Page 19

Whipping around, I go running straight for Daddy, throwing myself into his arms as he swoops me up, holding me close as I wrap myself around him. “Did you have to cut out Jasper’s tongue?” I whisper.

His chest rumbles with laughter beneath me, and it’s as if the vibrations are able to break apart the rock sitting in my stomach. “Unfortunately, no. He was almost polite. And I think he and Juliet have something to say to you, as well.”

At his gentle nudge, I twist around to stare at Jasper and Juliet. God, they make a striking couple, even with Juliet in his arms, dressed like a Little girl.

I need a picture like that for my article.

But unlike before, the thought doesn’t bring with it the same rush of excitement. Even the idea of a Pulitzer only makes me feel vaguely ill.

I don’t really have any time to wonder about these new feelings before Jasper clears his throat, looking rather uncomfortable as he meets my gaze. “Juliet and I owe you an apology, Natalie. We haven’t been as welcoming to you as we should have been and for that, I’m sorry.”

“I’m not sorry,” Juliet mumbles, earning her a warning look from her stepbrother-turned-Daddy.

“You will apologize, Juliet, or you will be sitting on a welted bottom during dinner.”

“But I’m not sorry! She’s the one who tried to ruin our lives!”

The last thing I want is for Juliet to get in trouble on my part.

Especially after getting that glimpse of the vulnerable Little girl beneath the snarky exterior.

“She’s right, Uncle Jasper. I was wrong to want to write about your lives here when you’ve gone through so much trouble to keep them private. I’m really sorry.”

Everything about Uncle Jasper seems to soften at my words. “Apology accepted, sweetheart. But Juliet is still going to apologize for the mean things she said earlier.”

“No I’m not!”

“Juliet, this is your last warning before I bend you over the arm of Uncle Evan’s couch and take my belt to your bare bottom. Is that what you want?”

“Daddy, no!”

“Then apologize. Now.”

Guilt twists in my stomach as Juliet’s expression sets into mutinous lines. “Really, it’s okay, Uncle Jasper. I don’t need an apology.”

The look Uncle Jasper sends me is stern enough to have me feeling very grateful my Daddy is holding me so he doesn’t have access to my bottom. “You may not need one, but you deserve one. But since my little princess is feeling stubborn…”

He bends down to set Juliet on her feet and she immediately backs away, both hands behind her as she dances in place. “I don’t want a spankin’, Daddy!”

“Too late, princess. Little girls who don’t do as they’re told get their naughty bottoms spanked.”

As he reaches for the buckle on his belt, panic flits over Juliet’s face and she whips around to meet my gaze. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said those mean things!”

“It’s okay. I understand why you said them. But I’m glad we can be friends now.”

Juliet’s nose wrinkles slightly at the word “friends” but she thankfully doesn’t protest. Uncle Jasper rebuckles his belt with a look of relief and scoops his Little girl back into his arms.

Clearing his throat, Papa steps forward with a welcoming smile. “Now that we’ve gotten that bit of unpleasantness out of the way, dinner is served.”

“Oh! Just a second!” Auntie Cat hurries from the room and returns a few moments later carrying a white box.

Beaming, she hands it over to me with a wink.

“Your Uncle Jasper asked me to pick this up for you on the way over tonight. It’s a bit of a tradition in our family but the day got away from him so he didn’t have time to get it himself. ”

Judging by the look Uncle Jasper sends her, he didn’t ask any such thing. But if it means everyone stops being mad at me, I’m willing to play along for a bit. Taking the box from Auntie Cat, I open it, a shocked gasp falling from my lips as I pull the ornate tiara from the box.

“Your Daddy told us you love the color black, you spooky little thing,” Auntie Cat says with a laugh. “So your Uncle Jasper thought this would be appropriate.”

“It’s beautiful.” And it truly is. Black jewels are nestled into twisting black metal and I immediately turn to hold it up to the two men grinning down on me. “Papa, will you put it on me? Pretty please?”

“Of course, little one.”

“Why does she call him Papa?” Victoria whispers, more than loud enough for everyone to hear as Lucas nestles the tiara in my hair, fixing it in place with the pins provided for us in the white box.

“It’s just our term for someone who is like a grandfather,” Daddy explains, giving one of my curls a gentle tug. “Lucas has been like a father to me since I was a very young boy, so it seemed fitting for my Little one to refer to him that way.”

Bottom lip pushing out in a pout, Victoria glares up at her Daddy. “How come I don’t get a Papa?”

“Now look what you’ve done.” Though he’s pretending to glare at my Daddy, Uncle Max’s tone is light and teasing as he scoops Victoria up into his arms. “They’re all going to be demanding Papas of their very own now.”

“As they should. It’s pretty great,” I say with a grin for Lucas as he taps the tip of my nose.

“I agree. Every Little girl should have a Papa.” With a slight adjustment to my tiara, he beams down at me. “There you are, little one. All ready for your first family dinner.”