Page 80 of Saving Sophia

As we dug through a rack of colorful, over-the-top outfits, my phone pinged again.

I have a surprise for you tonight

Callie led me to an animal ear headband display and looked at me, hand cupping her chin, lips poked out, finger tapping her cheek in contemplation. She picked up a pair of mouse ears, then put them back when I wrinkled my nose.

“You’re right. You’re not a mouse.” She gasped, grabbing a headband with a unicorn’s multicolored horn. “Oh my god! Griff, this would be perfect for you.” She waved it at the dour man, and we both broke into giggles when he stuck out his thumb and pointed it down at the ground.

She returned her attention to me. “Maybe …” She carefully set a pair of black kitten ears on my head and stood back to consider her work.

“Like all areas of life,” she said, resting her hand on my shoulder as if she were imparting great wisdom. “You have to find your style, then dress for what you want.”

I looked around the store, the rainbow of colors beckoning to me. Something on the far wall caught my eye. I looked down at my phone and grinned.

I have a surprise for you too.

“What about those?” I pointed to the display in the shoe section.

Callie’s eyes lit up. “Excellent idea. Build the concept from the ground up. The right pair of shoes can change your life.”

“So says Cinderella,” I laughed, ready for that change.

* * *

ETHAN

It had been a long day, and I was more than ready to see my sweet little Sophie and focus on her surprise. Everything was set. I only needed her.

I knocked on Callie’s cabin door, noting the shadows stretching out as the sun dimmed and dusk fell. I needed to make sure Rook installed better lighting out here. I knocked again, impatient to get my hands on my girl. Feminine giggles bubbled out from inside. She said she had a surprise for me, so they were clearly up to something. That strange, satisfying happiness settled into my chest, making a goofy grin spread across my face. I tried to suppress it. I’d need to muster up some stern Daddy energy if they didn’t open up quick.

Before I could knock again, Callie threw open the door, her heavily made-up eyes twinkling and her long, blond hair bouncing. “Come in, Mister Ethan, come in.”

She did a dramatic curtsy and waved me inside. My mouth ticked up, fighting me on suppressing that smile. What were they up to?

“Mister Ethan? What’s going on in here?” I tried and failed to sound gruff, happy to play along. “You two haven’t been getting into trouble, I hope?”

“Us? No way,” Callie batted her eyes at me, and I rolled mine at her. She giggled.

“I assume all the bats are gone?” I craned my head around, looking for Sophia.

Callie shuddered. “I made Rook check three times.” She tugged at her hair absently, then bounced on her toes in excitement. “Come on down, Soap! Daddy’s here!” she yelled up to the bedroom loft.

Daddy’s here?

She must have confided in Callie about us. And, good friend that she was, Callie embraced it, cooking up whatever this game was. I wanted to hug her for being a safe person Sophia could talk to. If I could ever do something to repay her, it was a done deal.

I looked up the stairs—and stopped breathing.

Dainty, dark blue, sparkly shoes, complete with buckles and bows, led up to white-and-blue striped knee socks outlining her fantastic legs, past the peek of her bare thighs and directly to the blue plaid mini skirt that curved around her hips.

I dragged my hand across my mouth and down my chin, barely able to take it in.

She came down the next few steps, and I saw the short blue top that stopped right below her breasts, so her soft little belly showed as she moved. The fuzzy top had a rounded neckline, demure white collar-flaps, and two pearly round buttons. Perfect. Sweet and sexy.

Mine.

Every primitive instinct in my brain growled it. Her image burned into my memory and took my breath, shooting a high through my veins I’d never experienced before.

She did this. For me.

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