Page 5 of Magic and Mayhem

“I think that’s a very interesting question.” The human deputy was pretending to be very serious, but he was adorable, and I could see why Lorne didn’t mind getting almost arrested over the silly watches. “But I think it’s going to depend on what kind of not grown-up you mean. Are we talking about theliking anime and eating a lot of junk foodkind of non-grown-up or are we talking about cartoons and binkies and cuddles?”

Oh, he was so smart…and a Daddy.

Ha, dibs on the human Daddy.

“That one.” I tried to remember not to wiggle because it drove some people crazy, but it was hard. “The second one. Definitely the second one.”

He chuckled, shaking his head like I was the cutest dragon he’d ever seen. “I had a feeling you were going to say that. What do you think about grown-ups who are a bit too grown-up sometimes?”

“I think they’d be a Daddy.” Oh, I’d found one. “I’m a little. I’m nottootoo little but kind of little, and I like toys and playing and cuddles and I’m a really good grown-up when I have to be. I have a real job and everything.”

The human deputy got a very Daddy frown on his face. “Who said you weren’t a good grown-up? It’s obvious you do amazing work.”

Aww.

Yes, I was definitely keeping him.

“A Dom I dated a few months ago. He wasn’t a Daddy but he said he didn’t mind I was little. I thought that meant he could learn to be a Daddy, but I think that just meant he thought I could learn to be boring.” Well, not a little, at the very least.

“Boring is overrated.” The Daddy who was definitely going to bemyDaddy got a very curious look on his face but it vanished in a flash. “Being interesting is much better…and being little is the best of all.”

Oh yes.

“And being a little who gets to play with toys all day is the bestest of the best.” My silliness made him laugh and he stepped closer, squeezing my hand and helping me to remember that I was still holding his.

Oops.

But since he didn’t seem to mind, I decided to just keep it and not worry about apologizing for making him stuck.

“The bestest of the best.” He looked around the workroom again and looked very impressed. “Amazing.”

He liked my toys.

“I like making them pretty and useful again.” People should take care of their toys, but eventually they all got old. “And it’s a real job.”

I wanted to make sure Daddy understood I was doing a good job.

“I can see your hard work.” He squeezed my hand again and looked like he wanted to kiss my cheek, but he was a good Daddy and waited. “You’re obviously very smart and know a lot about your career. I knew that just from how careful you were being about the paint on the ambulance.”

He had?

Then why had Clinton been so confused about me being a real adult and having a real career?

“Thank you.” No kissing yet. No kissing yet.

I didn’t even know his name.

He’d said he was Deputy something, but I could call him Daddy, so that probably didn’t matter.

Alick would say it worked…so would Lorne…but Boyd…no, we wouldn’t ask him.

“You’re welcome.” The Daddy’s fingers caressed mine as he smiled. “Why don’t you tell me more about your toys?”

Oh, he wanted to know about my toys?

“Well, right now I’m working on the ambulance and that blue truck over there. It was in an attic for years and the temperature did a number on it.” Shaking my head, I pointed to another shelf. “And I found those teddy bears online. I’m working on those to sell myself. My sewing skills need some work, though.”

I couldn’t help pouting as I looked at the cute patchwork teddy bears.

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