Corporate Daddy by Arlene James Read Free Book Online Page B

do for you. Just name the amount.”
    She laughed again. “Nah, I don’t want you saying I took advantage of you later.”
    “That’s usually my line,” he quipped.
    She didn’t seem to find it funny. Lifting an eyebrow, she looked away. “Is that our dinner over there?”
    He nodded. “I assume you like Tex-Mex.”
    “Love it. Why don’t I put it in the oven while you try to get a certain someone down for the night?”
    “I’ll give it my best shot,” he said, “but if I’m not down in half an hour, call the anti-terrorist squad.”
    Emily chuckled, turning away. “I’m starved.”
    “That makes two of us,” Logan said, following her as far as the foot of the stairs, where he turned and climbed upward while she went on into the dining room and kitchen. He carried Amanda Sue across the landing and down the hall, talking nonsense to her while she babbled back.
    “What’d you do this afternoon, Amanda mine?”
    “Mimy do sum-sum-sum.” She waggled her little fingers above her head.
    “Did you play with Emily, hmm?”
    She nodded sharply and went on talking. “Up fruffle and pickers. Go see.” She pointed to the door to her own room. Logan carried her inside and flipped on the overhead light.
    It looked like something out of a fairy tale. A curving canopy had been erected above the white crib, which now sported frothy pink ruffles over and under. The rocking chair had been similarly adorned, and the window, as well. A lamp in the shape of a carousel sat atop the dresser, surrounded by baby dolls and stuffed animals. The shelvesbelow the window had been filled with small books and colorful toys. A music box had been attached to the side of the crib. Pictures of baby animals adorned the walls. Amanda Sue pointed her little finger at each one and labeled it.
    “Pupup. Kitty. Hosey. Sicgen. Pigky. Pish. Moo-cow.”
    Logan laughed and hugged her tight. “That’s right!” He pointed and confirmed each name, correcting her pronunciation. “Puppy, kitty, horsey, chicken, piggy, fish, and a little cow.”
    “Moo-cow!” Amanda Sue insisted.
    “All right, moo-cow. What a smart girl you are, Amanda Sue.”
    Bucking, she demanded to be put down. He bent and set her feet on the floor. She promptly led him on a tour of the room, pointing out every item for his approval. Finally they made their way to the rocking chair and the book that lay upon the seat. Amanda Sue snatched the book up and held it by one corner, patting the seat cushion with her free hand. “Daddy ’own.”
    Logan obediently sat, then gathered the child into his arms. She snuggled into the crook of his elbow and crossed one little ankle over the opposite knee, ready to be read to. He was halfway through the brightly illustrated book about—what else?—baby animals, when Emily slipped into the room. Amanda Sue beckoned her over so that Emily stood behind the chair and peered over their shoulders at the pages of the book. Amanda Sue pushed her head back, looking up at Emily. “Cav,” she said, adding, “Moo-cow, cav,” as she pointed to the mother cow and the baby calf.
    “Good grief, she’s bright,” Logan said proudly.
    “She certainly is.” Emily moved away then, walking softly. “Mind if I turn down the light?”
    “No, go ahead.”
    “How about a little background music?” she asked as she switched on the lamp and switched off the overhead light.
    “Sure.”
    Suddenly the mood was entirely altered, softened, as tinkling music filled the air.
    “Keep your voice low and rock gently as you read,” Emily counseled in a whisper as she clipped Amanda Sue’s pacifier to her shoulder and placed Sugar Bear in her lap. The child immediately popped the nipple into her mouth and got a hammerlock on the toy. Logan began to rock, carefully, quietly reading and turning the pages. Soon he realized that Amanda Sue was no longer paying attention. She had dropped off, her face turned into his chest. As he watched, she pushed the pacifier