Keeping Kenzie - Pepper North Page 0,48

hand.

“That would do it,” the officer laughed.

Fifteen minutes later, the gun had been retrieved and Dean’s identity checked. Kenzie’s ex-husband was still unconscious. Two brown heads stuck through the window. One woofed.

“Are you okay, D-Osiris?” The jewelry still adorning them rattled against the sill.

“Baby girl, your bottom is going to be so red,” Osiris spoke without thinking as he moved to block her view.

“You didn’t kill him, did you?” Kenzie asked, crawling through the window.

A painful moan echoed from the prone man. Kenzie and Osiris turned to see Lollipop hovering over Dean, growling low in his chest. “Call him off. Call him off!” Dean lifted his handcuffed hands to fend off the assault.

“Lollipop!” Osiris said sternly. The dog trotted to his side to lean against him.

“We’ll take him to the hospital and have him checked out before we book him,” the officer shared before leaning over Dean to order in a totally different tone, “On your feet. This will be the last time you bother these people.” The uniformed patrolmen heaved the still-groggy man onto his feet and muscled him out the door.

The last policeman out turned to meet Osiris’ gaze. “Take care of that Little girl now. We’ll make sure he’s locked securely away until the trial.”

“Thank you, Officer. I will,” Osiris promised, wrapping his arm around Kenzie as he held on to Lollipop’s collar.

Turning to look at Kenzie, he scanned her festive appearance before trying to control his smile as he took in the preening Lollipop. “Anything you want to tell me, Baby girl, or should we start with corner time?”

“Daddy…”

Chapter 24

“And after the police disappeared into the house, I told Mrs. Wilson that Daddy had waved me back over. All the noise was coming from my bedroom, so I peeked in the window.” Kenzie regaled all her new Little friends with the story of her brave Daddy rescuing her.

“That was so dangerous!” Rita whispered, leaning close to make sure she didn’t miss any details.

“You lied?” Shelby echoed in horror.

“And didn’t follow her Daddy’s instructions,” Osiris added, coming to stand behind Kenzie. “Tell them what punishment you earned, Baby girl.”

Kenzie looked back at him in horror. “Oh, they don’t need to know that,” she assured him.

“Did he spank you? Osiris’ hands are huge. I bet that hurt!” Carrie commented, drawing everyone’s attention to the palm Osiris obligingly displayed.

Squirming on her pillow, Kenzie whispered, “Yes.” She could feel her face heating and knew she was blushing.

“Was that all? My Daddy would have treated my bottom, too!” Priscilla added.

Kenzie’s flush turned scarlet, sharing with all the Littles that Osiris had very definitely punished her thoroughly. “Let’s change the subject. Poppy, weren’t you going to teach us about flowers today?”

“I don’t think so, but I can show everyone how to turn white flowers a different color. There are some white daisies by the gate,” Poppy suggested. “Everybody, go ask your Daddies if you can go on a field trip.”

Like magic, all the Littles dispersed in different directions, leaving Kenzie alone with her Daddy. “I love you, Daddy,” she said quickly.

“I love you, too, Baby girl. You were bragging about doing the wrong thing, were you?” Osiris squatted down next to her and braced his powerful forearms on his thighs.

“No, Daddy!” Kenzie shook her head desperately. “I wasn’t bragging. I was just telling them what happened and how you saved me!”

“Could you remind me what Kenzie’s rules two and three are?”

Without conscious thought, Kenzie shook her right hand. She had written lots of sentences after her bottom treatment because she’d continued to argue with her Daddy. They were easy to recite since she knew them so well. “Rule number two: Follow Daddy’s instructions, and rule number three: Daddy is in charge.”

Her Daddy had made her additional punishment a bit easier. Sitting by her side, Osiris took a piece of paper from the stack and began writing as well. She’d peek over at his beautiful printing to read, “Number three: Daddy will keep me safe.”

“I’m sorry I screwed up your rule. With you and the police there, I didn’t think Dean would be a problem. I know better now,” she assured him.

Osiris settled on the floor next to her pillow. He patted his thighs, and Kenzie crawled onto his lap without hesitation. She looped her arms around his neck and pressed soft kisses over his face. When he curved a hand over the back of her head, she allowed him to guide her lips to his. Sliding her hands to grip his massive