Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Beau was so nervous it was ridiculous.
“I am a grown man, a self-made millionaire. I have fifteen million followers across four social media platforms. I am very handsome,” he chanted to himself as he put mousse in his curls.
He should not be this nervous, but every time the sweet redhead crossed his mind, it felt like bears were doing the macarena in his belly.
Studying his reflection, he decided he looked about as good as he was going to.
Straightening his button up, he fixed one wayward curl and grabbed the soft blanket he’d gotten for Palmer at the Ranch giftshop.
It wasn’t dark out yet, but he took the tunnels anyway, wanting to learn his way around the Ranch.
Finding the golf carts Sam told him about, he climbed in and navigated his way to Derek and Sadie’s home.
After parking the cart, he walked up the path to the Big House.
It was absolutely beautiful, much like everything at Rawhide Ranch.
It was two stories with a huge porch and beautiful landscaping work.
Beau wondered if Sadie had worked with Lucas Morrow to create the beautiful flower displays at the foot of the house.
They had been made to look free and wild, but surely that had taken a lot of time to make them so beautiful.
Daisies and wildflowers spilled out of garden beds on either side and Beau felt like the mix of flowers was a great representation of all the different people on the Ranch.
None of them looked alike, but somehow they all fit together.
Climbing the stairs, he took a deep breath. “It’s just dinner, Beau,” he reminded himself.
Before he could knock, Derek opened the door for him wearing a “Kiss the cook” apron.
Beau laughed. “Hopefully, I can be excused from kissing you.”
Running his hand across the bright red apron, Derek chuckled. “Sadie made this for me in Home Economics. It’s my favorite.”
Damn it, Beau couldn’t wait to wear silly things his future Little one made him. He knew that Little one might not be Palmer, but he was happy to give her what he could.
“Girls, Master Beau is here,” Derek called from the stairs.
Loud, thunderous footfalls, way too loud to be from just two Little girls, filled the stairwell.
“Walking feet, please,” Derek reminded them.
Beau watched as the gaggle of Little girls came down the stairs two by two. He searched the quartet for his favorite and smiled when he saw her red space buns. She hesitated at the bottom of the stairs, but a gentle push from another Little he thought may be named Wren sent her in his direction.
“Hi, darlin’,” he said, bending down so he didn’t seem so imposing.
“Hello, Master Beau,” she said, digging the toe of her shoe into the hardwood.
The action was so innocent it pulled at his heart. He held out the pink blanket with dancing ballerinas on it.
She gasped and hesitantly reached out, touching the blanket. “For me?” she asked, looking unsure.
“It is. I thought a bouquet of flowers might be too Big for you.”
Her face flushed and her eyes sparkled as she took the blanket from him, rubbing her face on it. “Thank you, Master Beau.”
“Every Little girl deserves something soft and special, just for them,” he said, booping her nose. A happy sigh reminded him they weren’t alone. “You’re welcome, little one,” he said, standing from his crouched position.
“Wren. Ivy. Your Daddies are here,” Derek said.
“Awww,” Wren whined, stomping to the door. “I wanted to see Palmer and Master Beau fall in love!”
The sound of a hand smacking a naughty bottom filled the room. “How about you try again,” Travis, Wren’s Daddy, said.
“Thank you for letting us come over and do our homework, Master Derek,” Wren said, sheepishly.
“Thank you, Master Derek,” Ivy echoed as her Daddy helped her with her backpack.
“Suddenly the Big House is the place to be,” Derek said dryly.
“We wanna see the magic happen.” Sadie skipped over to Beau. “My Daddy said you’re gonna start working here!”
“Sadie, at least show our guests into the kitchen before you start harassing them, angel.”
“Yes, Sir!” Sadie saluted before grabbing Palmer and dragging her to the kitchen. “Follow us, Master Beau! It’s taco night.”
Beau couldn’t remember the last time he’d laughed this hard. Sadie was an absolute handful and watching Palmer’s eyes widen at her new friend being naughty was adorable. He imagined Palmer didn’t have a naughty bone in her body.
“Do you want some more salsa, Palmer?” Derek asked, holding out the bowl to her.
“No, thank you, Sir.”
Beau frowned. He wondered if she always ate this light or if she was just extra nervous.
“You didn’t eat very much. Maybe you need a bottle,” Sadie said.
Palmer flushed beet red and had Beau not been so sympathetic, he would have found the whole situation to be amusing. He certainly had the bubbly brunette’s seal of approval.
“Sadie,” Derek warned.
Beau would admit that Daddy Dom had the stern look down. His eyebrow almost seemed anchored in place.
“Sorry, Daddy,” Sadie answered.
“Do we meddle in our friends' business?” Derek asked her.
“No, Sir.”
“I’m sorry, Palmer. I’m sorry, Master Beau.”
“We accept your apology, right, Palmer?” Beau asked.
“Yes, we do,” Palmer said, nodding.
Bless her. Beau imagined she’d never held a grudge in her life.
“I do hope that I will be Palmer’s Daddy one day.
She’s precious and I would be so lucky if she were my Little girl, but good dynamics can’t be rushed and I want to take my time to make sure I can give her everything she needs,” Beau said. “Even if what she needs isn’t me.”
Sadie gave a happy sigh and Palmer pinkened under his words.
He chuckled at her before reaching over and grabbing the leg of her chair and sliding her towards him a bit.
“No pressure, honey. We have all of the time in the world. I will be happy to be whatever you need, a mentor, a friend, and maybe even your Big.”
Palmer wound her hands tightly together. “I’m not sure what I need.”
“Then we will find out together, yeah?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“I would like to see you put a little more food in your belly, though, so right now I am going to help you eat.” He spooned up some of the rice and lifted it to her mouth.
Palmer’s eyes grew wide and she quickly glanced over to Sadie. Beau wasn’t upset by her nerves, though, this was all new to her.
Bless Derek, though. He spooned up some rice for Sadie. Once Sadie took a bite, Palmer followed suit.
“Is it good?” he asked Palmer.
“Yas, huh,” she said with a happy little nod.
“Yas, huh?” Beau teased, winking at her.
She ducked her head, but Beau gently lifted her chin. “I love Little speak. Yas, huh is adorable.”
Beau was granted another sweet blush.
Beau guided Palmer back to the Littles’ dorm, finding himself sad to see the night end.
They’d had a wonderful dinner with Derek and Sadie.
Once the spacious kitchen had been cleaned, they’d played some board games.
Palmer had been so nervous in the beginning and Beau had been pretty sure her fear was because she’d never played games before.
Foster care didn’t always provide opportunities for fun.
Once she’d warmed up, she’d won a few times and he’d enjoyed the way her eyes would search his for praise when she’d reached the candy castle.
The elevator dinged and Palmer stepped off first. Beau could see her hesitating a bit too.
“W-would you walk me to my room?” Palmer asked, biting her lip.
“Of course I am going to walk you to your room, little girl. Did you think I was going to let you walk all the way there alone? That’s a long way for someone so young.”
All the way there was actually just past the locked doors and down the hall, but the distance mattered to Beau. He wanted to walk her to her door at least and to speak to her dorm Top.
“Do you want me to hold your blanket for you?”
Palmer gasped and pressed it closer to her chest. “No, thank you. I-I want to hold it.”
Damn it. He was already a goner. Beau used his thumb print to unlock the double doors. The white tile instantly transformed the space into a softer light. Gone were the formal hardwood floors and cream-colored walls; bright colors and laughter transformed the space into exactly what it was—a home.
“What’s your favorite color, Palmer?” he asked, guiding her down the hall and waving at all the peering eyes who stopped to stare at the new man in their space.
“Um, I-I don’t know.”
Beau rubbed her back gently. “That’s okay, little one. We can figure it out together.”
“Do you have a favorite color?” Palmer asked.
“I do. Before today it was blue, but I’m starting to like red much better,” he said, gently pulling at one of her space buns.
“Hey, Palmer, welcome back,” Alistair Robinson, one of the Doms on the Ranch said, smiling at Palmer.
Beau had eaten dinner with Alistair and his submissive Dora when he’d first arrived. Alistair was a teacher for some of the school-age Littles’ programs. The couple had both been so welcoming.
“Thank you, Master Alistair,” Palmer said softly.
“Beau, good to see you,” he said, extending his hand.
Beau shook it. “I’m just returning Palmer to the dorm for the night. I’ll be back to collect her before class in the morning.”
Alistair nodded. “Yes, I spoke to Derek earlier. I’m glad this Little one is going to have a mentor.
She’s very sweet and I’m glad to have someone to report all her good deeds to.
She is a wonderful friend to her roommates and has been helping some of her peers who are struggling with their classes.
She is an absolute delight to have at the Ranch. ”
Palmer flushed under his praise and ducked her head again. Beau imagined it was hard for her to accept praise but that was okay. The Ranch would use its magic to get her there—he just knew it.