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)
“Will you give me an hour? I’m gross. I’d like to shower and change—my clothes and my headspace.”
“I’d be happy to, Little one.” Callen closed the distance between them and reached up to stroke her cheek. “See you in an hour.”
Chapter Five
What was I thinking? What was I thinking? What was I thinking?
Jordi paced back and forth in the living room of her apartment, wondering why on Earth she’d suggested something so ludicrous. She’d never invited anyone over to see her Little side, let alone a Daddy, and certainly not a Daddy who thought he was her Daddy.
He couldn’t be lying. He had too many local friends to be lying to her. She would have been a lot more skeptical if he’d said he just moved to town and knew no one. But he knew more people than she did, and it seemed he knew who was Little too.
Her mind was still processing the thought that so many people she’d met peripherally were probably Little. Not just Ellie at Little Cakes, but most of her employees too. And Daisy from Daisy’s Blooms?
The last project Jordi had worked on was an office space for Valerie and Grayson. She’d wondered several times if the two of them were Daddy and Little. Now it seemed less farfetched.
Jordi nearly jumped out of her skin when a knock sounded at the door. She spun around to stare at it. What was I thinking? she repeated in her head. She couldn’t do this. Let a man into her apartment? Let him see her Little?
Ever since she’d gotten home an hour ago, she’d been running around like crazy to get ready. She’d needed to do some cleaning first and then take a shower and then get dressed and then fix her hair. By the time she was finally ready about five minutes ago, she’d stopped in her tracks and doubted her judgment.
“Jordi?” Callen called through the door.
Shit. That was him. And of course it was him. She’d said one hour, and it had been one hour.
Glancing down at herself, she realized there was no way out of this and shuffled toward the door. She opened it only a few inches, hiding behind the heavy wood and peeking out the slit.
Callen stood there, holding a pizza box and smiling at her. “Hey, Sunshine. Are you going to let me in?”
“Uhhh…” She felt uncertain. Should she let him in? Duh. She had to now. She’d dug this hole. Now she needed to face the music.
Finally, she stepped back, opening the door farther, but remaining behind it.
Callen strode into her apartment and set the pizza down on the small kitchen table in her attached kitchen area. He turned around and looked at Jordi. “Are you going to shut the door, Little one?”
She was still behind it, feeling sillier by the minute. She felt foolish for a combination of reasons now. Partly because of how she was dressed. Partly because of the fact that she was hiding. Partly because her mind was playing all kinds of tricks on her as she hovered half in her Little space and half in her adult space. Okay, maybe not half and half.
Inching slowly forward, Jordi finally shut the door and turned around to face Callen. Do or die time.
Callen took a seat on her couch and reached out a hand. “Come here, Sunshine.” His voice was soft and gentle and kind. No judgment.
She shuffled toward him, more nervous than she’d ever been. She couldn’t speak. Her throat was broken. When she got close enough, Callen spread his knees, took her hands, and set them on his thighs. He palmed her hips next. “You look so pretty, Little one. I love this dress. Is it your favorite?”
She nodded slowly.
“Is baby blue your favorite color?”
She nodded again as she glanced down once more as if she needed to remind herself she was wearing her pale blue princess dress. It was way too fancy for pizza with a man she barely knew. The skirt had piles of ruffles. She’d even put on white knee socks and black Mary Janes. Her hair was in long braids with blue ribbons at the ends.
“I think you make the perfect princess.” He let his hands slide behind her to the small of her back and pulled her in closer. “I’m so proud of you for taking a chance on me and letting yourself be vulnerable. It warms my heart. You’re precious.”
She loved being this close to him. Loved the way he held her. She wanted to lean into him. She wanted him to hug her.
Maybe she did sway that direction because he said, “Do you need a hug, Sunshine?”
She nodded again and let her body fall against his chest.
Callen pulled her tight and rubbed her back.
She set her cheek on his shoulder. He smelled so good. He’d obviously gone home and showered too. His hair was damp. His shampoo was something masculine and outdoorsy. He’d shaved. His face was so smooth.