Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44664 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44664 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
“Umm…” Gemma hesitated before asking, “Why do you want to spend time with me?”
“Because I’m a Daddy who’s been looking for my Little for a long time. I think I may have just found her,” Anton said.
She searched his face, looking for some warning sign. There wasn’t one. He waited patiently for her to make up her mind. “I’ll come to the party, but I’ll drive myself after work. Could you give me the address?”
“I can. Tell me your number, and I’ll text it to you.”
Gemma loved that he texted her his name and the address so she could get everything organized in her phone. As he picked up his packages, a customer walked into the store. She didn’t know if she was happy or disappointed that she had to excuse herself to hurry away.
A quiet, “Bye, Buzzy. I’ll look forward to meeting you soon” made her smile as she walked toward the new arrival. Damn, if he wasn’t perfect.
Chapter Two
“This is Tracy’s house. She’s always so nice. It’s okay you let her brother invite you to the party,” Gemma reminded herself after putting her car in park at the curb of a well-maintained house in a quiet neighborhood. There were a few cars there, but not a huge crowd.
Forcing herself out of the car, Gemma smoothed down her cute sundress, tucked an errant lock of hair behind her ear, and headed toward the sidewalk. She spotted a white sign on the door as she got close.
Gemma,
Come to the backyard. I’m so glad you’re here!
Tracy
Gathering her courage again and the small gift she’d brought, Gemma walked through the grass to the back gate. The sound of happy conversation and children’s laughter reached her ears. She figured out the latch on the gate and stepped into the backyard.
“Gemma.” Anton walked toward her from a short distance. “I was trying to watch for you, but there’s a slight problem we’re dealing with.” He gestured to the dachshund that Tracy held pinned to the ground as the kids unwound a length of ribbon from around his short legs.
“Speedy was too fast for the ribbon,” he explained.
“Oh, my.”
“You should have seen us chasing him around the yard. You did well to arrive after the chaos,” Anton congratulated before holding out his hand for hers. When she placed her palm against his, he lifted it to press a kiss on her smooth skin.
“No ouchies?” he whispered.
“All better, now,” she answered and realized she was giving him more things to bolster his idea that she was Little.
“Gemma! Thank you for coming to help me celebrate,” Tracy called.
Anton moved to the side to allow her to see Tracy. “Thank you for the invitation. Happy birthday. Have you opened your presents yet? I have a little one here for you.”
“You didn’t need to bring anything. I’m just glad you’re here,” Tracy said, pulling the last of the ribbon from around the dog.
She looked at her kids and said, “Can you pick all this up for me so he doesn’t eat it? That would be bad for him. I’ll promise you both the biggest cupcakes.”
“The ones with the most frosting piled on top?” her son asked, already snagging ribbon from the grass.
“You bet. The biggest reindeer are yours.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
Tracy got up and walked over to hug Gemma. She accepted the gift that Gemma brought with a smile. “Thanks for coming. I can’t wait to open this. Come sit down. Anton can introduce you to everyone while I get you some lemonade.”
“That sounds delicious,” Gemma said with a smile.
Anton took her hand and tugged her over to the grouping of chairs on the deck. “It’s been so warm this winter, we decided to enjoy the fresh air while we could. Tracy’s husband fired up the firepit for us.”
“It is hard to believe this is December already,” Gemma said, smiling at the people ahead. “Hi!”
“Hi! You must be Gemma, the owner of the shop my wife’s closet has come from. I’m Burt, Tracy’s husband. Our kids, Cindy and Dirk. This is Tracy’s mom and dad, Earl and Heidi.”
“Nice to meet you all. Sorry about the clothes, Burt,” Gemma apologized.
“No way. She’s happy wearing them and always looks great. Of course, I think she looks good in anything,” Burt confessed.
“Oh, you! You’d have me dressed in jeans and a seventies rock band T-shirt to go to a funeral,” Tracy scoffed as she walked out with a glass of lemonade. “Sit down, you two.”
“A husband should always think you look good,” Gemma said approvingly as she settled into the comfortably padded chair with a sigh of delight. “The shop was busy today. I was worried about getting out at seven, but all the traffic died out at about a quarter to the hour.”
The group chatted easily for a while before Tracy’s son bounded to her side. “Mom? Can you open your presents? I want to see what you think about my gift,” he asked.