Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160684 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 643(@250wpm)___ 536(@300wpm)
“Why would you say that?” Nate asked, obviously thinking the same.
“Just a suggestion,” Lucy said, sticking her nose up in the air. “She’s obviously taken something. And while she was working. That’s grounds for dismissal.”
“She shouldn’t even be working. And this is none of your business,” Grady said. “Go deal with the tables in Effie’s section.”
“Me? Wait tables?” Lucy gaped at him.
“You did it for years. You should know what you’re doing.”
Lucy glared at him before she seemed to recall who he was.
“Such a bitch,” Nate muttered as she stormed off. His gaze grew concerned as he stared down at Effie. Grady stiffened, not liking that look. “Think she’s all right? I can get her some more water.”
“She’ll be fine. I’ll take care of her. Come on, sweetheart. Let’s get you to my office.”
“But I don’t wanna work. I wanna play.”
“You can play in the office,” he promised. He wasn’t used to taking care of a Little. He should probably call Steele.
Only, there was a part of him that wanted to know how to look after her. That wanted her to look to him for everything.
Strange.
Steele should get there soon. He could help with her.
“When Steele gets here, tell him where we are,” he ordered Nate.
Nate raised his chin in acknowledgment.
Grady kept his arm wrapped around Effie as he led her across the room.
She tripped and he tightened his hold.
“Oopsie. My feet keep tripping over something, but I can’ts see what. Can you?”
“Air,” he told her.
“That’s silly. Why would they trip over air?”
She tripped again, and when they were out of sight, he bent down and lifted her onto his hip.
“Ooh, this is fun. Can I go on your back like a horsie?”
“No. But do you know who would make a great horse?”
“Who?” She leaned back and he had to grab her tighter to keep her from falling backward.
“Whoa, no. Put your arms around my neck.”
“Huh?”
“Effie. Arms around my neck.”
“You’re very bossy.”
“And you’re not very good at listening,” he said as they reached his office.
Well, their office now.
“I knows. I just start thinking about things and I forget to listen. Listening ears, Effie. Listening ears are activated.” She cupped the back of her ears with her hands.
Damn. Adorable.
He’d never understood it before. The desire to take care of a Little. He’d always liked to have clear boundaries and rules. Having a Little to care for . . . sure, you could have rules. But Littles could be unpredictable and often sensitive. They always seemed to need more emotionally than Grady would or could give. He’d never been very good with emotions.
Giving aftercare wasn’t as bad because he had a routine. Things he knew how to do. Chocolate, water, blanket. Holding them if necessary. Although at the club, he’d always gone for submissives who didn’t need as much aftercare.
But a Little would likely need not just one cuddle, but a whole lot of them. And more support for their needs than he could deal with.
“Steele,” he told her as he sat her down on the sofa.
“Huh? Where’s Steele?”
“No, he’s not here. He’d make a good horse.”
“Ooh, he’d make a great horsie!” She clapped her hands, then slid back against the sofa. “I’s tired.”
“Are you? That could be because you’ve worked over ten hours today.”
“Mores than that. I came to work early to gets stuff done. And I hads to stay. Vanessa didn’t turn up.”
“It’s not your job to cover for the servers.” He could tell that this wasn’t the time to have this conversation, though. She wasn’t going to take any of this in.
And he still needed to find out what was going on. If she hadn’t been drinking, then what had she taken?
Moving over to the mini-fridge, he drew out a bottle of water. Then he sat on the coffee table in front of her.
“Effie, what are you doing?”
She was moving her fingers together, up and down.
“Incy-Bitsy spider. Do you know it?”
“Um, yeah, Twinkletoes. I know it.”
“I like that nickname. And when you call me sweetheart. Makes me feel special.”
“You are special, Effie.”
“Nuh-uh, silly. I’s just Effie.” Suddenly, she sniffled. “I wanna go home.”
“We’ll go home soon, all right? I want you to tell me if you drank or took anything, though.”
“I drunks lots of stuff.”
“Did you see anyone put anything into those drinks?”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah? What? Who?”
“Lucy. She put drinks in the drinks. Silly.” She grinned at him.
“All right, smart-ass. I’m going to take it that you didn’t actually see anything. What about pills? Did you take any pills?”
“Just painkillers. My back hurt. Do you likes spiders, Grady? I reckon they get a bad rep.”
“You do?”
“Uh-huh, they’re just misunderstood. Like me.”
“How are you misunderstood?” he asked.
“Everyone thinks I’m brave. But can I tells you another seecit?”
“Sure, sweetheart.”
“I’m scared. All the time. Terrified that I’m going to do something wrong with Brooks and scar him for life. Worried I’ll lose my job again and not be able to house and feed him. Scared people will know that it’s all a lie.”