Page 15 of Tilly's Tutus
He frowned at her before silencing the rumbling engine and climbing out of the driver’s seat.
“Hey, cutie. Looking for someone to share that pizza with?” he asked as he rounded the front of the vehicle a moment later.
“Hi, Papa,” she said as she stood up.
When she went to try and pick up everything she’d been carrying around the building with her, he stopped her.
“But I can do it,” she protested.
“You carry the pizza,” Carter said as he picked up her weekend bag and the bag holding the drinks and other dinner supplies.
Tilly shrugged and picked up the pizza box. She followed him to the truck and waited while he stowed the bags he carried in the back seat before opening the door and helping her into the passenger’s seat. He didn’t stop until her seatbelt was fastened around her. She smiled when he leaned in and brushed a kiss onher lips before closing the door and walking around the front of the truck.
He started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot before asking, “So, what happened to your sisters? I thought you were spending the evening together.”
Tilly sighed and leaned her head back against the headrest before turning to look at the handsome man. “I thought we were, too. But Lottie left to go on a date and then when we were playing on the swings, Carri hurt herself and Rooker took her to an urgent care clinic to see how bad she’s hurt. They gave me the pizza and I was going to go to the hotel and watch movies and eat, but when I got to the hotel room, Lottie and her date were there and I didn’t want to interrupt them.”
“Thank you,” Carter said simply after her rambling explanation.
“For what?”
He glanced over at her long enough to smile and wink before returning his attention to the road. “For sharing your pizza and evening with me. Does that bag you brought have a change clothes for tomorrow?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Good. That means we can have our little Tilly and Papa night tonight.”
Tilly sat back and thought about what he was offering her. “Yes, I guess we can. Unless you’d rather have a Big Tilly and Carter night?” She honestly wasn’t sure which she would prefer.
“Is that what you want?” Carter asked as he pulled into a driveway.
Tilly looked around as he parked in front of a small one-story log-cabin-style house. The yard around it was full of trees, which gave it an isolated feeling even though there were several other houses in sight.
“Tilly? Answer me please,” Carter said when she didn’t immediately respond.
She shrugged as she looked into his eyes and saw compassion in them. “I don’t know. I have a hard time making decisions, which is why I had tutus in a dozen colors and styles this morning.”
Carter nodded, looking thoughtful. “I understand. Most Little girls have a hard time making decisions. How about we just play it by ear for now? Or would you rather Papa just take over and make all the decisions?”
Tilly felt the knot in her tummy release slightly as she nodded. “That one. You take over. Please?”
“All right. I can do that. Now wait there and Papa will come and get you out.”
“Yes, Sir,” Tilly answered automatically. “Thank you.”
She waited for Carter to come around the front of the truck and get her bags out of the back before he opened her door. She fumbled to release the seatbelt, and did not fight him when he brushed her hands out of the way to release it himself.
He lifted her down and, after closing the door, wrapped his arm around her shoulders, directing her toward the porch that ran the length of the cabin. Two steps up and four steps across, then he unlocked the front door and guided her inside.
Carter wasn’t sure if he should be embarrassed or not as Tilly walked in and began to look around. He’d bought the house and bit of land that came with it after the divorce, needing a place where he was king, and did not have to rely on landlords to make decisions, or maintenance men to find time in their scheduleto come fix a problem. Nowadays it was all up to him. At least his ex-wife had moved on and married again quickly after their divorce had been finalized.
He really didn’t need to be embarrassed. It was a decent-sized log cabin with three bedrooms, one bathroom, and a great room that encompassed the living room, dining area and kitchen on the main floor. There was a hidden circular staircase that led up to a loft area that overlooked the great room. He had not done anything up there, thinking he would make it into playroom for his Little girl, if he ever found her.
He watched as Tilly walked around the great room, peeking at the bookshelves he’d built into the wall, and the long sectional couch that faced the fireplace with the television hanging on the wall above it.
She moved on to the back corner where the too-big dining table sat in the corner with three chairs pushed under it. Wandering through the kitchen, she set the pizza on the island with two stools tucked under one side. He usually sat there and ate instead of sitting in the dining area. She finally returned to where he remained by the front door.
“This place is amazing, Papa,” she said softly, walking up and wrapping her arms around his middle. “Thank you for sharing it with me.”
