance, but the odds weren’t in your favor.
I have done so well that my picture is framed at the old bowling alley with how many games I have won, including the handful of perfect games I’ve had.
I did try to take it easy on you, I wouldn't want to hurt the old man’s feelings. ”
“Ouch, Little Bear! You wound me, shot right to the heart. That was you going EASY on me?”
Jessa giggled at his antics which made the burn hurt slightly less. Eli was never going to let him live this down when Jessa inevitably went and bragged about it to him.
“Is it safe to assume that Destiny is a bowling shark, too? Do I stand a chance against her?”
“She’s good, but not my level good. She would only play a game or two before retreating to the lounge and reading. So the possibility is still there.”
Jackson needed to stop this conversation while he was still ahead, “While I still have some of my dignity intact, let’s move on to the rest of the date. It’s about time that I feed you.”
He helped her take off the bowling shoes before leading her towards the front to return them. Heading outside, they made their way back towards the car and loaded up to go to the next destination.
“Sooooo, what’s for dinner, Papa?”
“There’s a place in the next town over that will cook the meal right in front of you. I figured that you would enjoy getting to see the whole process.”
“THEY COOK IT IN FRONT OF YOU?!”
Jackson let out a laugh and knew once again he made the right choice. “Yes, baby girl, they cook the food at your table.”
“I’ve never been to a place like that!” Jessa replied to him, bouncing in her seat.
“I’m glad that you are thrilled at the opportunity to do this for the first time, but Papa needs you to settle down in your chair please.”
“Yes, Sir!”
The rest of the ride went smooth and once again Jackson was subject to her horrid, but adorable singing.
The poor baby really couldn’t carry a tune if it smacked her in the face, but he could tell that she enjoyed it, so he would sit there and endure it until the end of time as long as it kept a smile on her face.
About twenty minutes later, Jackson pulled into a parking spot.
Heading inside, Jackson gave the hostess his name and ushered Jessa to go sit in the chairs while they waited.
Using this wait time, Jackson pulled up his texts with Eli to fill him on everything that happened today.
Including the time out that Jessa received.
Jackson: Just checking in, hot stuff. Everything is going well with our Little Bear.
Eli: I’m glad that she’s having fun.
Jackson: I’m sure you will be hearing all about our date. The Little minx hustled me.
Jackson: But anyways - I was texting to let you know that I did give Jessa a timeout before our date today.
Eli: Really? What spurred that?
Jackson: A direct disobedience of a direction…again.
Eli: Interesting….we can continue talking about this when you get home tonight. Go enjoy the rest of your date.
Jackson: Sounds good, my love. I’ll see you this evening
At the sound of his name, Jackson led Jessa to the table andsettled her in.
Now to see just how much his Little girl loved the restaurant.
Jackson was excited to see it all again through her eyes.
Eli and him sometimes visited for a date night, so Jackson was mentally planning a group date so that Destiny could experience it as well.