Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
“This is unbelievable. It looks like I walked into a fairy princess’s home. This is beautiful, Little girl. Did you do this all yourself?” Terry asked, as he walked fully into the room.
“Most of it. I have some friends who helped with the wiring, but I chose all the colors.”
“Where did you find this furniture?” he asked, running his hand over the soft fabric covering on one of the large chairs that looked like it belonged on a throne.
“Those were discards from the theater department of the university. They weren’t in very good shape, but I took them apart to steady all the joints and reupholstered them,” Kiki said proudly, sitting in the one that looked as if it had been occupied a lot while the other one looked pristine.
“I am so impressed, Kiki. You have many talents.”
“I have a lot of time on my hands. Before I started going to Blaze, I just went to work and came home. So I created my own fun haven,” she confessed.
“Show me around,” he requested.
Now that she knew he wouldn’t think she was weird or mentally twisted, Kiki linked her fingers with his and gave him a tour of her space. She showed him everything: the kitchen, the hallway leading to the guest bedroom that never had visitors, the single bathroom, and finally, her bedroom.
Flipping on the lights, she revealed a twin mattress sitting on a platform framed by flowing drapes at the head. Kiki darted forward to pick up a sock that lay on the floor.
“I usually am very tidy. This sock,” she said, shaking it vigorously, “won’t stay in its drawer. Bad sock!”
Terry tugged it from her hand and examined it from all sides. “Maybe it’s acting up because it needs something from you?”
“I used to wear it all the time but the matching sock sprang a hole at the tip of my big toe.”
“Sounds like maybe it’s lonely. Do you have a stuffie?” he asked, looking around her bedroom.
“I have a gator.”
“An alligator? Where is she?” Terry asked.
“Spike likes to sleep under the covers where it’s warm. He’s a cold-blooded animal,” Kiki informed him.
“I think I have an idea. Could you find him and introduce the two of us?”
“Okay, if you won’t laugh. Spike scares off all my bad dreams. I don’t want anyone to hurt his feelings.”
“I would never do that—especially if he’s fierce and keeps you comforted at night.”
Kiki scanned his face to make sure he was telling the truth before carefully moving the pillows stacked at the head of the bed to reveal a battered green alligator tucked underneath. She stroked over his spine to wake him up gently as she spoke to him.
“Spike? Someone would like to meet you. Can you be on your best behavior?”
The sleepy alligator flopped his head from side to side as if saying no.
“Come on. It’s important to me that you meet Terry,” Kiki urged before leaning forward to whisper in the reptile’s ear, “He thinks he’s my Daddy.”
With a ferocious growl, Spike launched himself into action. He twisted around to face the new adversary and lumbered slowly toward the visitor. Lifting his snout, Spike scented the air, gathering information about the man who stood patiently waiting to meet him.
“He’s a bit protective of me,” Kiki warned.
“I see that. I’m glad you have such a fierce stuffie to take care of you,” Terry commented before daringly reaching out a hand for Spike to sniff. The serious look on his face assured Kiki that Terry wasn’t making fun of her best friend in the whole world.
“He can be dangerous,” Kiki suggested.
“Spike isn’t going to hurt me. We’re a lot alike, Kiki. I think we’re going to be colleagues. We both want exactly the same thing—to make sure you are safe and happy.”
Terry reached over the dangerous snout of the ferocious beast and stroked down Spike’s scaly back. Kiki was amazed that the stuffie allowed his touch without a growl or aggressive move. The alligator almost purred when Terry paused to scratch behind Spike’s ear.
“He likes you,” she whispered in amazement.
“The feeling is mutual. May I hold him?”
Kiki thought about his request for a moment before slowly handing her beloved stuffie over to her new Daddy.
Terry was still holding the lone sock, and he gently tucked the gator’s tail into it. “There. That will keep him snuggly and warm when you’re not around,” he declared.
Kiki felt her smile nearly split her face in two. “That’s a great idea, Daddy.”
“Daddies sometimes have good ideas. Now, he seems pretty sleepy. Are you ready to join him in bed?” Terry asked, giving Spike one last pet before setting him on Kiki’s pillow.
“You don’t have to put me to bed,” she whispered.
“Daddies know how to tuck Little girls in so they get their very best sleep. Just like I know you need to potty before we put your nightgown on.” He sat on the edge of her bed and guided her between his legs.