Chapter 19
Chapter nineteen
Chapter Nineteen - one week later.
Lottie
I squealed with delight as the bell chimed over the shop door and Walker entered. Since the party, my life had been full of sunshine and pink sprinkles, but Walker made it even brighter just by stepping inside.
Not even the visit to my mom and dad's attorney had spoiled my joy, even when I found out how my uncle had cheated me and them, for years.
I had a separate CPA at Daddy's insistence and everything was going to be linked into the trust Clare's lawyers managed and be connected with her charities at my insistence, especially the one that gave out free medication and advice for diabetics.
It was perfect.
He grinned. Not the polite, careful smile he used on strangers.
The real one. The one that made me feel like I could do anything.
I wanted to bolt straight across the café, but with Vera watching I managed to keep it to a fast shuffle.
Still, I must have looked ridiculous because Walker’s eyes went soft and warm and so full of pride it made my chest ache.
“Hey, princess.” He dropped his sunglasses on the counter and opened his arms, just waiting. I dove in. Didn’t care who saw. He squeezed me close, arms tight around my back, lifting me two inches off the ground even though he didn’t have to.
“Miss me?” His lips brushed my ear, rough and quiet.
I went hot everywhere. “So much.” I was really enjoying myself, but my shift so far had been the longest three hours of my life.
He didn’t let go right away. The smell of his skin, the grip of his hands, the way I fit so perfectly against his chest—I could have stayed there forever.
Vera made a noise behind me, but it wasn’t a cough, more like a snort of laughter. “Don’t mind me, sugar. You’re due for a break.”
I blushed so quickly I thought my ears might catch fire. Walker just grunted, pleased.
“Stay for coffee?” I asked, softer, suddenly shy. “I made the vanilla kind.”
He gave me a slow, lazy smile. “Couldn’t say no to you if I tried.”
I fixed his coffee, hands shaking a little, but Walker didn’t care. He perched on a stool like he belonged there, dark and solid in a room full of pastel. I ducked my head and focused on the coffee machine, hoping I wasn’t doing it wrong.
Walker watched my every move. The way his eyes ate me up from across the counter, it made my knees weak. I nearly dropped the mug sliding it over, but he caught it, steady as ever.
“Thank you.” His hand covered mine, his warm palm swallowing my fingers. “Delicious.”
My heart fluttered. Words were hard.
The rest of the morning zipped past in a daze. I restocked the cookies, wiped the tables, even managed the register with no problems. Vera winked at me every time I passed, but instead of teasing, she just stuck a gold star on my apron and told me I was “crushing it, kiddo.”
Walker didn’t leave. He hung back, sipping his coffee and scrolling his phone, but every time I looked up, his eyes were on me. He didn’t even try to hide it. Sometimes he’d catch me watching and just tip his head, slow, like he wanted me to know it was okay to be seen.
I loved it.
When my shift ended, he came around the counter and scooped me up like he’d been starving for it. My feet left the ground, and I clung to his shoulders, face buried in his shirt. It was safe. The noise of the café faded out like it was behind glass.
He kissed the side of my head, rough and fast. “Let’s go, princess. Got you.”
Vera made a happy sound. “Don’t you come back here without pictures, sugar. I want to see those new stickers I got you put to use!”
I ducked my head as Walker spun us around and headed out the door, his hand never leaving my lower back.
It was bright outside, and the heat made my skin prickle, but I didn’t care.
All I wanted was to be with him. I felt stupid, probably looked it too, but he didn’t tease or let go.
We barely made it to the SUV before he had me pressed up against the side.
“Missed you.” The words came out hot, almost desperate.
I squeaked. His mouth landed on mine, hungry, and I melted. Couldn’t have stood up if he wasn’t holding me against the metal. My hands fisted in his shirt, twisting the fabric.
He finally let up, just enough so I could breathe. His grin was slow, lazy, pure Walker. “I’m so proud of you.”
I buried my face in his chest. I didn’t know what to say. Didn’t need to. He just picked me up again and set me in the SUV like it was nothing.
We drove home with the windows rolled down. Walker’s hand stayed on my knee the entire time, thumb stroking the inside of my thigh. The heat in his palm made my whole body go soft.
“Did Vera feed you?” He glanced sideways, already knowing the answer. I nodded, but he didn’t look convinced.
“I had breakfast. I also ate two low-sugar berry bars.” We had the appointment with the endocrinologist in two days and for the first time I wasn’t scared.
“Good.” The word was soft but loaded. “You’re doing good, princess.”
I practically glowed. I wanted to kiss him all over again, but I didn’t want to crash the SUV.
When we got home, he carried me straight upstairs. Didn’t ask. Just did it. I loved the way he took over, always knowing what I needed before I did.
He sat me on the bed. “You want to nap or shower first?”
“Nap,” I said instantly. “Only if you stay with me.”
He made a noise, then stripped me down to my socks which he definitely had a kinky thing about and tucked me under the covers. His hands were so gentle. The sheets were cool, and he wrapped me up, then climbed in behind.
His arms locked around me. The weight of him was perfect. I felt so small, so safe.
I drifted, somewhere between sleep and not, letting the sound of his breathing lull me.
When I woke up, it was to the sound of soft voices. I recognized Maddox and Dion right away and sat up.
Walker came in and grinned, helping me out of bed and taking me to the bathroom, then dressing me in some really cute pink pajamas he’d shown me yesterday. He kissed me nearly into a puddle but then stopped, much to my disappointment, and crooked a finger. “Come see.”
We left the bedroom to see Maddox and Dion at the end of the corridor standing outside the spare room Walker used for storage.
Maddox grinned, holding the door open. “You’re gonna love this, sweetheart. Promise.”
Walker didn’t wait. He scooped me up, ignoring the way I squeaked and clung to his neck. I felt ridiculous, but he just pressed his lips to my cheek and carried me out like I weighed nothing.
Down the hall. Past the pictures. I expected an empty room, but Walker opened the door and—
I stared. I didn’t even breathe.
It was like every wish I’d never spoken out loud had just…
appeared. The walls were pale pink, with faint sparkles in the paint.
Not glitter, just a shimmer, like fairy dust. There were shelves everywhere, each one stacked with plushies, coloring books, and jars of pastel markers.
A miniature table and chairs, the kind you saw in picture books.
A white wooden play kitchen. Soft rugs underfoot, thick as clouds.
On the far wall, there was an actual tent—a princess castle, with flags and everything. Inside, a mountain of blankets and pillows, all in cotton-candy colors, and a giant bunny peeking out from the doorway.
Walker set me down, but I couldn’t move. My hands shook. I reached for him, not even sure why, but he caught my hand and held tight.
Dion’s voice was soft. “Walker wanted it finished before you got home, but we didn’t quite manage it, so we were lucky when you wanted a nap. We all pitched in.”
Maddox chuckled. “We finished the paint while you were at work.”
Walker’s body was tense against mine. I could tell he was nervous too, even if it didn’t show on his face. “You like it, princess?”
I couldn’t talk. Couldn’t even try. My knees folded and I dropped straight to the rug, landing on my butt, just staring at everything. The colors, the stuffies, the play kitchen. There were cubbies with art sets, sticker books, even a row of fuzzy blankets folded, perfect and neat.
I’d never seen anything like it. Not just for Littles, but for me. This was mine. I could feel it in my chest, sharp and hot and perfect. I tried to find the words, but nothing would come out.
Walker knelt beside me, his arms around my waist, pulling me into his lap. “Breathe, princess. It’s yours. All for you.”
I melted. Couldn’t help it. The tears started up, but he didn’t laugh or tease. Just pressed his face into my neck and whispered, “That’s my girl. You deserve all of it.”
Dion cleared his throat. “The tent’s the best part. You can hide in there with your friends.”
I stared at Dion, then at Walker, then at the tent. All those soft colors. The mountain of blankets. A castle, just for me. I’d never had anything close to this. Never even let myself dream about it.
Walker stroked my arm, quiet, letting me process. I burrowed back against his chest, needing the anchor. “It’s mine?” My voice came out tiny.
He squeezed me, rough and warm. “All yours, princess. Every inch.”
Maddox nudged a coloring book forward, gentle. “We stocked the art corner. Dion even found the sticker books you liked at the party.”
I blinked, throat so tight I thought I’d choke on it. I reached for it and my fingers actually shook. The cover was shimmery kittens, pink and cream, with raised hearts. Underneath, there was a whole rainbow tray of markers.
No one had ever done anything like this for me. Not once. Not ever.
I tried to talk but nothing came out. Walker just held me tighter, like he knew. Maybe he did. He always knew.
I looked around the room. The curtains were thick and purple, with little gold star patches. The tables were exactly my size, and there was a row of pink beanbags under the window, stacked with plushies. There was even a spot for Mr. Snuggles, right by the castle tent.
Walker kissed my hair gently. “You don’t have to say anything. You just enjoy it. You hear me?”
I nodded, helpless.
Maddox and Dion looked…weirdly proud. Like this was normal. Like it was the most natural thing in the world to build a princess playroom for someone like me.
I turned to look at Walker. He watched every move I made, drinking it in. “Thank you,” I managed. “Thank you so much.” It sounded pathetic, but I meant it with every fiber of my being.
He went quiet, just brushed a kiss on my head. “You’re the bravest girl I know.” His mouth touched my cheek, rough and soft at the same time. “You earned every single bit of this.”
My head dropped. The tears wouldn’t stop. Didn’t matter. I wanted to stay here forever.
Dion clapped a hand on Walker’s shoulder, and I looked up to see both Dion and Maddox smiling, for real. I think they might have left at some point, but I didn’t hear them say goodbye because I was too busy being kissed and loved on by my Daddy.
I had every intention of spending the rest of my life enjoying exactly the same.