Total pages in book: 184
Estimated words: 188108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 941(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 188108 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 941(@200wpm)___ 752(@250wpm)___ 627(@300wpm)
“Hello there.”
“Daddy!” she cried. “What are you doing?”
“Well, I just got home from work fifteen minutes ago and I spent those fifteen minutes searching for my girl.”
“You were looking for me, Daddy?”
“I sure was.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Because I want a cuddle.”
“Oh no, Daddy.” She gave him a sad look.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“I can’t give you a hug. I’m so sorry.”
“Why not, Little one?” he asked.
“Because I’m playing hide and seek. I can’t move. It’s against the rules.”
“Well, Roman has been pretty concerned about not being able to find you, so I think he would be all right with you breaking the rules.”
“Are you sure?” she asked suspiciously. “This isn’t a trick?”
“How would this be a trick?” he asked.
“I don’t know . . . you tell me it’s okay to get out but then Dada jumps out and says, ‘You cheated!’ And I lose the game. I don’t like to lose, Daddy.”
No, he’d noticed that about her. Losing wasn’t really in her vocabulary. And she didn’t always react well when she did lose.
Alexei thought it was hilarious the way she pouted when she lost.
“I promise that it’s not a trick. Do you trust me?”
“Hmm. Let me think about that.”
“Little one,” he warned. “You’re going to get yourself into trouble and I’m guessing it can’t be that comfortable in there.”
“I don’t know, it’s actually surprisingly relaxing. But I suppose I do have to pee.” She took hold of his hand and he helped her out.
She stretched with a moan. “Okay, maybe I was getting a bit cramped in there.”
“Come on, let’s go find Roman and let him know you’re safe. And get you to a potty.”
“Why wouldn’t I be safe?” she asked. “I stayed in the house and out of the no-go areas.”
“No-go areas?” he asked as he led her upstairs where he could hear Roman calling out for her.
“Roman, I’ve got her. We’re on the stairs, coming up.”
“Oh, thank fuck!” Roman said as he appeared in the hallway.
They reached the top of the stairs.
“Dada! You said a naughty word.” Tamsyn waggled a finger at Roman. “You’ll have to sit on the naughty step.”
“We have a naughty step?” Roman asked.
“We do now and it’s just for you,” she replied.
Roman leaned over with his hands on his thighs. “Well, I wouldn’t have used a naughty word if you hadn’t scared the bejeezus out of me. I thought I was losing the plot. I couldn’t find you anywhere. I’m going to put a cowbell on you. Or a tracker. Definitely a tracker. I’m going to research the best trackers and get one put in a necklace or bracelet or something. One that you can’t take off. And you’re going to wear it so I know exactly where you are at all times.”
“Dada! You can’t track me.”
“Yes, I can. I am tracking you.”
“Well, it seems I came in at an interesting time.” Alexei joined them in the hallway. “Why are we talking about tracking Bunny? Do you both now agree with me that it’s the best idea?” He looked from Salem to Roman.
“It is not the best idea!” Tamsyn said.
“It’s absolutely the best idea,” Roman said. “I couldn’t find you for close to an hour. I had no idea where you were. I was freaking out. You need a tracker.”
“But, Dada, it was hide and seek. The whole point is to hide so you don’t find me. If you were tracking me, then you would be able to cheat and find me.”
“If I was tracking you, then I wouldn’t have lost five years off my life and gained ten wrinkles.”
“Ten? That’s very specific, Dada. Where are these wrinkles?” She walked up to him, peering up at him as he straightened.
“They’re there. Look.” He pointed to the corner of his right eye.
“No, those wrinkles aren’t new. They were there before.”
“They were not!” He pointed a finger at her. “Tracker.”
“How about we all take a day or two to think about this,” Salem said, watching as his girl started dancing around.
That was definitely a ‘pee dance.’
“You okay there, Bunny?” Alexei eyed her.
“Gotta pee. Gotta pee. Really, really gotta pee!”
Salem scooped her up and ran to the closest bathroom, which was through Alexei’s room.
“It’s all right! She has training pants on,” Roman called out as he followed them.
“Wait, she does? You put them on her, Salem?” Alexei asked as they gathered in the bathroom while Salem set her down on her feet.
He crouched in front of her and pulled off her bloomers, then her training pants.
“Salem didn’t put them on her,” Roman said. “I did.”
Salem turned her back and helped her sit on the toilet.
“You did?” Alexei asked before landing a heavy pat on Roman’s back. “Good for you, man.”
Roman stumbled forward slightly and sent the other man a look. Alexei just grinned.
“Training pants and bloomers,” Alexei said.
“Is it all right that we’re in here?” Roman asked, looking uncertain.