Daddy's Angel (Montana Daddies 7)
Page 78
“This is about your parents.”
She really didn’t want to talk about this. “I’m tired, Daddy.”
“I know you are. But communication, remember?”
“Maybe you should tell me more about where you live,” she suggested.
“I’ll tell you anything you wish to know. But right now, we’re talking about you. And why you freaked out.”
“How come you always wanna talk when it’s stuff about me.”
“I want to know everything about you,” he told her. “More I know, better I can take care of you. And baby, that’s what I was put on this Earth to do.”
She sniffled. “Damn. Just when I didn’t think you could get any sweeter.”
He snorted. She fidgeted on his lap.
“Talk. Now.” And there was her bossy ogre again. The honey voice was gone. In its place was firm steel.
She wasn’t getting out of this.
“I’m weird. The Silvers don’t do weird. The Silvers are the epitome of social breeding. The Silvers don’t fall over their own feet. Or spill food while eating. Or snort while laughing.”
“I think that snort is cute.”
“A Silvers is never less than perfect,” she said in a voice that imitated her mother.
“Those fucking assholes. Listen to me.” He raised her chin up. “Imagine if we all had no flaws, nothing that made us different? Am I perfect?”
“Umm.”
He grinned. “Honesty.”
“No.”
“No, I’m not. I don’t give a fuck. Am who I am. Abrupt, sometimes brutally honest, don’t care much about social niceties. Do I embarrass you?”
“No! Never. You’re loyal and smart and I kind of like how honest you are. I never have to worry about what you’re thinking or saying behind my back.”
“You are smart, kind, talented and beautiful. They couldn’t see all that then that’s on them. So you stumble and snort when you laugh? Who are they to say that’s a fucking flaw?”
She cupped his cheek with her hand. “You’re a special kind of guy, Bain Grady.”
“Heard that before.”
“I mean it. Can’t believe you’re here. That you want me.”
“Feel the same fucking way about you.” He leaned his forehead on hers. “You’re not getting rid of me easily. I warned you. Once I’m in, I’m all the way in. You don’t have to be perfect for me.”
She sighed.
“Give me all of you. Not going to be annoyed or get sick of you or expect you to behave in a certain way. Know you’ve been holding back on me.”
“You do?”
“Seen you pull back a few times when you’re Little. Usually right before I’m about to hand down some discipline. Just be yourself, angel. Don’t want who you think you should be. I want the real Ari. Because she’s amazing and kind and worth far more than she could ever imagine.”
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