Page 55 of Daddy’s Naughty List (Dirty Daddies 2024 Anthology #4)

Chapter Nineteen

Bliss snuggled into her Daddy’s arms. Her first real Christmas had been perfect so far. Perfect for her. Perfect for their girls. Her life was perfect.

Connor shifted beside her. “I have one more surprise for you, babygirl.” He reached over to open the top drawer of his nightstand but stilled. Turning back to her, he crossed his arms over his chest.

Uh-oh.

“Care to tell me why my clock is an hour ahead of all the other clocks in the house?”

Shoot! She’d meant to sneak back in and set it back to the right time. “Umm… maybe the power flickered or something.” It could happen. Right? She snagged her bottom lip between her teeth and waited.

“That could have happened, but if it had, all the clocks would be wrong. And losing power wouldn’t make the clock gain an hour. Try again. When you do, remember your rules, specifically the one about lying to Daddy.”

Holy Pinocchio. She sucked at lying. There was nothing for it but to confess. “I changed the time while I was waiting for you last night. Because, you know, if you were awake enough to look at the clock, you’d be awake enough to get up and see what Santa brought. I wasn’t going to wake you up special. I did my best to wait. You didn’t have to look at it.”

Hmm, that crease between his brows was never a good sign. She needed to come up with something else. Fast.

“You’re one lucky Little girl. Daddy wants to give you your surprise right now, but don’t think we won’t talk about this later.”

Whew! Bullet dodged. He was getting older. He’d probably forget about the clock by later. Maybe. Her bottom clenched. Did she hope he did or didn’t forget? Before she could decide, he held out a glossy red box with a wide white bow.

“Daddy! You’ve already given me too much.”

“Well, if you think so, I can try to return it.”

He started to pull the gift back, but she snatched it out of his hand. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t take it. Thank you, Daddy. Not just for this present, for the whole day. It’s been the bestest day of my life.”

His eyes warmed. Kissing the top of her head, he said, “That was the plan. Go ahead. Open your present.”

Lifting it with both hands, she shook it. “It doesn’t make any noise.”

“It might if you keep shaking it like that,” he said with a drawl. “If you want to know what’s inside, why don’t you open it?”

Excitement sizzled through her. The box wasn’t too heavy, though it was almost too pretty to open. Almost. She ripped off the bow and snatched the lid from the box. “Thank you, Dad—What in the world?” The only thing in her box was another box.

Connor wore a confused expression, but she could have sworn his lips twitched at the corners. “Wow. I don’t know. That’s weird. I guess you’ll have to keep going.”

It could have been a mistake, she guessed. The stores were very busy this time of year. “That’s okay. Whoever wrapped the box must have made a mistake.” She tore the ribbon from the second box, only to find another. And another. And five more boxes after that.

Connor chuckled, but when she looked up, his face was blank.

When she opened box nine, she was ready to hit something. The only difference was this box was white with a red ribbon. Nothing could be inside a box that small.

But there was. A white slip of paper, folded twice, perched on the bottom of the tiniest box. Unfolding the paper, she found Connor’s familiar handwriting. Daddy’s hiding. Come and find him.

Her gaze darted to where he’d been, only to find he no longer sat on the bed with her. How had he left the room without her notice? She’d heard of hyperfocusing, but geez!

Hopping off the bed, she wondered where to look. She’d never played… well, anything really. She definitely had not played hide and seek.

Mary Poppins popped up on her right shoulder. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

She had a point. Miranda only encouraged her to be the fastest girl in town. Also good advice.

Leaving the bedroom, she entered the family room and decided either she was very good at hide and seek, or her Daddy didn’t know how to play either. Connor stood in front of the Christmas tree.

“Come here, babygirl.” The serious expression on his face gave her pause. If he were anyone else, she’d say he was nervous. But that couldn’t be right. He’d never been nervous before. Not even at the hearing.

It was then she noticed the box he held. It was different than the ones she’d opened. This box was small. And square. Her breathing hitched. She knew what boxes like that usually held, but she didn’t dare hope the one in his hand contained that.

Without taking his eyes off her, he opened the box.

She sucked in a breath. It held the most exquisite ring she’d ever seen. She knew her mouth was hanging open, but there was nothing she could do about it. Her muscles were locked in place.

At the center of the ring, a large oval-shaped stone of sea-green sparkled fire like an ocean in the early morning sun. It was held in place by a delicate silver branch design with tiny diamonds adorning each leaf. She’d never seen anything like it.

He cleared his throat. “If you don’t like it, we’ll go together and pick one out that you do like. I picked this one because the tourmaline stone reminded me of your eyes.”

“It’s beautiful. How could I not like it?”

He sank to one knee. “Belissa Jayne Carpenter, I love you more than life itself. You are already my babygirl, and I promise you here and now that will never change. I want you to have my name. I want Nori to have my name. And when you think the time is right, I want Sadie and Sophie to have my name, too. Would you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

“I’m wearing Santa pajamas.”

Yep. Those were the words that came out of her mouth.

He grinned. “I can’t think of a better outfit for a Little girl to wear when agreeing to marry. You look adorable.”

If he thought that, he really must love her. “I love you more than any man I’ve ever met. Are you sure?”

“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.”

She was sure, too. She’d loved him since he’d scolded her about talking to strangers the first time they’d met. She’d love him forever. All she had to do was utter one small word. But did she dare?

“Then marry me, precious girl. Will you make me the happiest Daddy in the world?”

She knew what she wanted to say. For once, Mary and Miranda both agreed.

Suddenly it was the easiest word she’d ever spoken. Would she marry him?

“Yes.”

Connor slid the ring on her finger. The babies must have sensed something in the air because their cries rang out. The cries may have broken into the moment, but they interrupted nothing. They were now all a family. And that was that.

Connor smiled down at her, and the joy in his eyes melted her heart. “We’ll celebrate more tonight. Right now, lets go get our girls.”

He took her hand, and they walked toward their girls’ room and into their new life. Together.

The End

Can’t wait to devour more? Discover all of the men in Sabre Security Daddies!