Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“Hi,” the bubbly woman said. “You must be Mateo and Nora.”
“That’s us.”
“Great. You two are all cleared to go into the main room and explore. Riley told me she would show you around. You’ll find her at the bar after you stow your phones and gear in the lockers.”
“Thank you,” Mateo responded. He led Nora to one of the open narrow cabinets before opening the interior door and guiding Nora into the club.
She gripped his fingers tighter as they made their way through a large dark room where every sort of kink play was taking place. “Yikes,” Nora whispered.
Mateo guided her through that room and toward the bar where he spotted Riley immediately, working behind the bar. He smiled. “I knew Riley worked at Little Cakes. I didn’t realize she worked here, too.”
Nora nodded. “Yeah, she told me she sometimes bartends here at night.”
Riley paused what she was doing and waved. “Hi, guys. Give me just a few minutes.”
Mateo helped Nora onto a barstool and stood to one side of her with a hand on her back.
“Can I get you guys anything while you wait?” Riley asked.
Nora shook her head.
“I think we’re good. Thank you,” Mateo said.
A man jogged forward and slid around behind the bar. “Your guests are here, Riley. I’ll cover for you for a while.”
Riley smiled at him. “Thank you, Cameron. Is Aria here?”
“Yep. She’s in the daycare with several other Littles.”
“Oh, good. I was going to take Nora back there to meet them.” Riley came around the bar and quickly introduced the man taking over for her. “Cameron, this is Mateo and Nora.”
Cameron waved before he grabbed a beer and popped the top for a customer.
Riley nodded over her shoulder. “Come on. I can’t wait for you to see the daycare. It’s so much fun.”
Mateo helped Nora down from the stool and set a hand on her hip to guide her along behind Riley. As soon as the room in question came into view, he breathed easier, and he noticed Nora did, too.
The room was aptly named, filled with games and toys, dolls and stuffies.
“Wow,” Nora exclaimed as she smiled broadly. “That’s the most fun room I’ve ever seen.” She quickly jerked her gaze to Mateo. “Except my nursery, of course,” she whispered.
He chuckled. “I think there’s a lot more to do in this room. Why don’t you go check it out.”
“Are you going to come with me?”
“I’ll wait right here where I can see you, Little one.”
Nora bent to kiss his cheek and then rushed off with Riley.
A moment later, Garrett joined Mateo, leaning on the half-wall to watch the girls. “Welcome to Blaze.”
“Thank you. It doesn’t look like I need to worry about Nora. She hasn’t even glanced back at me yet,” Mateo joked.
Garrett laughed. “Yeah, when these Littles get together, we’re chopped liver.” He turned to set a hip on the wall and meet Mateo’s gaze, his expression more serious. “Any more news about the bomb threat?”
Mateo shook his head. “I guess you heard about the fake cop who came in to Craftastic and harassed Nora.”
Garrett’s brow was furrowed. “I did, and I’m none too pleased. I’ve beefed up security for the entire strip. Two men are patrolling the area at all times, but they can’t stop random citizens and question them. If they did, people would panic and stop coming to the mall area to shop and dine.”
“I agree. It’s infuriating, though. Who would call in a false bomb threat, and now what?” Mateo asked rhetorically.
A man Mateo hadn’t met joined them. His expression was tight, and he ran a hand over his head. “Sorry to eavesdrop. I heard you talking about the bomb threat.” He held out a hand to Mateo. “You’re Mateo Rodriguez, right? The owner of La Havana?”
“Yes.” Mateo shook his hand.
“I’m Trace Barnes, the police captain. The officer Nora has been dealing with, Avery Reynolds, is my Little girl.”
Mateo’s eyes widened. “Oh, I didn’t realize that. I’ve only met Avery in passing.”
Trace nodded toward the gaggle of girls in the daycare. “Avery is in that pileup somewhere,” he joked.
Mateo drew in a deep breath and turned to look, spotting Avery after a few seconds. He wondered how Nora was handling that information. She might be stressed to find that the officer in charge of her case was also Little.
“Don’t worry about Avery. She suspected Nora was Little. She won’t be shocked to see her here, and she can keep a secret,” Trace informed Mateo.
Mateo relaxed his stance and returned his attention to the police captain. “No new information about the bomb threat?”
“No, unfortunately, but we’re working on it. There have been a few leads, but all of them have been dead ends so far.”
“I hope they catch whoever did this soon,” Mateo lamented. “It’s keeping everyone who works on the strip on edge.”