Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Hope
I practically floated all the way back to my room.
My cheeks hurt from smiling, and I adored wearing my face paint like a badge of honor. I was even preening like a loon every time I caught the glitter from the edge of my vision when it caught in the lights.
Every time I thought about Perry declaring me magical, or the quiet acceptance in Tyrell’s eyes when I’d laughed with them, something warm and fizzy bubbled up inside my chest. I’d totally gone into that room braced to feel awkward and out of place.
Instead, I’d left with paint and a huge smile on my face, and the uncomfortable, yet undeniable realization that maybe there really was a part of me that liked being seen that way.
That there was a Little inside me, just waiting for me to let her out.
I kicked off my shoes, flopped back onto the bed, and hugged my stuffed bear to my chest with a ridiculous grin, thinking of how Tyrell had taken me to one side after the judging—sadly, he’d not won—and asked me if I would be interested in seeing them again.
Then my phone buzzed.
I snatched it up before I could pretend I wasn’t waiting for it.
But a quick look at the screen told me it wasn’t from the couple I’d been hoping it was from. Instead it was the other guy I’d been waiting to hear from. Was this really my life?
Troy:
I had a great time last night. Are you free for drinks later?
My stomach flipped so hard I had to sit up. Excitement hit first, bright and breathless. Then confusion and guilt slid in right behind it.
Just this morning I was eagerly awaiting a message from him, and now, only half a day later I was desperate to hear from someone else. Two someones. Not to mention, with my most recent revelation about possibly being more Little than submissive, I wasn’t sure if Troy was who I needed to be seeing.
Troy was—in my opinion—the perfect Dom for the girl I’d thought I was when I’d come here just a few short days ago. A very good Dom. But not a Daddy.
And I was suddenly a girl with glitter on my face, and butterflies in my tummy when I thought about a dinosaur-crazy Little boy and his sexy Daddy.
I stared at his message, my heart tugging me in two different directions, wondering how on earth I’d managed to get so lucky... and so hopelessly tangled... in less than three days.
I kept staring at my phone, worrying my bottom lip.
It was just drinks, right? I could tell him all about my experience today and see how he reacted? It would be very rude and inconsiderate of me to dismiss him so quickly. Right?
I blew out a breath and typed out a message before I could chicken out.
Hope:
Drinks sounds lovely. There’s the dinner mixer later, but we could meet for drinks before that?
The three little dots popped up almost instantly, as if he had been waiting for my response.
Troy:
Perfect. Meet you at five?
His answer made something soft and happy curl in my chest. I sent my confirmation, set my phone down, then immediately picked it up again to reread the exchange like a complete idiot.
By the time four-thirty rolled around I’d—very reluctantly—washed off my face paint and changed outfits twice.
I finally settled on a soft blue dress that made me feel grown-up and pretty without looking like I was trying too hard.
I left my hair down, dabbed a little gloss on my lips, and stared at myself in the mirror, turning my head from side to side.
“You’re just getting drinks,” I told my reflection sternly. “Not proposing marriage. Calm the heck down.”
I slipped my shoes on and headed down the hall before I could talk myself into canceling.
The Ranch felt different in the evening, quieter and golden with lamplight, voices drifting from the cafeteria and courtyard.
My stomach fluttered with nerves and excitement as I rounded the corner toward the same room where the speed dating event had taken place.
And then I walked straight into Master Lee.
Literally.
I bounced off his chest with a tiny squeak, hands flying up to steady myself. His hands closed gently around my elbows before I could topple over.
“Hope?” he said, surprise blooming into a huge smile that lit up his whole face.
My heart did a silly somersault at that handsome smile. “Master Lee! Hi!”
We both laughed at the same time, and suddenly I was grinning like an idiot again. He looked exactly the same as I remembered from the art class. Warm eyes, with slight crinkles on the side that showed just how often he smiles, and that soft kindness that made me feel safe and shy all at once.
“I’ve been wondering where you disappeared to,” he said. “I thought maybe you’d run away from Rawhide after our art class together.”
I snorted. “I get I was all over the place, but it wasn’t that bad. I just got... a bit shuffled around on where I wanted to be.”
We stood there a moment longer than necessary, smiling at each other as if we were the only two people in the hallway. My chest felt too tight, too full, because seeing him again made me just as happy as Master Troy’s text had.
And that did absolutely nothing to clear up the mess in my head and heart.
“So, where are you headed? Can I buy you a cup of coffee?” Master Lee asked, indicating the door I was just heading into.
Oh.
Well. I suppose I could dream about having all the sexy men in the world, but that didn’t mean I actually could have them all.
“Um,” I said, my voice slightly wobbly. “I’m actually on my way to meet someone for drinks now.”
Something flickered across his face, but it smoothed out so quickly I almost thought I’d imagined it.
“Ah,” he said gently, releasing my elbows but not stepping away. “A lucky someone, for sure.”
My cheeks warmed. “You’re sweet, thank you.”
His smile softened at that, less teasing now and more thoughtful. “Not sweet, truthful. Either way, I’m sure your drinks will go swimmingly. Rawhide has a way of bringing interesting people together in the most fascinating ways. I’ve seen it time and time again.”
I laughed, relieved he wasn’t making it awkward. “You must have some stories to tell.”
He hesitated then, just for a second, as if he were deciding something. “Would it be terribly forward of me to say I’d still like that coffee? Another time, obviously. Then I can tell you some of those stories.”
My heart did that fluttery, traitorous thing again.
“I enjoyed our class,” he continued, voice warm but steady. “And our conversation. I’d hate to think I missed my chance because I wasn’t willing to put myself out there.”
Oh my gosh, this man was amazing. Almost too amazing.
“I’d like that,” I said before I could change my mind. “Coffee would be nice.”
His shoulders eased and his smile brightened back into something openly pleased. “Then perhaps I can text you? If that’s alright.”
“Yes,” I answered a little too quickly, then laughed at myself. “Yes, that would be perfect.”
We exchanged numbers, fingers brushing as he handed my phone back. It was the smallest touch, but it sent a ripple up my arm all the same.
“Well,” he said, stepping back at last, giving me space I didn’t really want. “I won’t keep you from your mystery drink companion. But I do hope I see you again soon, Hope.”
“I hope so, too,” I admitted.
And as I walked into the room a moment later, heart pounding for entirely new reasons, I couldn’t tell if I was excited about Master Troy... or reeling from the fact that somehow, impossibly, I was excited about all of them.