Daddy’s Little Assistant by Lila Fox
Chapter Twenty-Two
Eli bit back a grin when Kinley rubbed her ass again as they made their way downstairs. He tugged her along by the hand.
“I won’t be able to sit,” she complained.
“Oh, you’ll be fine.”
She growled. “Easy for you to say…” She stopped when one of his eyebrows rose.
A sigh escaped, which about made him laugh out loud.
“Oh, here they are,” David said. “Did everything go the way you wanted?”
“No,” she grumbled softly.
Eli snorted and then laughed when she tried to sneak behind him.
David cleared his throat. “Dad and I were just talking about how much we missed those days with your mom and grandma. They certainly kept us on our toes.”
“I’m guessing she’ll do the same.” Eli pulled her up to stand in front of him. “But she’ll be worth it.”
She glanced at him, and the love in her expression made his head spin. He bent and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Is dinner ready?” Eli asked.
Senior stood. “Whenever we are.”
“I’m starved.”
David laughed. “As I recall, you always were.”
Eli grinned and pulled Kinley with him into the dining room. Senior sat at the head of the table, with David on one side and he and Kinley on the other.
He knew the other two men heard but ignored her when she sat and then hissed.
Eli could tell it was bringing back memories for them. He just hoped it didn’t make them miss their women more.
He thought Kinley would bring life into the family, and when they had children, it would be even better.
They talked and laughed at the stories the older men shared about Eli’s childhood. He sat back and listened, rolling his eyes a few times. He enjoyed watching the way his family interacted with Kinley. They had all connected from the start.
“Let’s go into the living room.” David walked over to the bar and poured three glasses of brandy. “What can she have, Eli?”
“Nothing. She doesn’t do well when drinking. Do you, baby?”
She sat beside him and shook her head.
David called out, and an older gentleman appeared immediately in the doorway.
“Jerald, could we have a small fire tonight?”
“Of course, sir.”
Eli watched and grinned as Kinley’s gaze followed the man and stared in fascination.
“What are you thinking?”
She didn’t tear her eyes from Jerald. “Who is he?”
“I guess you could call him a butler, but he pretty much runs the house.”
Her gaze flew to his, and her eyes widened. “Like a real one?” she asked in amazement.
Eli heard his dad and grandfather both cough to hide their chuckles.
“Yeah, baby.”
“Aren’t you going to introduce me?”
Eli didn’t have the heart to tell her that didn’t usually happen.
“Jerald, Kinley here would like to meet you if you have a moment?”
The butler looked surprised but came to stand before them and put his hands behind his back. He bowed his head. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Kinley.”
She giggled. “Oh, you can just call me Kinley. Can I call you Jerald?”
“But of course.”
She stood and held out her hand.
The butler looked at David and then back at Kinley before gently shaking her hand.
“Will you tell me sometime how you run a household like this? I couldn’t run my own, and it’s just my cousin and me.”
Jerald’s mouth twitched. “But of course.”
She smiled brightly and clapped her hands. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome, Kinley.”
Kinley gingerly sat back down next to him and took his hand. “He’s very smart, isn’t he?” she asked the men after Jerald left.
“Very much so,” Senior said. “We don’t know what we’d do without him. He’s been with us since David was a baby.”
“Really? Wow.”
“Have you ever had cats or dogs in the house?” she asked them all.
“Both Eli’s mother and grandmother were allergic.”
“My mom was, too.”
David grinned. “It would be nice to have a dog. Jerald might kill us, though.”
Kinley laughed at David.
Later, Eli caught Kinley trying to hide a yawn.
“Are you tired, baby?”
“No, I’m okay. I don’t want to leave yet.”
“We’re spending the night here.”
“We are? That will be fun.”
Eli laughed. “Yes.”
“Oh, wait, I don’t have any clothes. I can always wear these tomorrow and get a t-shirt of yours to wear.”
“For one thing, I never let you wear anything to bed…”
Kinley gasped and turned bright red. “I can’t believe you said that in front of them.” She hid her face against his shoulder.
Eli smiled at his family over her head.
David spoke up. “I have a nightgown my, Eli’s mom, Camila loved. Although she never got to wear anything to bed either.”
“Oh, my God, Dad. This is my mother you’re talking about.” Eli groaned, making Kinley laugh.
“Let’s get you up to bed. I’ll work on getting you a wardrobe to keep here.”
“What? No, don’t spend money on things I don’t need.”
Senior cleared his throat. “Um, son, you did tell her we have some money, right?”
Eli snorted. “Yes, Grandpa. But she doesn’t think about it as we might. I’ve had to punish her because she won’t stop trying to buy things or half a meal.”
The older man burst out laughing.
“I don’t see what’s wrong with that,” Kinley complained. “I make money, too.”
Senior nodded. “Yes, dear, I’m sure you do. It’s just that the type of men we are, we aren’t happy unless we pay for everything, and since Eli has plenty, let him do it.”
She sighed next to him. “All right, Senior. I’ll try.”
“That’s all we can ask.”
“She thought this place was a country club, and when I said no, she thought it was a retirement place.”
He grunted when her elbow connected with his side.
“Maybe if somebody had warned me, I wouldn’t have assumed something else.”
Eli grinned at the disgust in her tone. “You’re right. I really should have. I just didn’t want you to be nervous.”
She rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. “I know you were doing it for a reason.”
He caught her trying to hide another yawn and stood, pulling her up to stand beside him.
His grandfather stood. “Good night, dear.”
“Good night, Senior.”
David followed them up the stairs. “Come this way.”
They walked into Eli’s dad’s bedroom and waited while he walked into an enormous closet.
Tears stung Eli’s eyes when he saw his father hadn’t gotten rid of any of her things. He could see himself doing the same.
He brought out a silky nightgown and handed it to Kinley. “Here you go. Would you wear this for me? I like seeing it used.”
“I would love to wear it, and I’ll be so careful with it.”
Eli pressed a kiss to her temple. He was so proud of her.
“I’ve got all her other things, and if you can use them, I’d be honored.”
Kinley looked up at Eli and waited for him to answer.
“I’ll come back when she’s showering and pick something for her to wear home. I’m shocked I didn’t think to pack her a small bag. I was so angry with Kendra, I couldn’t think about anything at the time.”
“I think you knew we’d be able to take care of her, son.”
Eli hugged his dad. “Thank you. I’ll be right back.”
“Good night, Kinley.”
“Good night, David.”
