Page 2 of Rayna's Daddy

“I think I got it covered from here.” She looked down at my hand, but didn’t pull away. Did the girl have no sense of self-preservation? Despite her evil shoelace, I caught myself manhandling her like she belongs to me.

“No, little girl, I don’t think you do.”

She gasped again, and I had the pleasure of hearing it this time.

I dropped her hand and kneeled on the floor, ignoring the pain in my knee. I touched the back of her leg and lifted it to settle on my thigh. Grabbing the laces and making them into two bunny ears. I tied the two loops in a knot and pulled it tight.

I looked up into her eyes. Her angelic face erased everything else in the world.

We both froze, taking in the moment.

“Rayna.” A distance voice broke he spell.

I patted her toe, guiding her foot back to the ground as my fingers slide up her calf. Goose bumps popped out on her skin.

I stood up.

“There.” I shove my hands in my pants pockets to keep from touching her again. “Now I think you can handle it moving forward without that pesky lace impeding your progress.”

She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

“Rayne.” The voice came from a woman standing between us and the bank of elevators.

“Rayne.” I whispered. Beautiful name. Sweet, and pure, and oh so innocent.

Her eyes remained glued to my lips.

“Sweetie.” I lean in. “I think she’s talking to you.”

“Uhm, what?” Her eyes darted around. “Oh, Natalie.” Rayne waved enthusiastically to her friend. She grabbed her bag and took off.

“Oh.” Her sneakers squeaked against the high glossed floor. “Thank you.”

I tipped my imaginary hat. She grinned and let her friend drag her away.

Disappearing into the bank of elevators.

Josh sidled up beside me.

“You have to find out who she is.” I hit him in the chest.

“It shouldn't be too hard.”

I turned toward him. “What do you mean?”

“I imagine you'll see her again very soon.” The smirk on his face told me he knew something.

“That woman she was talking to, Natalie.” Josh frowned. “Was Natalie Santorini.”

“Santorini?” Shit. “Albert’s daughter.”

“Yep.”

“That would mean, she’s . . .” I didn’t want to say it aloud.

“One of his girls.”

CHAPTER2

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