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)
“Why are you so sure you aren’t the one I need with me now and in the future?”
“Come on, Grayson. I’m not an idiot. You’re like an eleven and I’m a two on a good day.”
“Daddy,” he said in a very firm tone as he rose taller to look down into her face. “I know that you’re a very intelligent woman, and I’m beginning to think you feel I’m the one who’s lacking. Let me tell you how I knew you were mine.”
When she nodded, he continued, “The first time you opened the door to sign for a package, my heart flipped a somersault in my chest. It was a feeling I’d never felt before—excitement, apprehension, fascination, and pure joy.”
“That’s a lot to feel as I sign a slip of paper,” she said, shaking her head.
“It was. It is. How often do you think that happens in real life?”
“Like, never?”
“Exactly. It never happens until one Little girl opens her door and I know instantly she’s mine. It never happened before, and it will never happen again. You have my heart, Little girl. I love you. I meet a lot of people doing my job, but they are exactly that, customers. Nothing else. I’m seriously concerned that you think so poorly of my character if you think I’d ever be interested in a self-involved woman like Adrienne Jenning.”
“You love me?”
“I do. I love you, Cupcake, with all my heart, and I will for all the days I’m lucky enough to spend on this earth.”
Valerie stared at him and swallowed hard. There was no doubting the truth written on his face. “I made a really bad mistake, didn’t I?”
“You did,” he agreed, nodding.
“I love you, too. I was so scared.”
“I know, Little girl.” Grayson cupped her face and kissed her softly before deepening the kiss as if he couldn’t stop himself.
When he lifted his mouth, her Daddy growled, “Go send a message to your boss. You’re taking the rest of the afternoon off, Cupcake.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
As he turned her around, the doorbell rang again.
Valerie grimaced. “Oh, shoot. That will be Evan. He was coming by this afternoon to pick something up.”
Grayson released her to open the door. Sure enough, Evan stood on the porch.
“Hey, Evan.” Valerie greeted her boss as she ducked under Grayson’s arm to see better.
Evan smiled as he glanced back and forth between Valerie and her Daddy. He held out a hand toward Grayson. “I’m Evan Parker. I’ve seen you around town.”
Grayson shook her boss’s hand. “Yep. I own my own delivery company. Most people have seen me at some point or another.”
“Yes, that’s it.”
Grayson slid a possessive arm around Valerie. “Valerie has told me so much about you. She loves working with you.”
“I love having her. She’s the best assistant I’ve ever had.”
Grayson backed up. “Come on in.” He glanced at Valerie. “Did you say you had something for Evan to pick up?”
Valerie nodded as Evan stepped inside. “I’ll go grab it.” She turned to skip from the room, hurrying as she wondered what the two men might discuss in her absence. She tried to be quick, but by the time she returned, her boss and her Daddy were laughing about something. They seemed to have bonded.
“Here’s the contract,” Valerie said as she held out the document she’d tucked in a manila folder.
Evan took it. “Thank you. Grayson was just telling me he has something impromptu planned for you two for the afternoon. I told him it was fine for you to take the rest of the day off. You never take time off. You really should take a vacation, Valerie. As much as I value your skills, I promise I can survive without you for a few weeks. You should plan something.”
“Oh, uh, well…”
Grayson put his arm around her again. “That’s a great idea. We should plan something.”
Evan smiled at her, not saying anything for a long time before he gave her a nod. “You look different, Valerie. Happy. I’m guessing Grayson has something to do with that.”
Did she look different? She leaned into her Daddy and hugged him around the waist. “He has everything to do with it.” She just hoped he would truly forgive her for doubting him. She’d been foolish to let insecurities sneak into her mind.
“I’m so glad. Well, I need to get home. Tori is waiting for me. I promised her we would go to the park this afternoon. Can’t keep a Little girl waiting.” He winked at Valerie and shook Grayson’s hand again. “Have a great afternoon.” He waved over his shoulder as he jogged toward his car.
“I assume Evan already knew you were Little?” Daddy asked.
“Yeah. He’s known that a while. I wonder if he knew you were my Daddy,” Valerie mused as they stood in the doorway another moment.
“I’m pretty sure we didn’t hide that fact, Cupcake.”