Page 3 of Daddy's Girl

“Let her swim,” says Dallas.

Dallas is a little bit bossy. Mommy doesn’t argue with him and he winks at me. So I laugh and jump up and go over to the pool.

I swim for a while. Mommy goes inside to talk on the phone with one of her clients. I get out of the pool and walk over to where Dallas is watching me.

His eyes are doing that tiger thing again. Maybe it’s because I’m all wet he doesn’t want me dripping on the carpet.

“Layla?” he says, with that husky voice.

“Yes?”

“Your mother and I have been talking. She said sometimes you go stay with your aunt when she goes on business trips.”

“I hate staying there.”

“There’s no reason you can’t stay here with me if you’d like to. I work from home and it’s no trouble. It’s up to you.”

“I do! I want to stay with you, Dallas. That would so fun.”

“It’s decided, then.”

I hear Mommy calling me. Dallas smiles at me as I walk away.

“Layla,” Mommy says, “My trip has been moved forward and I have to leave tomorrow. Are you sure you’re okay to stay here with Dallas while I’m gone? I mean, you don’t even know him that well.”

“It’s fine, Mommy. I like Dallas. I’ll stay out of his way, I promise.”

“Let’s take you shopping for a few new things when I get back, okay? You really are outgrowing that bathing suit.”

“Okay, Mommy.”

I give Mommy a kiss because she’s leaving early in the morning. Then I go upstairs and spend some time unpacking my things. I put on a baby doll nightie and leave my covers off. It’s a hot night.

I turn out my lights but I can’t sleep. I can hear the ocean waves from my bed. I love this place.

Much later, I hear a soft knock on the door.

It opens and I’m a little surprised to see Dallas in here. He’s so big he takes up the whole doorway, but he comes in and closes the door behind him.

He sits down on the side of my bed. Even though it’s dark in the room, his eyes glow blue. “Just wanted to check and make sure you were comfortable.”

“I am. This bed is so big.”

“I’m glad you’re here, Layla. You can have anything you want, okay, sweetheart? All you need to do is ask.”

“You’re so nice, Dallas.”

“Call me Daddy if you want to, honey. Now that you’ll be living here.”

This makes me giggle again. I’ve never had a Daddy. Mine left when I was a baby. “Okay, Daddy.”

“How was your birthday last Saturday?”

“I had a few friends around and we swam in the pool. It was okay.”

“Maybe you could have some of your friends come over here sometime. We could make it a real party.”

“Really? That would be so awesome!”

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