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)
A quick glance at the clock assured her that she had dozed. Thank goodness Grayson had checked on her. Quickly, she toweled herself dry and pulled on her oversized nightshirt. Perching her glasses back on her nose, she gathered her courage to let him see her like this.
Opening the door, she found Grayson leaning against the wall. “Sorry. I fell asleep.”
“I know. Let’s brush your teeth and hair.” He guided her into the bathroom and placed a dab of toothpaste on her pink toothbrush before handing it to her.
As she self-consciously brushed her teeth in front of the mirror, Valerie saw Grayson pick up her hairbrush. He stroked over the back of her head with one large hand before untangling her brown hair. He paused halfway through to allow her to rinse her mouth and then continued until her eyes were half-closed in contentment.
“Bedtime, Cupcake.”
She allowed him to guide her into the bedroom, set her glasses in their usual spot so she could find them in the morning, and climbed into the large bed he’d already turned down. When he settled the covers under her chin, Valerie sighed and squirmed to make herself more comfortable. She wished she hadn’t listened to her mother when she’d moved out of her parents’ house and into her own place. Donating her stuffies was a lovely thing to do, but she really missed them.
“That was a sad thought,” he said, cupping her jaw.
“Being an adult sucks sometimes.”
“It does. But being a Little girl can make being an adult less sucky. Close your eyes and listen to this story I’ve found for us.”
Grayson looked at his screen and scrolled for a moment before reading the first section of an intriguing action-adventure story including a man, a woman, and a parrot named Tarzan. Valerie loved the story and listened intently until she tumbled into sleep.
Blinking her eyes open into the bright sunlight, Valerie peered around the empty room and listened intently for any sign that the magnetic man was there. Hearing nothing, she called, “Grayson.”
Silence answered.
Valerie reached for her glasses on the nightstand and picked them up. As she moved them, something small floated to land on the bed. She picked up the strangely shaped item and looked at it before realizing she hadn’t put on her glasses yet. Quickly she remedied that.
Daddy’s Little Birthday Girl
How had he gotten a sticker printed like that so fast? Taking the backing off, she plastered it on her nightshirt. Valerie threw back the covers and danced into the bathroom. When she returned, she dressed in street clothes and carefully peeled the sticker off to stick to the underneath side of her shirt. It wouldn’t do to meet her parents for her birthday breakfast and have that showing, but she was going to wear the sticker every moment she could. With a fond pat, she finished getting ready and headed out to meet her parents.
By the time she got home with a full belly of delicious breakfast treats she never made at home, it was almost time for Grayson to arrive. She quickly straightened up her house and set out the treats she’d picked up for their movie day. He’d said he would pick up Birthday Cake cupcakes. She sure hoped Daddy remembered.
“Daddy?” she repeated that thought aloud. It seemed impossible that she’d found someone that special.
The doorbell made her jump. Rushing to throw it open, Valerie jumped forward to wrap her hands around his neck.
“I think it’s my birthday,” Grayson celebrated with her. “But I know it’s yours. Happy birthday, Cupcake. Thanks for letting me spend part of your lucky day with you!”
“The best part of the day.” She saw a brightly colored package in his hand. “Is that for me?” Then sorry for her presumptuous question, Valerie concentrated on her sneakers.
His hand lifted her chin until their gazes met. “It is for you. Want to ask me in and you can open it? I don’t want him to fly away.”
“Oh, no!” Tugging Grayson inside, Valerie pulled him to the sofa and sat down to pat the cushion right next to her.
“Here you go, Little girl. I hope you like it.”
Tissue floated down from the air gently as Valerie snatched each sheet from the opening of the bag. Finally reaching her gift, she pulled it out with a shout. “It’s Tarzan!” She stroked her fingers over the soft feathers of the parrot’s head. The best character in the story from last night had come to life. Valerie hugged the stuffie to her chest. She loved Tarzan already.
“Ahahahah!” She gave her best parrot-mimicked Tarzan call and watched the skin at the corners of Grayson’s eyes and mouth crinkle in merriment.
Valerie launched herself at Grayson, wrapping her arms around him. “Thank you so so so so much. That’s the best gift ever.”