Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Callen followed her over and smiled when she opened the closet to find several princess dresses hanging together safely. Jordi sorted through them to find just the right place. With the dress carefully slid into place and straightened, Jordi ran her hand over the pretty rainbow-colored fabric and closed the door.
“Are you telling them goodnight, Little girl?” he asked, enchanted.
“Yes. All the princesses are my friends.”
She needs some real Little friends. Callen set a goal of having a play date for Jordi. Just one Little girl to start. He’d figure out who later.
Cupping his hands over her shoulders, Callen guided Jordi down the hall to her bedroom. It looked like a disaster area—but an organized mess. Work clothes folded by the door. Stuffies piled carefully by the bed. And a stack of what had to be clean clothes dumped on top of the dresser.
“Um… Sorry. I didn’t have time to clean in here,” she said nervously.
“You have too many things to wrangle, don’t you, Little girl?”
“I do. I’m so tired when I come home. Coloring and watching movies helps me relax so I can sleep and I’m ready to go back to work the next day,” she confessed, focusing on her bare toes scuffing into the carpet instead of looking at him.
“Then, we come up with a plan. Daddies help Little girls with miscellaneous things that complicate their lives. Perhaps you’d allow me to take a few things off your to-do list?” he suggested.
“I don’t want to impose on you,” she answered, peeking up at him.
“I promise I won’t do anything I don’t want to do.”
When she yawned, Callen knew she needed to go to bed. “What do you wear to sleep in?”
“My PJs. I keep them under my pillow,” Jordi shared as she retrieved them. She held them tight against her chest and shifted back and forth.
“Are you ready for me to help you change into your PJs or would you like to take them with you when you potty and change in the bathroom?”
“Bathroom,” she whispered.
“I think that’s a good idea. Soon Daddy will help you, but for tonight, you can just model them for Daddy while he tucks you into bed. Go, Sunshine,” he directed with a smile.
“Okay.”
In a flash, she was gone. Callen picked up keys, measuring tape, pencil, and a few other odds and ends Jordi had obviously emptied out of her pockets when she’d gotten home from the worksite. He looked around the room and found a clear decorative jar on the dresser. Perfect.
With that organized, he turned back the covers and found a well-loved stuffie. The flat tail and buck teeth clued Callen in immediately that this was a beaver. He grinned at the thought of his Little girl choosing an animal who builds things as her favorite.
“His name is Norwood. You’re not going to make fun of me for sleeping with a stuffie, are you?”
“Of course not. I am very glad to meet Norwood. Come get into bed, Jordi.”
He helped her slide into bed and pulled the covers over her pajamas. Tracing one pattern decorating the collar, he told her, “Saws cutting logs looks like the very best set of PJs for a Little girl who loves to work with her hands.”
“I bought four pairs when I found them. I knew I’d probably never find them again.”
“Smart! Now you’ve got backups.”
“Only one more pair,” she said sadly.
“Don’t worry about running out yet. I bet we can find some more. If not, I bet we can find something you like just as well,” he suggested, processing as he talked that he already planned to be there in the future.
“What are you smiling at?” she asked, tilting her head to the side.
“I’m happy to be here with you, Little girl. If you’ll keep me, I’d like to be here for a very long time.”
Jordi started to say something but closed her mouth. Instead, she just nodded.
“Time for lights out, Sunshine. Are you comfortable? Do you sleep on your back?”
When she shook her head, Callen urged her to make herself comfortable. Immediately, she curled up on her side with Norwood hugged close to her chest. He tucked the covers around her and leaned down to kiss her hair.
“Could I have a real kiss?” Jordi asked.
Callen answered her with a kiss that he’d wanted to give her all night long. When he lifted his head, she touched her lips with a look of wonder.
“Now that’s a goodnight kiss,” she blurted.
“Sweet dreams, Little girl. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Night, Daddy.”
It took all that he had to turn and walk out of her bedroom, through the apartment, and to the door. Enabling the lock so it would be secure when he closed it after him, Callen let himself out quietly.
Chapter Seven
Starting her day at The Hardware & Lumber Spot, Jordi held her breath as she walked in. Callen wasn’t at the front desk. He had more things to do than be the door greeter.