Trained By Her Daddy by Shelly Douglas
Chapter 14
John escorted me down a long hall with white stucco walls before we entered a conference room on the right. Officer Green was seated at a round table in the middle of the small room.
“Ahh, right on time,” he said, politely standing to shake John’s hand before turning to meet my eyes. “And it’s nice to see you under more pleasant circumstances, Lori.”
The circumstances might have been more pleasant for him, but my ass was burning inside and out. Was it my imagination that his demeanor was much more compassionate after the accident? No, I wasn’t imagining anything. One side of his mouth appeared to be curving upward in a lopsided grin. Christ. Was the man smirking?
“Let me pull up a chair for Lori, so she can take a seat.”
Though there were three comfortable looking seats at the table, I watched as he rapidly replaced one of the chairs with a metal folding type that had previously been set against the wall. And then I spied a silent exchange pass between the men’s eyes. Was the chair with the padded seat removed because this man whom I’d only met one time, wanted me to sit on a hard surface? Were the men friends because they were cut from the same cloth? Was everyone in this town into domestic discipline?
John dusted off the metal seat for me and then made himself comfortable on an upholstered chair. After crossing one leg over the other, he finally drawled in a quiet tone. “Officer Green is a busy man, so maybe we should get right to the point of this meeting. What do you need to say to him, Lori?”
Fuck. We were out in public, and he was talking to me like I was a five-year-old-child. But with one glance at his intense hazel eyes, I knew it was best not to bait him with a retort or make him wait too long for a response. John did not have a sense of humor, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out that Officer Green wasn’t performing a stand-up routine at the local comedy club on the weekends.
Looking down at my folded hands, a quick response slipped out softly. “I’m sorry, sir.” But when Officer Green’s short stubby fingers began tapping impatiently onto the wooden table, I knew I’d better make my apology more specific. After inhaling a cleansing breath for courage, I immediately blew it out, looked the cop in the eye and spoke in my best contrite voice. “I’m really sorry for lying to you. The accident was my fault.”
“Don’t stop now, Lori Hope. Tell Officer Green why the accident was your fault.”
My eyes darted from John to the large man in the blue uniform as I swallowed hard, willing the words to exit my mouth. “I’d been texting my friend, so I didn’t see the van move into my lane.”
Officer Green nodded once and tilted his head toward mine. “But your cellphone was on the backseat of the car.”
“I tossed it backward after the crash. Tossing my cellphone in the backseat of the car to hide the evidence was a juvenile knee-jerk reaction which I also regret.” He watched in silence as I wiggled my ass on the seat, and it was probably obvious I’d recently received a sound spanking from his friend, John. I should’ve tried to hide how uncomfortable I was, but my sore ass had no business sitting on a metal surface at that particular moment.
“Be still, Lori,” John admonished before throwing an eye to his friend. “And tell him why you tossed the phone.”
“I-I didn’t want anyone to know I’d been texting. I’m really sorry, and I promise never to do it again.”
“Well, I can assure Officer Green that you won’t have a chance to do it again, because you won’t be driving anytime soon. And any fines imposed as a punishment will be paid for with your own money.”
The husky man in the blue uniform sat forward in his chair. “There is a steep fine here in Austin which could be as much as five hundred dollars for texting while driving, young lady. Are you aware of how many people die in car accidents because this type of law is disregarded?”
My heart sank as I moved my sad gaze to John. “Yes, sir. I know.”
“And her report to the insurance company will be amended as well,” John drawled, casting a stern stare in my direction. “She’ll be calling to tell them the whole story when we get home. The real story.”
“I appreciate you coming by to tell the truth, Lori. It’s not easy to admit when you’re wrong, but it’s the right thing to do. John’s an honest man and I’ve had the pleasure of knowing him a long time. We’ve been through quite a lot over the years.”
John stood and extended a hand to his friend. “Thanks again for seeing us. I hope next time it’s under better circumstances.”
Pulling myself off the chair, I was dying to rub the pain and fatigue out of my sore ass. But instead, I intelligently extended my hand to the officer. “Thank you for accepting my apology. I assure you, I’ll never make the mistake of texting and driving again.”
“I’m sure you won’t.” His nod was bold before he threw a blinking eye to John.
As we walked down the hall, I should’ve kept quiet, but instead two questions spilled from my mouth. “Why would he pull over a metal folding chair for me to sit on when there were already three chairs around the table, and what was up with that last wink he threw your way?”
“Bill Green and his wife were friends with me and Jeannie for many years. They lived the same lifestyle we did.”
“I figured as much.”
John took my hand as we exited the building and crossed the parking lot. “When he called after your accident, he never asked if I was going punish you. It wasn’t his business. But I’m sure he assumed that as my girlfriend, you’d be facing severe consequences for violating such an important traffic law and then lying about it. He and I are believers that people who disregard the rules should be held responsible for their actions.”
It was lunchtime when John parked the car in the driveway, and I immediately raced to the bathroom to wash my hands before settling down on a padded seat at the kitchen table. “What’s on the lunch menu, Daddy?”
“How about a grilled cheese sandwich, for old time’s sake?”
“Ahh, a bit of nostalgia amidst the chaos.”
He closed the refrigerator door and pivoted to face me. “We’re not in a state of chaos, princess. You were disciplined for your misbehavior, and then you apologized to Officer Green. That dreadful event is behind us now.”
My head dropped as huge tears brimmed my eyes. “But you never said I was forgiven.”
Instantly, he sat down next to me and cupped my chin in his large hand as he spoke slowly. “Of course, you’re forgiven, my sweet girl. You were forgiven yesterday after I’d disciplined your naughty hide.”
“You once said every day begins with a new slate, but it didn’t seem that way today.”
His striking hazel eyes met mine. “After I discipline you for any misbehavior, you’re automatically forgiven. But this morning you evidently felt the need to test me with some sass before we went to meet with Officer Green. So, I decided you needed another reminder of who’s in charge of our home to put you in a contrite mood. Did I not make that clear to you?”
“You did, but maybe I don’t fully understand the whole clean slate concept. When I was a kid and did something wrong, my dad would give me the silent treatment for a week. It was one of his favorite ways to make me feel unworthy of his love.”
“Being ignored in that way is a form of emotional abuse which would never happen under my roof. Lori, my feelings for you aren’t going to change no matter how much you test me. Don’t you know I’m in love with you?” As John got me comfortable in his lap, I not only had the pleasure of inhaling his sexy pheromones, but I’d also basked in the warmth and protection of his manly body while he hugged me tight. It hadn’t been two weeks we’d been living in the same house, and yet it seemed like we’d known each other forever. Was it too soon for me to hear him say the words I’d waited a lifetime to hear? My parents never told me they loved me, and I never uttered that phrase to anyone before. Not anyone.
When I didn’t respond to either of his questions, he pulled back to study my demeanor. “We both know this is not a simple relationship. But you need to trust me. You need to trust that your Daddy will always have your best interests at heart.”
“On my first day here, I acknowledged the importance of respect and trust between me and my Daddy.”
“Yes, but now it can’t be lip service. You need to mean it.”
“I do mean it.” For God’s sake, I had the best of both worlds with this man. First and foremost, I adored how John cared for me in every way. And even though the lessons he tried to teach me were hard at times, I finally understood why they were all necessary. Then of course, there was our pure animal attraction—which was off the charts! The complexity of John being my lover and my Daddy might seem odd to some, but it was exactly the relationship he missed having—and the one I so desperately needed. If this was what it felt like to be in love, then count me in. I nestled my head under his chin and whispered, “I love you too.”
“I don’t think a long-distance relationship is making sense at this juncture. Maybe it’s time we talk about you moving in. What do you think, princess? Would you like to live here with me?”
My head was still spinning from his declaration of love, and now he wanted me to move in with him? To some, it would seem like the natural progression in a relationship. But so many positive things didn’t usually happen to me in one day—let alone before lunch. Was this too good to be true?
His wink was subtle as he pursed his lips. “I’ll understand if you’re not ready to make such a permanent commitment, yet.”
I raised my chin and stared into his eyes. “I’d need to move all my things from Philly and sublet the apartment. It might take a while for that to happen.”
“Have I not proven to be a good Daddy so far?”
To an outsider, his question would seem rhetorical. But I knew he wanted an answer, and though John seemed to be in a good mood—he wasn’t a patient man. “Of course. You’re the best.”
He nodded. “So, what would a loving Daddy do in this situation?”
Jesus. I’d never had a loving Daddy before, so I had to take a shot in the dark on that one. “You’d take care of all the arrangements for me?”
“Good response, angel. You give me your landlord’s phone number, and I’ll make sure everything is attended to. If need be, I’ll continue to pay your rent until the apartment is sublet.”
Naturally, the rent wasn’t the only thing I’d need to worry about. “John, I have two closets brimming with clothes and there are rooms full of furniture.”
“There are companies who can pack up your things for storage and immediately ship what you need right now. If you have a desk, or a favorite chair—we can put it in one of the bedrooms. I’d been thinking about turning one of them into another office, and if you like, it could be your office. What do you think?”
Since I’d been staying with him—my laptop had been gathering dust on his kitchen island, just waiting for me to start a new novel. And though I’d enjoyed sitting on a high-top stool in order to send an e-mail or two, an office sounded so official and private. Yes indeed, it would be the perfect spot for me to work in. “How do you always know what I need?”
His Cheshire cat grin was wide. “Because I’m your Daddy.”
I slid off the chair to rub my backside. “There’s no doubt about that.”
“Any questions, young lady?”
“Just one,” I said, pursing my lips. “Is grilled cheese still on the lunch menu?”
“Of course, it is. You sit tight, and I’ll go prepare it for you.”