The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The First Collection Frost, J (good beach reads .TXT) 📖

puzzle yesterday. Would you like to now?”

I nod eagerly and hold my hands out so he can help me out of bed.

* * *

While we’re working on my Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them thousand-piece puzzle, Max calls. Daddy sets his phone on the puzzle table and taps on the speaker while he continues to hand me pieces to fill in Newt Scamander’s sleeve.

“Twenty-three Wilsons on Rick’s fucking list, but it could be two hundred and twenty-three ’cause he doesn’t have last names for half these girls,” Max says.

“Yeah, I know,” Daddy responds. “But let’s start with the Wilsons we have.”

“I’ll get you what I can, man. Without addresses for most of them, it’s going to be pretty fucking thin.”

“Understood. Thanks for this, Max. NYPD is on it but I feel better knowing you are, too.” Daddy watches me pop in three pieces and reaches across the table to brush his knuckles down my cheek. “Clever girl.”

“Hope you’re talking to Emily rather than me,” says Max.

I giggle. “He was.”

“Yeah? What have you done now, clever girl?”

“Found three pieces of the puzzle we’re doing.” I turn another piece around as I try to find the right spot for it. “Daddy says you’re coming to playgroup with us on Sunday.”

Logan chuckles.

“I haven’t decided,” Max says.

“We’re making pizza,” I tell him, slotting in another puzzle piece. “I don’t eat pizza and Daddy can’t eat a whole pizza on his own. Too much cholesterol. If you don’t come, the pizza’s going to waste. Also, if you were going to be there, then I’d have a reason to bring some green tea cupcakes.”

Max swears softly. “You know how much I like those.”

I do.

“With the cream-cheese frosting,” I say.

“That’s bribery,” Max says. “Isn’t that against the rules?”

Logan laughs. “Definitely not. Emmy can bribe anyone anytime she wants, particularly if I get leftover cupcakes. C’mon, mate, it’ll be fun.”

“Swear you won’t try to set me up with anyone,” Max growls.

“I swear,” Daddy says.

I put in another puzzle piece and carefully avoid making any promises because there are two unattached littles in the group that I really, really want Max to meet.

“Emily,” Max grumbles.

Damn, he’s just as observant as Daddy. It’s not fair.

“I have a really sore throat, Max.” I fake a cough. “Hard to talk.”

“I only need one word.”

I fake another cough, trying to make it sound even more pathetic than the first.

“Emmy,” Daddy warns. “The sore throat’s not a lie, but that cough definitely is.”

“Sorry, Daddy.” I blink at him beseechingly. “It’s just that I really want Max to meet Amy and Cynnie but I don’t want to make a promise and then break it.”

Daddy gives me a very stern face.

“No, baby girl. I promised Max we weren’t going to push. If he meets Amy and Cynnie while we’re there, that’s great, but we’re not forcing anything.”

I give him the puppy dog eyes again, and, when Daddy’s expression doesn’t soften, my best pout. “Cynnie’s really lonely now that she doesn’t have a daddy anymore, and she only needs spankings to keep her in line. Max wouldn’t have to give her a paddling or a caning.”

“Em-i-lee.”

I know by the way he says my name that he’s losing patience. “Sorry, Daddy.”

“Promise Max,” Daddy insists.

“I promise, Max.”

“Thank you, Em. I’ll see you guys on Sunday. I still want those cupcakes. I might even be convinced to share one with your friend.”

I wiggle in my comfy bean bag chair, in part because I’m getting my way and in part because I need a bathroom break after two cups of tea and a glass of orange juice. “Thank you, Max.”

Max chuckles. “Behave, sweets, you’re killing me. Logan, I’ll send you whatever I’ve got tomorrow.”

“Sounds good, mate.”

Daddy taps off the phone and lifts an eyebrow at me. “What are you playing at, baby doll?”

“Max is a daddy and Cynnie needs a new daddy and if he doesn’t like Cynnie then he might like Amy and she needs a new daddy, too.”

“I understand that Cynnie and Amy are looking for new daddies, but I promised Max we wouldn’t try to set him up. You have to help Daddy keep his promises, sweetheart.”

I melt. Of course, I want to help Daddy keep his promises.

“I’m sorry, Daddy. I’ll help you keep your promise and I won’t say anything to Cynnie and Amy if you don’t want me to.”

“You can point them out to Max, but no trying to throw them together.”

“Yes, Daddy. Sorry.”

Daddy’s mouth twitches and I know he’s fighting a smile. He’s not angry with me. “You ready to have some lunch and then we’ll head over to the Museum? Manny’s picking up Jiro and Laurel at the airport and bringing them straight to the Museum so they have plenty of time to meet the Rexes and still hit the shops.”

I would bounce in my seat if my bottom wasn’t so sore. “Could I bring Laurel one of my little Larrys?”

I have a whole herd of stuffed T-Rexes in different colors that I’ve bought at the museum. If Daddy approves, I’ll take Laurel a purple one. They’re the best.

“I’m sure she’d like that. I don’t know if I told you, but Laurel’s a pet.”

“Like a furry?” I ask, trying to remember the pets I’ve met at dungeon parties and munches. There don’t seem to be any pets at Blunts, although I know there are two pony-girls I haven’t met. I’m not sure if they’re pets, though.

“I’m not sure if she’s a furry or if she’s just wholly owned, but her Dom said she’s a pet all the time and she’d be comfortable with you both as my little and as a kinky, ninja puppy at Rick’s party.”

That idea does make me bounce, then wince and whimper.

Daddy slides around the table and pulls me into his arms. “Easy does it. I know you’re excited, but no more bruising my baby’s sweet bottom. That’s Daddy’s job.”

That makes me giggle against his neck as I snuggle into him.

* * *

Laurel’s not a