Page 25 of Jade

“It’s good for little girls to have productive things to occupy their time, so I think that will be a rule that I pick up. Besides, I like our time together in the afternoons.” He picked up her hand and laced his fingers through hers. “Anything else?”

“I want my own room. I just got all my cool non-baby stuff, and I wanna keep it and I wanna have a place for it.”

“As long as Baze is okay with me using the extra space, I’m okay with that. On one condition. At night, you’re here with me. You sleep in my bed.”

Her eyes clouded with lust and he smirked. Somehow the conversation had gone back around. “Little girl, stay focused. We still have lots of things to work out. When do you want to move in?”

She pouted. “I’d move in tonight if I thought Baze would let me. But I already know he won’t. A week?”

“A week sounds reasonable. What about rules?”

“Rules, schmules. I don’t need no stinkin’ rules.”

“Little girls need rules. Having them in place is not negotiable. Participate in the discussion though and you might get a little input about what the rules will be.”

“Finnnneee.” She heaved a long-suffering sigh and then her eyes lit with mischief. A moment later, she frowned.

“What’s going through your head, little one?”

“Well, if you’re my Daddy—”

“Since. It’s no longer an if. Since I’m your Daddy, what?”

“Well if I live with you, does that mean I can no longer wear makeup… like… ever?”

She looked devastated by the possibility and he softened.

“How about this: You can wear makeup with my permission, only. If you want some time to play makeup, you need to ask.”

“Every time?” She groaned, clearly not enthused at the idea of having to ask just to play with makeup.

He grinned, knowing he was about to sweeten the pot. “Every time. And I promise I will try to say yes as often as I can. And that includes when we have plans. If we are going out and you ask ahead of time to wear a little bit of makeup, I might say yes, depending on where we are going.”

“Really? Yay!” She jumped up into a sitting position, wincing when her bottom made contact with the bed. “What about music?” she asked somberly a minute later.

“No explicit lyrics or heavy subject matter. If something is questionable, ask me. Better to be safe than sorry.”

“Bedtime?”

“You will go to bed when I go to bed. That’s usually around ten.”

“Chores?”

“Clean up after yourself and if I ask you to do something extra, do it.”

“Schedule?”

He frowned. He knew Baze kept them on a strict schedule but with seven of them to care for, he kind of had to. “I’m not big on schedules,” he admitted. “But I’m also not big on cooking or eating out for no reason. So I’d say don’t miss mealtimes downstairs.”

“Okay!” she exclaimed, seemingly happy with his answer.

“ I also don’t want you leaving the premises without permission.”

“Okay. We have that rule with Baze too, so no biggie.”

I think we’ve covered almost everything,” he mused. “I do feel like I’m forgetting something though.”

“No cussing,” Jade reminded him solemnly.