Page 181 of Daddy's Naughty List

A loud horn-burst behind her made Melissa jump. Someone wanted her parking spot. So much for holiday spirit and goodwill. Operating on autopilot, Melissa started the car and carefully backed out. She pulled into a bare spot at the far end of the parking lot to look at the app again.

Rocky Harrison. She memorized his picture. He had light-brown hair that she bet would turn blond if he was out in the sun. His deep brown eyes seemed to look inside her and had crinkles in the skin at the outside corners as if he smiled a lot. He was like an eleven on a scale of hotness. There was no way he matched with her.

Her phone buzzed in her hand, startling her, and she juggled the device.

“Melissa? This is Rocky.”

Somehow, Melissa must have accepted the call. She stared at the screen, too scared to answer.

“Melissa. I must have surprised you. Can you say hello so I’ll know you’re there?” His voice was calm and unruffled by her silence.

“Hi!” she squeaked.

“There you are. Hi, Melissa. I’m very excited to meet you. Are you busy now?”

“I have three more yards to clean today.”

“That sounds interesting. Would you like to get together when you’re finished?” Rocky asked.

“I think there must be a mistake. I’m not a good match for you,” Melissa blurted.

“You’re not? Why?” Rocky asked.

Melissa stared at the phone, trying to figure out how she could tell him he was way out of her league.

“Melissa, do you believe that the PLAYTIME app can help people find a Daddy, Mommy, or a Little?” Rocky asked.

She nodded.

“Use your words, little girl.”

“Sorry. Yes, I think the app can work. It’s matched a bunch of people,” Melissa shared.

“Then we have to trust the process. It’s worth meeting at least once, right?”

“I guess. I don’t want to waste your time.”

“Somehow, I know meeting you is the best use of my schedule possible. When will you finish work? At five?” Rocky asked. “How about if you meet me at Romano’s for dinner?”

“I’ll have to shower first. My job is pretty dirty.”

“I can’t wait to hear about it. I’ll see you at six at Romano’s,” Rocky said firmly.

Melissa hesitated for a minute before blurting, “I’m scared.”

“I know, little girl. That’s why we’re meeting at Romano’s. There will be others around us. Can you be brave?”

“Yes.” Melissa said that confidently and knew at five-fifty her attitude would be totally different.

“Thank you, Melissa.”

She looked at the screen after they’d said their goodbyes. Everything felt so different. Melissa wanted to sit there and look at his picture, but her watch beeped. She should have already been at her next client’s home.

Closing the app, she tucked her phone in her fanny pack and forced herself to concentrate on her work assignments. Tami was counting on her, and Melissa had big plans for the future.

Chapter Two

After hooking the bag of bread and peanut butter over the doorknob, Melissa struggled to fit her key into the top lock with her left hand. She’d always been thankful for the additional locks Tami’s Daddy, Archer, had installed for her. Now, each lock was another obstacle to tackle.

---