Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
By the end of the day, Tilly was not sure if she was more exasperated or amused by her new Papa. He found a reason to stop by at least once every hour. He alternated bringing her small bottles of water and snacks then waited and watched while she consumed them.
Then he would ask another question, obviously intending to get to know her better. Some were silly like, “Cartoon princes or superheroes?” while others were more serious like, “What do you see yourself doing in five years?”
It would take her a minute to form an answer to most of his questions because they came out of the blue, no matter how prepared she thought she might be. During the time she was thinking, he would step close and give her a cuddle until she answered.
Once she whispered an answer, he would respond with his own.
His last statement was for her to think about going out to dinner with him once the convention ended.
Before she could respond, he would drop a quick kiss on her forehead or nose or top of her head before walking away again.
Every time he left, her Big and Little sides fought for control.
Unfortunately, that left her feeling more and more flustered after each visit. By the time they announced the ballroom would be closing in ten minutes, she was ready to jump the man without care of who might see.
As the last of the day’s customers filed out, he showed up, looking not happy.
“What’s wrong?” she asked before he could say anything.
“I’m going to have to back out on dinner tonight, little dancer. Something’s come up and I have to hang around and help deal with it.”
She took a breath and closed her eyes, savoring the scent of man and the last traces of his cologne. “That’s okay. I’ll talk to you later?”
“Definitely,” he said, stepping back and giving her a quick kiss on the lips this time. “Plan on tomorrow night no matter what, okay?”
“Yes, Papa,” Tilly whispered to his back as he walked away.
Once he was out of sight, she turned and joined her sisters in Carri’s booth.
“What do you mean you’re going home with Rooker tonight?” Lottie asked Carri, her accusing tone causing Tilly to flinch in sympathy for her sister.
Ever the peacemaker, Tilly looked at Carri who took a deep breath and slowly released it.
“She’s only worried that you don’t know much about him.” Tilly tried to smooth the ruffled feathers. “She doesn’t want to see you get hurt again.”
“Yeah, you’ve only known him for a day,” Lottie pointed out. “You should come back to the hotel with us.”
Finally, Carri hit her breaking point. Tilly was shocked when she 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 rushed away. Tilly looked at Lottie and then to where Carri had disappeared out of the ballroom. “I guess she told us.”
Lottie did not respond. It was always hard for the oldest triplet to admit she might be wrong.
Rooker stepped into view and pulled two business cards from his pocket. “She is safe with me, I promise. Here’s my cell number and information, just in case.”
“If you hurt her, you’ll have us to deal with,” Lottie said with a frown. She took both cards from Rooker then handed 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, Rooker followed Carri into the hallway that ran down the side of the building.
Tilly returned to her booth and spent a few minutes getting ready for the next day. Sales had been good and she hoped that Saturday would be even better.
By the time she was ready to leave, Carri and Rooker had returned. The three sisters hugged and Lottie apologized for her harsh tone while Carri apologized for yelling at them.
When they finished hugging, Rooker stepped up and dropped an arm around Carri’s shoulders.
“Would you ladies like to join us for pizza and swinging in the park before Carri and I head home?”
The sisters looked at each other and while Carri nodded her head, Tilly and Lottie glanced at each other before Tilly answered, “That sounds like fun. I’d love to join you.”
“I’m sorry, I can’t. I have a date,” Lottie answered softly.
“A date?” Carri asked. “Who with?”
Lottie shrugged as her cheeks turned pink with embarrassment. “No one special. Just a man.”
“And why haven’t we met this no one special, just a man person?” Carri asked, her eyes narrowing as she slapped her hands on her hips. “You demanded to know everything about Rooker, but you haven’t shared anything about this date of yours.”
“That’s because there’s not much to tell. Once I know more about him, I’ll share and let you meet him,” Lottie said, focusing on Carri. “Now why don’t you go play and I’ll see you in the morning.”
Tilly blinked and looked shocked. “You will come back to the room tonight, won’t you?”
“Yes, Mother, I’ll be there, but it might not be until late. I’ve got my key, so you don’t have to wait up for me, okay?”
“All right,” Tilly answered.
As they left the convention center and headed to the park next door, Tilly looked around, hoping to see Carter one last time, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Swinging at the park with Carri was fun. She loved swinging, and it made the tutu that she still wore fly into her face every time she swung forward. Rooker caught her attention when he met the pizza delivery guy and carried the food and drinks to the nearby picnic table.
Tilly slowed and jumped from her swing, taking several steps to keep her balance. Carri crying out a moment later had her turning to see her sister sitting on the ground, curled up like a little pillbug and sobbing.
Tilly began crying with her, only calming when Rooker knelt beside her sister and examined her ankle.
Their fun evening ended when Rooker bundled Carri into his car for a trip to the local urgent care.
Still shook up, Tilly took the pizza and drinks to her SUV.
She would head to the hotel for dinner alone.
Carter’s truck was gone from the parking space beside hers, so she turned on the engine and drove to the hotel. Pizza in bed while watching a movie would be a good enough evening, but she wished she could spend the evening with Carter.
At the hotel, she carried the pizza box and drinks in one hand and the bags she and Lottie had packed for the weekend in the other. She’d given Rooker the one she’d packed for Carri at the park.
Opening the door she walked in and squeaked when she saw the room wasn’t empty as she had expected it to be.
There were two heads on the pillows and two bodies underneath the covers.
Judging by the clothes that formed a trail from the door to the bed, they had to be naked, which was not something Tilly needed to see.
Dropping Lottie’s bag on the floor so she’d have something to wear when they came up for air, Tilly walked out before they realized she was there.
Once the door clicked closed behind her, she headed for the elevator, not sure what to do now. Would Carter be finished dealing with his emergency or would she end up back at the park, eating alone and wondering if Lottie’s man would be leaving any time soon?
Carter walked out of the police department with a sigh.
The drunk asshole who’d attacked one of the security team was behind bars until he sobered up and Donnell decided whether to press charges or not.
At least it had not taken as long as he’d expected to deal with the paperwork and turn custody over to the on-duty officer in charge.
Now he was free and wondering what his Little girl was doing.
Pulling out his phone, he debated whether to send a text or call. Just as he opened his messaging app, the phone buzzed and a text appeared from Tilly.
Tilly:
I have pizza but nowhere to eat it. Any suggestions?
Carter:
How about my house for our Papa/Little evening? Tell me where you are and I’ll pick you up.
Three dots flashed on the screen before a text popped up with the name of the hotel. Turning on the engine, he decided to wait until he saw her to ask what had happened with her sisters. He’d find out soon enough.