Chapter 16
REBEKAH
With a towel wrapped around my body, I stepped out of the bathroom into Beau’s bedroom. His shower was amazing, and I almost didn’t want to get out. Remembering that we would have guests soon helped me kick my butt into gear.
Forgoing my clothes from earlier, I grabbed the shirt that Beau had left on the bed and slipped into it before sliding his sweats on and tying the drawstring as tight as I could to keep them from falling off my hips.
Daddy called me a Little brat earlier for crawling into his bed without any clothes on. Told me how disappointed he was that I didn’t listen to directions. Then he made sure to show me just how disappointed he really was.
My face heated thinking about the funishment I was given.
“Where are you, Sweets?”
Clearing the naughty thoughts from my mind, I shouted back, “I’m coming, Daddy! One sec!”
I didn’t have any of my hair products here, which would need to change if sleepovers were going to become a regular thing, so I dried and finger-combed my hair as best as I could before throwing it into a bun on the top of my head.
Future Me would hate that I had done that, but I couldn’t care right now.
Just as I was stepping into the living room, there was a knock at the door. “Can I go see who it is, Daddy?” I asked, turning to where he was setting up the poker table in the middle of the room.
“Of course, but look through…”
“The peephole first. I know, Daddy,” I sassed, headed toward the door.
“Watch the sass, Brat.”
“Or what?”
“Do you really want to go there right now? Whoever is standing at the door can wait a few more moments while I handle my sassy brat’s behavior.”
“That would be ruuuudeeee, Daddy!”
“Mhm. It’s also rude to sass your Daddy when he is just looking out for your safety and well-being.”
Ding! Ding!
“Answer the door, Rebekah. Wouldn’t want to keep the goons waiting.”
I rolled my eyes, turning before Daddy could see it.
“I saw that.”
As I threw open the door, I let out a giggle before welcoming the guys in. It seemed like they all decided to arrive at the exact same time, right on time, I might add. Guess that came from years of punctual training in the military.
“Pipsqueak!”
“Shortstack!”
“Bex!”
I threw my greetings to all the guys and stepped back so they could all pile in. One after another, each dropping a quick kiss on the top of my head or giving my shoulder a small squeeze.
“If you are all done with my woman, maybe we can get the night started,” Daddy growled, walking up behind me and pulling me against his chest. Snuggling into his chest, I sighed and relaxed against him.
It didn’t take long for all the food to be laid out along the kitchen counter.
Since it was a last-minute decision to play poker tonight, Daddy hadn’t had enough time to prepare a meal like he normally would.
Something he wasn’t happy about. Apparently, he loved feeding the guys during poker nights.
Instead, each of them grabbed something from the store or a restaurant on the way to our house.
Wings, pizza, chips and salsa, tacos, chicken, and more sat spread out like a feast fit for a king. “Whoa, guys. Are we feeding an army?” I asked, eyes widened as more and more food was added to the counter.
“Well, an ex-army.” Matt grinned.
“A few ex-airmen, seamen, and marines as well,” followed up Eric.
I rolled my eyes at their antics, not moving from my place in Daddy’s arms.
“Are you hungry, Sweets?”
“Just a little bit, Daddy.”
“Okay, go grab your blanket and find somewhere to sit and do your Legos. I’ll grab you a plate of food.”
I felt relieved, knowing I wouldn’t have to play poker or fight the guys for the food. Not that I thought I would need to fight hard. They all seemed to have a soft spot for me, and I wasn’t above using that to my advantage.
I darted off toward Daddy’s room, where I had left my blanket, and found a spot near the poker table, still far enough out of the way that I wouldn’t bother anyone while they were playing.
Digging around in the Legos bag that Daddy had left by the couch, I pulled out the first set that I wanted to do.
I loved all the botanical sets that had been released over the years, but I’d never owned one. So Daddy had bought me two different ones. The one I wanted to do first was the bouquet of red roses! Daddy said that he had a jar we could put them in to display them.
“Here you go, Sweets. Be sure to eat everything on your plate and drink your water.” Daddy said, handing me a plate piled high with an assortment of finger foods and a tumbler full of iced water.
How he thought I would ever eat this much was beyond me, but I would do my best. “I think you forgot that I’m not one of the guys, Daddy. This is a lot of food!”
“Just do your best.”
I nodded, reaching out to grab the remote he held out for me. I turned on another Disney movie and started getting to work on my roses.
“Where are we donating to this time?” one of the guys asked.
Daddy had told me that they always donated all the money they won during their poker nights to a local charity. I thought that was the kindest thing ever.
“I let Rebekah pick out our charity tonight. She wants to donate to the local animal shelter.”
There was a chorus of agreements before the sound of shuffling of cards floated into the room. Tuning out the men sitting, I got to work, eating, and building my little heart out.
I had finished my roses a little while ago and grew tired of watching movies. Not wanting to open another set of Legos that I wouldn’t finish tonight, I decided to watch the poker game instead.
After crawling into Daddy’s lap, I snuggled down and pulled the blanket across my lap. Daddy’s blanket has become my second-favorite one, next to Alicia’s, of course. Hers was tucked away in my house, safe and sound with Ophelia. I would want to grab those tonight if I stayed with Daddy again.
“You doing okay, Sweets?”
“I’m okay, Daddy. Just a little sleepy.”
“Okay, babygirl. We are almost done here, and then we can go to bed.”
I nodded, watching the game in front of me. I looked at Daddy’s hand, but I wasn’t sure if his cards were good ones. If they weren’t, Daddy was really good at bluffing.
There was silence around the table as each guy focused on the cards in his hands. I couldn’t resist the urge any longer, so I closed my eyes and lay my head against Daddy’s chest. The beating of his heart lured me into a peaceful rest as the game continued around me.
“That’s game,” I heard someone whisper above me.
“Good game, everyone! Eric, you can contact the animal shelter on Monday and let them know of the donation that’s coming their way,” someone else said. I couldn’t make out who was talking as sleep continued to pull me deeper in.
“Do you need any help, Boss?”
“Nah, just leave everything where it is. I’ll deal with it once I get Lil’ Miss settled into my bed,” the chest under my cheek rumbled.
One after another, I heard guys whisper their goodbyes.
“For what it’s worth, Boss, you look real happy. I’m glad you both found each other.”
“Me too, Josh, me too.”
I felt my body floating as Daddy shifted me in his arms. Before long, there was softness at my back, and my blanket was tucked around me again. “I need Ophelia and my other blankie, Daddy.”
“Okay, Sweets, are they at your house?”
“Yep. On my bed,” I mumbled back.
“I’ll be back, so go to sleep, babygirl.”
I bobbed my head and rolled on my side, knowing that Daddy would get them for me. I closed my eyes and finally drifted off into lalaland.
I never heard Daddy return with my stuff, but when I woke up this morning, both my blankets and Ophelia were tucked around me. Daddy had us all wrapped up in his arms, a soft snore leaving his nose each time he let out a breath.
I bit back my giggle, careful not to wake him up. After slipping out from under his grip, I quickly dashed into the bathroom before I peed on myself. I redid my bun and washed my hands before I stepped back into the bedroom, expecting Daddy to be awake and waiting for me.
That wasn’t what I found, though. Daddy hadn’t moved a muscle, so, deciding to continue to let him rest, I tiptoed out of the bedroom and into the kitchen.
In the fridge, I poked around, seeing what he had to make breakfast. I found all the ingredients for an omelet and dropped them on the counter before starting a pan to warm.
The sound of a key twisting in the lock caused my heart rate to skyrocket. Turning around, I was face-to-face with the sweetest-looking elderly lady. She looked just as shocked to see me standing there as I was to see her.
“Uh… hi?”
“?Buenos días! You must be Rebekah.” Her heavy Spanish accent floated to my ears.
“Wait, do I know you?”
It was possible I had met her before, but I would have remembered someone who reminded me of my grandma.
“No, but I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Gloria, Beau’s housekeeper.”
Daddy was in so much trouble when he woke up! He never told me he had a housekeeper. He definitely didn’t tell me there was a chance that I would be caught in nothing but his T-shirt that barely covered my ass.
“I wish I could say the same. Uh, Daddy, I mean Beau, is still asleep. Would you like me to go wake him?”
“No, no, no. Let the poor man sleep. You go back to whatever you were doing. I’m going to start working. You’ll hardly know that I’m here.”
I doubted that, but I wasn’t going to argue with her. I turned back to the counter and started whipping together the eggs and chopping the veggies. Gloria left me alone and headed toward the living room to pick up the remnants of poker night.
It didn’t take long for the smell of breakfast to drift toward where Daddy slept. I felt him press against me before I heard him even enter the room.
“Good morning, Sweets.” His grumbly voice sounded like music against my ear.
“Morning, Daddy,” I whispered back, looking around to make sure Gloria didn’t hear me slip up again.