“You’re so welcome, darlin’,” she said, smiling as she bagged their items.
After Daddy had charged everything to the room, he guided Dallas out to the main lobby. “Where are we going now, Daddy?” she asked.
“Well, I’m feeling hungry and I thought you might be too.”
Dallas tilted her head to the side and listened to her tummy. “Yeah, my tummy is hungry, Daddy.”
He chuckled. “I thought so. Let’s go feed our bellies, Bitty.”
Pike held her hand as they walked into a large cafeteria. It was set up just like a school lunchroom. It wasn’t very crowded, probably because it was only 5 pm in Montana. At home it was already 8 pm.
Dallas held Teefs tightly as she and Daddy went down the food line. Daddy hadn’t asked her what she’d wanted to eat and just knowing she didn’t have to make a decision already made her feel better.
“Hold my pocket, Bitty,” Daddy said, causing Dallas to look up at him in confusion. “My hands are full with our food and I want you close to me, so grab my pocket and hold on.”
She did as he asked and was rewarded with a soft “Good girl.” Pike had always been protective of Dallas but asking her to hold his pocket was new. She didn’t hate it.
She followed Pike over to the table he’d decided they would be sitting at and he set their trays down.
After pulling out a chair for her and helping her get settled, he knelt down in front of Dallas. “I want you to sit right here, baby. I’m going to get our drinks. Do. Not. Move.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
She watched Pike as he walked across the large cafeteria. He was so hot with his backward baseball cap, black shirt, ripped jeans, and black boots. He stood out from some of the other men who were also getting drinks, but they all dipped their heads at him.
Pike came back quickly and sat beside her. “Thank you for waiting like a good girl, Bitty.”
“Welcome, Daddy.”
He kissed her nose before handing her a small cup of lemonade. He had a coffee and Dallas wished she did too. She was so very tired. Pike started to cut up some of the food on her plate. She was excited to see grapes, chicken nuggets, and french fries. She was less thrilled to see the broccoli and salad.
She yawned before slapping her hand over her mouth. “Sorry, Daddy. I’m not bored. Just a bit tired,” she explained.
“I know, Bitty. Daddy’s tired too,” he said before passing her a plate. He’d cut her nuggets and grapes into smaller pieces for her and it made her heart swoon a bit.
Picking up her chicken nuggets she dipped them in the ranch dressing Daddy had put on the plate.
“Wait, Bitty,” he said, pulling a bib from his pocket. He fastened it around her neck before nodding at her to continue.
She looked down at the black bib with her favorite spooky clown on it. It definitely hadn’t come from the gift shop.
“Did you have this made for me?”
“I did. There are so many new things in the nursery that you haven’t seen yet. Daddy was a super-secret sneaky Daddy and ordered things for Teenie Tiny Dallas from a special online shop.”
She ran her fingers over the soft material. “Thank you, Daddy.”
“I will always do everything I can to make you happy, baby.”
Dinner was quiet, probably due to the couple being fatigued, but that didn’t stop Pike from feeding Dallas several bites of broccoli and salad.
“Take a bite, Bitty.”
Dallas’ face heated. The crowd in the cafeteria had grown and she was nervous.
“Nobody is going to say anything, baby. All they're going to see is a Daddy feeding his babygirl.”
Dallas swallowed nervously, but she was a good girl and obeyed him.
