Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
My Little girl?
He drew in a slow breath as he watched her back up to the couch. Yeah. It had been wishful thinking for a long time, but now he felt certain. Valerie Hopkins was definitely his Little girl.
“Would you like to sit?” she asked. “Did you want water or something else? Maybe iced tea or…well, I only have apple juice and water and tea, I guess. I don’t really like alcohol, so I don’t have beer or wine or anything.” She wrung her fingers together in front of her as she rambled.
Grayson stepped closer and covered her hands with his. “I don’t really need a drink, Cupcake. I have plenty of water in my car. And I don’t drink alcohol when I’m going to be driving, so no need to fret about that either. I was hoping we could just talk if you’d like.”
She nodded. “Okay. Sure. I’d like that.” She dropped onto the couch, pulling her knees together and rubbing her palms on her thighs as soon as she was seated.
Grayson sat next to her, leaving several inches. He didn’t want to scare her. She was so skittish.
She glanced at the package that was now behind him. “My birthday is coming up,” she blurted. “I ordered some things for myself. Gifts for me.”
He nodded slowly. “That’s a great idea.”
She lowered her gaze to her lap and fiddled her fingers again. “That sounds pitiful.” She tipped her face back. “And uh, more things are going to come this week.”
He smiled. “When is your birthday, Cupcake?”
“Saturday.”
“Do you have plans?” What if she had a boyfriend or worse, a Daddy? He didn’t think that was likely. For one thing, he’d never once seen anyone here besides her. For another thing, she didn’t seem like the type who would invite him into her home if she already had a partner. And lastly, she was clearly buying her own birthday presents, which hurt his heart.
“Sure. With my new jammies and the rest of the things I ordered. I figured I would order my favorite foods and have them delivered and then curl up on the couch with my favorite movies. Or, if I’m really brave, maybe I’ll have to lounge carefully to avoid putting much pressure on my new tattoo.” She smiled, and it lit up the room.
Grayson turned to more fully face her, set his arm on the back of the couch, and let his fingers stroke her pigtail. The thick brown hair had always enticed him. He suddenly hoped one day soon he might earn the right to run his fingers through it.
“Although that all sounds heavenly, wouldn’t it be more fun to do it with someone else?” he asked.
She shrugged. “I don’t really have a lot of close friends who enjoy the same things I do,” she said softly.
“Things like soft warm onesies, pigtails, mac and cheese, and cartoons?”
He loved the way her breath hitched.
He leaned closer and continued, feeling more confident by the second. “Things like stuffies, sippy cups, coloring, and pacifiers?”
She gasped. Her cheeks were pink, but she didn’t look away. Finally she licked her pretty pink lips. “How did you know?” she breathed.
“Daddies recognize these things.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you a Daddy?”
“I am, Baby girl, and I’m so glad to finally know for sure that you’re the precious Little I’ve been looking for my entire life.”
Her jaw dropped open and she blinked. “I am?”
“Yes, Cupcake. You are.” He threaded his fingers in her pigtail and brought the other hand up to clasp it over her combined hands.
“How can you know that?”
“The same way I knew you were Little. My heart tells me. But I’m a patient man, Cupcake. I won’t rush you to feel the same way I do. I would like to start spending time with you though if that’s okay. And I’d really like it if you’d let me spend your birthday with you so you have a Daddy to snuggle with on the couch while you watch cartoons, eat your favorite foods, and drink from your sippy cup. How does that sound?”
She closed her mouth and swallowed. “Like I must be dreaming.”
He chuckled. “You’re not. I promise.”
“Do you think I’m pitiful for ordering my own birthday presents?”
“No. I think you’re resourceful. I hope you won’t mind if I buy you some surprise presents too. A Little girl should have gifts to open on her birthday without knowing what they are.”
Her eyes widened again. “Really?”
“Yes, and we’ll need cupcakes. Birthday cupcakes for my Little Cupcake.”
She sat up straighter, her eyes lighting up. She was so precious. He liked to see her happy. “Birthday Cake is my favorite flavor of cupcakes. I try not to eat them too often because…” She patted her thighs. “Well, that’s obvious.”
He narrowed his gaze at her. “Don’t you dare insinuate you have even one extra ounce on you. You’re perfect just the way you are. Every inch of you. And Little girls should eat cupcakes, especially if they make you happy.”