Page 239 of Santa Daddies
“Sure, thing. Got your keys, darlin’?” Joey asked.
“Oh, yes, they’re on the dresser.” She attempted to move away from Anson, but he placed his hand on the back of her neck and let it rest there. Heavy and possessive. Leaving no doubt about what he wanted.
For her to stay.
She could almost hear those words in her head.
“Anson,” she whispered. “Let me get the keys.”
“Nope. Joey can see the keys and get them himself. Can’t you, Joey?”
“Sure can!” Joey grinned at the two of them without moving.
Anson cleared his throat. “Do you want to get the keys, Joey? And head down to her car?”
“Sorry, sorry,” Joey said hastily. “It’s just that the two of you make a darn cute couple.”
With a whistle, he grabbed her bag and rushed away.
Anson groaned. “Sorry about him.”
“Why?” she asked. She still felt slightly mortified, despite the fact that Joey hadn’t really reacted to her announcement about her mouse.
“Because he just blurts out whatever is on his mind without thinking. He’s always been that way.”
“It must be nice not to worry about what other people think of you.”
Alice felt him move until he was standing in front of her. She snuck a look up at him. Reaching out, he cupped her chin in his hand and kept her face up so she was staring straight at him.
“You don’t have to worry about what you just told Joey,” he told her. “If anyone is going to understand your Little and accept her, it’s him.”
“Is he . . .” Nope. That was rude to ask.
“A Little? Yep. And if he and Lochlan ever get their act together . . . they’ll discover that they are perfect for each other. Although both of them like women too. Maybe a Mommy for Joey or another Little, I don’t know which way they’d lean.”
Wow. Mind blown.
Although she did wonder if that was why she was so drawn to Joey, so relaxed around him.
“You will not be their Little,” he added sternly.
She gave him a shocked look. “I’m not sure why you thought you should say that.”
“You’re not meeting Lochlan,” he added bizarrely.
“I’m not?” She couldn’t help the hint of sadness that infiltrated her voice. Why wouldn’t he want her to meet his . . . friend? Well, she thought this Lochlan was his friend. Sometimes it was hard to tell with the way he talked about him.
“Can’t risk him stealing you away from me. Not before you’ve forgiven me. And put your trust in me.”
He almost sounded like he was talking to himself.
“I have forgiven you. And no one is stealing me away.” She cleared her throat. “Not saying that you and I are . . . that I’m ready to be . . . anything.”
“I know, baby. You might have forgiven me but that doesn’t mean you trust me. And that’s on me. I’ll work on that. All I need is a chance. I know I have no right to ask this, considering I pushed you into running. But please don’t push me away or run. If you need to leave, tell me first.”
“So you can kidnap me and lock me in your basement?” She attempted to joke.
“Of course not!” he said in mock-horror. “I would never put my baby in a basement.”
