Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Carri wondered if she should push the boxes out of the way to crawl under her table or run far and fast as first Lottie, and then Tilly, began quizzing Roker. Personal, invasive, embarrassing questions.
What shocked her most was that Rooker did not appear offended by them. Instead, he answered each question with a small smile on his face. He almost appeared amused by her sisters.
After each woman asked a half-dozen questions, they shared a look. Carri could almost hear them talking via their sister bond about whether or not to allow Rooker into their tight-knit circle. They then turned to face her.
Tilly spoke first. “He seems like a good guy. I approve.”
Then Lottie said, “You can date him, but I’ll be doing a background check on him Monday to make sure he’s not hiding anything.”
Carri dropped her head into her hands, groaning as her cheeks burned even brighter. She was afraid to look at Rooker. At least he had not disappeared when Lottie boldly asked about his past sexual exploits—as a Daddy and otherwise —as she put it.
He shared that he had been married for a year and a half shortly after graduating from medical school.
His wife had not been Little and had left him when he tried to Daddy her through a bout of the flu.
Since then, his focus had been on his work except for two long-term, yet somewhat-casual relationships with Little girls.
His last relationship had ended more than three years before by mutual agreement and with no ill will between them.
Could Rooker St. Clair be the faceless man who filled her dreams nearly every night and who she wished for each dawn? A real Daddy-man, not just a man pretending to be a Daddy Dom until he got bored with her or decided she was too much trouble to deal with.
Even though she had known him for less than a day, she liked him. She liked him a lot. She was also afraid that if he disappeared after Sunday afternoon, her heart might shatter, and she would give up on men forever.
Carri would have crawled under her table to hide from her sisters, except there was no room under there with all the boxes tucked away.
Taking a deep breath, she ordered herself to be brave as she dropped her hands and looked at Rooker.
He did not look offended. He did not look angry.
He looked more amused than put upon by her sisters.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, her face burning with embarrassment.
He smiled at her as he gently brushed a strand of hair out of her face. “I’m not. I’m glad you have sisters who care enough about you to put me through such an inquisition. I just hope my answers didn’t scare you off.”
“They didn’t,” she assured him quickly.
“So, would you be interested in seeing me after the convention, being my Little girl, and letting me Daddy you?”
Carri blinked and nodded. “Uh-huh.”
“Proper words, please, Carri.”
“Yes, Daddy. I’d be interested in all that,” she said softly.
Rooker’s smile had her smiling in return. When he began to lean in, she met him halfway and pressed her lips to his. Her entire lower body tightened up and her pussy dampened as the kiss deepened.
A throat clearing had Rooker breaking the kiss. They were both breathing hard, but Carri could not look away from Rooker’s beautiful dark gaze.
“Do I need to throw a bucket of ice water on you two?” Lottie asked, though her tone was more teasing than Carri had ever heard it before.
Rooker chuckled as he stood. “I don’t think so. Come on, little artist, let’s go visit the restrooms before the crowds return.”
Carri nodded as she took the hand he offered.
She did not bother to look at her sisters because for the first time in her life, she did not care what they thought.
She would normally look for their acceptance or approval in anything she did.
The only other time she had done her own thing without consulting one of them was when she took the crochet class that had started her on the crazy, crafty journey that brought her here.
“You okay?” Rooker asked as they approached the restrooms.
“I’m fine,” she answered automatically, even though she was certain they both knew it was a lie.
Rooker released her hand and swatted her ass. Hard.
Carrie squealed and danced sideways, her hands flying back to protect her ass. “Owwie. Daddy, you have a hard hand.”
“Don’t lie to me,” he said in a stern voice. “Never lie to Daddy.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“If you keep lying, you’ll find yourself over my lap with your bare butt getting roasted and I won’t care who’s looking. Understand?”
Carrie nodded as she blinked back tears. “Yes, Daddy. I understand.”
“Now, let’s try this again. How do you really feel about your sisters questioning me like that?”
Carrie had to think a moment before she answered. “Embarrassed, but also relieved.”
“Oh? Why relieved?”
Carrie nodded. “Because they asked questions I would be too chicken to ask. I’m actually a big scaredy cat when it comes to confronting people or protecting myself. Which might be why I keep getting involved with the wrong kinds of men.”
“What are the wrong kinds of men?”
Rooker’s question showed her that he was interested, which had her taking a deep breath. Sharing her past made her feel vulnerable in a way she was not sure was good. It also made her feel stupid for admitting her past mistakes.
“One lied about being a Daddy. He just wanted to get in my panties. When I needed him most, he disappeared without a call or a text or anything. Another lied about being single when he was living with one woman and engaged to another. Neither of those women knew about the other, which I found shocking when I found out about both of them. At least I only went out with him twice before Lottie did a background check and found out the truth.”
Carri took a deep breath and blinked several times to keep her tears hidden. Even though those men were in the past, the knowledge that they’d lied and used her still hurt. Or maybe it was just that she was so starved for a Daddy of her own that she only saw what she wanted.
Would the same thing happen with Rooker? Would he grow tired of her, especially her needy Little side?
She could only hope and trust that wouldn’t be the case, but both of those things were hard to do.
She sucked a quick breath when he stepped in front of her and pulled her in to lean against his chest as he wrapped his thick, muscular arms around her back.
“I’m sorry those men hurt you, Carri. I hope you will find it in your heart to put the past behind you and move into the future. Preferably with me by your side.”
Carri rested her head against the front of his shoulder and breathed in his delicious scent before taking a chance. “I’d like to try, Daddy.”
“Thank you, sweet girl,” Rooker said, giving her a squeeze before releasing her and stepping back. “Go use the bathroom and come right back here when you’re finished and I’ll walk you back to your table. Okay?”
Carri nodded her agreement. The hug and directions spoke directly to her Little side and made her want to do anything she could to make Rooker smile. “Yes, Daddy. Right here.”
She looked at her feet and noted the square she was standing on was two squares from the wall and three squares from the entrance to the restroom.
She entered and was grateful the room was empty. After using the toilet, she quickly washed and dried her hands, then looked in the mirror. Her eyes were shining with the happiness she felt, and she only hoped it continued for a long, long time to come.
With a happy giggle, Carri skipped out of the large restroom, ending with a hop into the same square. Then she began to hop and turn in circles, making sure not to leave the square as she hop-hop-hopped.
“What are you doing?” Rooker asked as he approached.
“Hopping out some energy,” she answered as she continued to hop.
“Okay, well, how about we hop back to your table before your sisters come looking for you?”
Rooker held out a hand, which she took. When he began to walk, she changed from hopping to skipping.
“Why are you skipping?” he asked, his voice sounding amused, but curious.
“It makes me happy.”
She tried to keep the duh out of her voice, but from the look he sent her, she knew he’d heard it.
Rooker wondered if his staff would have him committed if he started hopping and skipping around the store during the day.
Nah, they would probably join in, or start a conga line, or some other crazy dance.
That was one of the reasons he liked hiring Littles and Middles to work in his store.
Not only could they identify with the customer base, they were the most nonjudgmental people he knew.
After delivering Carri back to her booth, he gave her a quick kiss on the forehead. “I’ll be back at six and we’ll go to dinner. Don’t eat too many sweets.”
“Yes, Daddy,” she whispered as she grinned up at him.
The afternoon dragged on forever, even though he was busy talking to Daddies and Mommies about Little care, and handing out fliers for the store.
He left the selling to Laurie, which worked out.
By the end of the day, his feet were tired, and he was ready to collect his Little girl and go home for an evening on the couch.
“See you tomorrow, Laurie,” he said over his shoulder as he headed out just after the last customers walked away from the table.
“Have a good evening,” she called after him.
Crossing the convention room and approaching Carri’s booth, he slowed at the sight of the three sisters holding an intense conversation.
Carri was shaking her head and looking defensive. While he wanted to step in to stop the arguing, Rooker had a feeling she needed to stand up to her sisters and would not appreciate his interference. He stopped two booths away and waited for a moment to step in.
Finally, Carri yelled, “Enough. I’m old enough to make my own decisions, and I will be with Rooker, just like I was last night. I’ll see you back here in the morning.”
With that, she turned and hurried away. Her sisters looked stunned as they stared after her.
Rooker approached and pulled two business cards from his pocket. “She is safe with me. Here’s my cell number and information, just in case.”
“If you hurt her, you’ll have us to deal with,” Lottie said, taking both cards before handing one to Tilly.
“That’s fine. I don’t plan on hurting her. I’m hoping to love her for the rest of our lives.”
With that bombshell dropped, Rooker walked away without waiting for their response. Instead, he hurried after the woman who already owned a large part of his heart. She had left the room, but when he stepped into the hallway, he did not see her in the thinning crowd.
Where could she have gone?
Pulling out his phone, he called her cell, hoping she had it with her and that she would answer. If not, they would be having a long discussion about safety and communication, once he caught up to her.