Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Tilly froze and tried to decide how to answer Carter McGee’s question. The truth was that she was a Little and would love to find a Daddy, but with the challenges barreling toward her family, she needed to focus on her sisters and not look for a new romance.
The state had bought their family farm to build a highway and they were having to move out in the next few weeks.
Adding in her job and building this business to more than just a step above a hobby that paid for itself, she had no room in her life for a man.
Though if she did, this was the kind of man she’d love to invite into the chaos of her life.
Taking a deep breath, she released it slowly, hoping to calm herself because the man standing before her was ringing all her bells. And learning he was a Daddy Dom only added to the attraction.
“While I am a Little, and single, and you are my hero for helping me outside, at this time I can’t be looking for a Daddy,” she admitted softly.
She stiffened when Carter frowned at her. But then he blinked and his expression cleared.
“I don’t understand, but I’ll accept your answer for now, little dancer. Maybe we could be friends until something more develops?”
Tilly nodded with a small smile. “I’d like that. I’m always on the lookout for new friends.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do,” Carter said, taking her hand and cupping it between both of his.
Tilly froze as her body reacted to his touch.
Not in a deer-in-headlights panic, but more like being plunged into a bucket of warm water.
Her blood seemed to heat while her pussy grew damp and her nipples stiffened.
Not at all an appropriate Little reaction to a new friend, but she wasn’t sure she would just want him to Daddy her.
She wouldn’t mind if he did more. Much, much more.
But that was for another time. Right now, she needed to finish setting up the display so she would be ready when the doors opened to customers.
“I need to get back to work,” she said, easing her hand from his hold.
“As do I. See you later, little dancer,” Carter said as he took a step back before turning and slowly walking away.
With every step he took, she wished she had the guts to call him back and agree to be his Little. But he was a stranger, and she needed to learn more about him before putting herself in such a vulnerable position.
While she wasn’t as skeptical and distrustful as Lottie, her older-by-five minutes sister, she also wasn’t as trusting or innocent as Carri, her younger-by- five minutes sister. As triplets, the Smith sisters might look alike, but their personalities were very, very different.
She jumped when Lottie touched her arm. “You okay?”
“Yes, of course.” She wasn’t sure if she was reassuring her sister or herself. “Are you ready?”
Lottie gave her a look that said she wasn’t buying Tilly’s half-truth, but she refused to talk about the handsome police captain who had offered to be her Daddy.
“Eat this,” Lottie said, holding out a smooshed chocolate-dipped marshmallow, “and get your mind back into this room and not wherever that security guy is.”
Tilly accepted the treat and nibbled on it as she finished setting up her booth.
When she went to check on Carri, she found her sister fretting over her display.
She saw what was wrong immediately and jumped in to help Carri make her table more sales-friendly.
By the time the doors opened, she and Lottie had renovated the display of crocheted animals so it was inviting and highlighted the stuffed creations to their best.
When the doors opened and convention attendees began to fill the room, Tilly said a quick prayer for lots of sales over the duration of the convention.
She added a second prayer for Carter McGee to be the man she’d been wishing for since she’d figured out she was Little, and for him to be interested in her for more than a playdate or two.
Carter spent the rest of the morning wandering the room, making sure there were no problems with any of the vendors and answering questions from the convention attendees.
He found himself staying closer to the corner near the front doors where Tilly and her sisters were busy selling their various wares.
The three sisters were obviously triplets.
Their facial features were so similar it was like looking through a triple screen.
The only major difference he saw was their unique hairstyles.
While Tilly’s hair was wavy-curly and laid heavily on her shoulders, the sister selling crocheted animals wore a long braid that laid over one shoulder.
The third sister, with short curls, was selling candy.
They were a trio of beautiful women who were smart and creative in their own ways. He wondered how close they really were. Would he have to fight his way through the sisters before he could win a date with Tilly? He was up for the challenge.
“Captain McGee, we have a situation at the front entrance and need your assistance, please.” The voice that crackled in his ear sounded nervous, which was not good for a security officer.
With a sigh and a promise to himself that he would approach Tilly again later in the day, Carter left the ballroom and headed to the front where he could see two men bumping chests as they talked trash.
He did not speak until he was within tackling distance, just in case they decided to take this disagreement to a more physical level. “Gentlemen, this is a peaceful event and you’re scaring the Littles. What seems to be the problem?”
“This asshole stole my parking space. And now he’s talking bad about me to my girl.” The smaller of the two men started blustering.
The second man looked calmer, but appeared to be losing patience fast. “There was no name on that space, and you were half a block away when I pulled into it,” he said.
“And all I said to the young lady was good morning and that I thought her dress was pretty. You need to calm your tits if you’re going to date such a lovely Little girl or you really will lose her to someone who doesn’t treat her like a thing to be owned and who appreciates her for the beautiful person she is. ”
The combination of explanation and insult triggered the first man’s temper to explode.
Carter had just enough time to jump between them and keep the first one from ripping the head off of the second one. Grabbing the aggressor’s arm, he turned his body and twisted his arm behind his back. He then forced him to walk past the wide-eyed crowd toward the exit door.
Once they were outside, he released the man. “You are banned from this event. Don’t try to return.”
“What about my girl?” the man blustered as he stared at the young woman who had followed them outside.
Carter glanced at the young woman who was standing there, twisting her hands together, looking traumatized. “Miss, you’re welcome to stay. Without him. Would you like to go back inside, or leave with him?”
She took a deep breath and looked at Carter. “I’d like to go back inside, please.”
“Maggie, what are you doing?” The man took a step toward her, forcing Carter to step between them.
Maggie peeked around him and said, “We’re done. I’m going inside to learn what a real Daddy is supposed to be like because you’re just a big bully. Lose my number and never contact me again.”
With that, she turned and walked away with her head held high.
“Time for you to go,” Carter said, crossing his arms over his chest. “If you don’t, I’ll call for backup and you can spend the rest of the weekend in jail.”
The man frowned then kicked at the sidewalk. “I’m going. No need to call anyone.”
Carter waited until he got into his pickup truck and drove out of the parking lot. Only then did he return to the building.
“Do not let that man back in,” he instructed the security team members standing at the door.
He then escorted Maggie past the line up to the check-in table to the ladies taking money and handing out gift bags and passes. “This lady is my guest.”
“Of course, Captain,” one of the women said as she handed Maggie a pass and gift bag. “Have a good time, dear.”
Once Maggie decided on which panel discussion she wanted to attend first, Carter headed back to the vendor room. He wanted to make sure Tilly and her sisters were all right.
And maybe he’d ask her out again.