Chapter 18
Rawhide Ranch didn’t do things by halves.
The Fourth of July celebration was amazing. It had started at two with some games and fun activities. She’d sat beside a bubbly redhead named Amy to do some crafting activities before Brand had stolen her back to feed her some of the yummy food for dinner.
After an early dinner of hot dogs and macaroni salad, Brand had started his performance. Everyone had loved it. A lot of people had even gotten up and danced.
She’d cheered him on at the end of every song. Now, it was getting darker and cooler, and she was so excited for what came after the music.
“One last song before the fireworks. This song is dedicated to my Bumblebee. It’s something I’ve been working on lately, called, ‘Coming Home’.”
Her mouth dropped open as she listened to him sing.
I’ve been a long time gone,
Never finding who I am,
And now I’m coming back,
To my girl, to my home.
Tears dripped down her face as he sang straight to her and when the song ended, she got to her feet and headed straight to him.
He picked her up and twirled her around before kissing her.
Then he set her on her feet as people cheered.
“You were meant to stay where I put you, Bumblebee,” he told her as they settled down together on a blanket to watch the fireworks.
“Is it nine, Daddy?” she asked, looking back at him from where he’d settled her between his long legs on the blanket.
“Lucky for you, and your butt, Daddy will overlook it this once,” he told her.
With a sigh, she settled back into his chest and watched the night sky light up with sparkling fireworks.
They ended way too quickly.
“I wish there was more,” she grumbled, trying to stifle a cough.
“I heard that,” he said into her ear. “Come on, time to get you home and into bed.”
She grumbled for a bit, but she actually was feeling rather tired. It had been a big afternoon and Nurse Beverly had warned her it would take her a while to recover from her bronchitis. He picked her up and she glanced around, noticing that a lot of Littles were being picked up or guided back to their rooms or dorms.
“I really don’t want to leave here,” she told Brand as he carried her into their suite. They had to leave the day after tomorrow and she wasn’t ready.
“We only have a few days left before we have to be back on tour, but we can come back.” He took her into the bedroom and laid her down on the bed so he could strip off her clothes.
“Really?”
“Of course, baby. I thought we’d go home to my place for a couple of nights. Where are you living?”
“Nowhere. I stay with Addie during my downtime. All of my stuff is in her garage.”
“Good. Then you’ll come to my place.” He got her into her onesie, then sat her up.
“Daddy, have I told you lately how much I love you?”
“Hmm, you have. But I can hear it again.” He crouched in front of her, and she wrapped her arms around him.
“I love you, Daddy. You’re the bestest.”