Chapter 6
April was in a crabby mood the next day.
She had a low level headache and everything was irritating her. From the feel of the clothes against her skin to the food options in the pantry and fridge. The coffee she’d had this morning didn’t taste right and everything around her was so freaking annoying!
Logically, she knew it was a lack of sleep as well as the stress of yesterday and probably a bit of an adrenaline drop, causing her to feel this way.
But the logical part of her brain wasn’t really working today.
“Urgh!” She slammed the pantry door closed. Unfortunately, it was one of those soft-close doors, so it didn’t make a satisfying noise as it shut.
And that irritated her too!
“What did the pantry door do to you, baby?” Trent asked as he walked into the kitchen. He was wearing a red and black flannel shirt and a pair of worn jeans.
God. He looked good enough to eat.
He’d just been on the phone to his brothers, explaining everything. He should be there, having fun. Not putting up with her and her bad mood.
“Nothing,” she muttered, trying to push her bad mood to one side. “Is Ben good? Not mad at me?”
He frowned, staring at her for a long moment. Then he drew a stool out from under the kitchen island and crooked a finger at her.
“Come here.”
“Actually, I was just thinking that I’d go do some work.”
“You have anything that needs to be done urgently?” he asked.
She opened her mouth to lie, then thought better of it. “No.”
“You had breakfast?”
“No. I can’t find anything to eat.”
He raised his eyebrows, but didn’t say anything about the full pantry of food behind her.
“Come here, baby.”
“Really, I think it would be better if I just went to my studio.”
“Baby girl, you don’t want me to have to come and get you,” he warned.
Crap. She had to walk past him to get out of the door, anyway. And she had the feeling that he wasn’t going to just let her go.
With a sigh, she stomped over to him. He grabbed her around the waist and drew her between his spread legs. Then he gently grasped her chin, tilting her face back.
“Headache?”
She sighed. Damn it. He knew her too, well.
“Yes. And I’m feeling a bit, um, well, grouchy.”
His lips twitched. “Really? I hadn’t noticed.”
“Daddy!” She slapped her hand down lightly on his arm.
His face softened. “You’re tired, grouchy, and you have a headache. Too much stress and not enough sleep.”
None of it was a question, but she nodded in reply, anyway.
“I have the cure for all of that.”
“You do?” she asked.
“Yep. Daddy’s going to take charge today.”
Relief filled her. He always seemed to know exactly what she needed.
“I’m going to get you some painkillers and make you some breakfast. Is there anything you feel like?”
She sniffled. “There’s nothing, Daddy. I’m hungry, but I don’t want to eat anything. It all makes me feel yuck.”
“All right, precious girl. Daddy will sort it out. First, let’s get you settled on the sofa with a blanket and Scruffy Dog.”
Standing, he picked her up and carried her out to the sofa, setting her down on it. She was wearing a pair of loose pants and a huge black hoodie. He frowned at her outfit. “I’ll get you dressed in some fun clothes.”
She didn’t really feel like fun clothes, but she nodded. It wasn’t long until he returned, carrying a quilt, some clothes, and Scruffy Dog.
Dropping it all, he handed her Scruffy Dog before walking away again.
When he came back this time, he had a bottle of liquid painkiller and a small measuring cup.
He poured the painkiller into the cup and held it out to her.
“I don’t like it, Daddy. It tastes so artificial.”
“It’s this or pills, baby.”
She was notoriously bad at swallowing pills. “I don’t want either.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Hmm, you know, I might have some suppository painkillers.”
Oh, heck no.
“I’ll take the liquid stuff! I’ll drink down the yucky stuff!” she said, jumping to her feet and practically leaping at him.
Luckily, he must have figured out her next move because he grabbed her, pulling her close with one arm as he held the cup away from him so it didn’t spill.
“All right, brat,” he murmured. “Calm.” He sat her back down and she took her medicine like the good girl she was.
“Let’s get you dressed in some proper clothes. I’m going to make French Toast for breakfast.”
“That’s just what I feel like, Daddy,” she told him as he dressed her in a pair of black tights, then a red pleated tartan skirt.
Finally, he slid on a red, long-sleeved T-shirt and a green fluffy sweater with a picture of a deer on the front.
She loved this sweater, and it felt so good when she rubbed the material over her face.
Sighing, she felt far happier as he settled her on the sofa under the blanket with Scruffy Dog and a sippy cup of water.
“I think you’re probably dehydrated. Which is part of the reason you have a headache.
So I want all of this sippy cup gone by the time I return with your breakfast. After breakfast, if you’re feeling better, we can go to your playroom for a while.
This afternoon, while you nap, I’ll catch up on some things. ”
“No nap!”
He gave her a stern look. “Yes, you will have a nap.”
“I don’t want one. I’m not tired.”
“Baby, you’re exhausted.”
She sighed. Long and hard. They’d see about that. “Will you leave?”
He gave her a curious look.
“You said you had things to catch up on. Will you leave me here? Alone?”
She couldn’t be without him right now. Just the thought of him leaving her . . . she could feel herself starting to panic.
“I won’t leave you, precious baby. I promise.” He crouched down and cupped her face between his hands. “I won’t leave you.”
She let out a sigh and gave him a wobbly smile. “Sorry I’m being so needy.”
He frowned. “Is that your way of asking for a spanking?”
Her eyes widened. “What? No!”
“You sure? Because you know I’ll always give you what you need. Even if what you need is a trip over my knee to redden your ass.”
“I do not need a spanking, Daddy!” She pouted. “That’s not nice.”
“Drink your water. I expect it all gone.” He left the living room and walked toward the kitchen.
“He’s so darn bossy, Scruffy Dog.” Instead of turning up the television which was set on low, she reached over and grabbed her phone.
Before she could truly relax, she needed to make a couple of calls.
There was no way she wanted her cousin and best friend finding out what happened on the news or something. They would freak out.
Chardonnay’s phone was turned off, and she winced as she realized the other woman had likely been dancing at Pinkies last night and would be sleeping.
Instead of calling Effie, she decided to text her and ask her to call when she was free. She didn’t want to risk waking her up. Her phone immediately started ringing.
“Hi, Hairy Tits!” Effie sang through the phone.
April loved how happy and carefree her friend sounded.
For so long, everything had been a struggle for Effie.
But now, she and her nephew Brooks had the best lives.
They didn’t have to worry about anything.
Even if Effie’s new men weren’t exactly on the right side of the law, they took excellent care of her.
They loved her. And that was all April cared about.
“Hey, Droopy Bum,” she replied cheerfully.
“What happened? What’s wrong?” Effie asked immediately.
“What makes you think something is wrong?” April asked.
“I can hear it in your voice. Spill.”
April let out a deep breath. “Okay, but don’t freak out.” She told her best friend everything that happened yesterday.
“He held you up at gunpoint? Oh my God!” Effie cried.
“Spitfire? What’s wrong?”
April heard Damon’s voice in the background.
Effie told him what had happened to April yesterday, her voice filled with worry.
“April? Are you still there?” Damon asked in his deep voice.
“Um, yep. Hey, Damon. How are you?”
“This man has been apprehended?” he asked.
Obviously, he wasn’t in the mood for chitchat.
“Yes. He’s in police custody.”
“Do you have a name?” he asked.
“Uh, no.” What was with all the questions?
“Is Trent there?” he asked.
“He’s making me French toast.”
“Can I speak to him, honey?” Damon was trying to keep his voice soft, she could tell. But it was still clear he expected obedience.
Jumping up, she nearly tripped over her blanket as she rushed into the kitchen.
Trent turned, worry filling his face. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“Damon,” she said, holding out the phone.
His eyebrows rose as he took the phone, muting it for a moment. “You called Effie?”
She winced. “Yes. Shouldn’t I have?”
“Of course you should have. But I wish you’d warned me.” He unmuted the phone and stepped away as he spoke quietly into the phone.
She shifted her weight from foot to foot until he returned and held out the phone to her. “Effie wants to talk to you again.”
“Is everything okay?” she asked.
“Of course, baby. Damon just wanted to make sure that asshole is going to pay for what happened to you.”
“And if he doesn’t pay?”
Trent’s face hardened. “Then he and Grady will take care of it.”
A shiver went down her spine. Whoa. She wasn’t quite sure how to feel about that. On one hand, Damon Steele was a scary dude. On the other hand, she knew that he and Grady would make sure that asshole paid for what he did if the legal system failed them.
So she decided to push down any misgivings and have a chat with her best friend. That always made her feel better.