2. Troy
TROY
People sometimes joked that building inspectors came from a long line of narcs and judges, like I just popped out at thirty-two with a clipboard in one hand and a list of code violations in the other.
Truth was, I just liked keeping people safe.
It was my love language. Rules and requirements were meant to prevent accidents, and I took that responsibility very seriously.
It didn't always make me popular, but it did help me sleep at night. And sleep was all I could think about when Ben asked me to grab a beer with him because it was his birthday. Of course, I couldn’t say no, but damn did I want to.
I was halfway through my second beer and five minutes away from bidding my best work friend a happy birthday and good night when I saw a familiar face walk through the door.
From where Ben and I were perched on the second-floor catwalk at Palo, we had a perfect view of the main bar.
They billed it as a VIP section for people who didn’t want to be crowded, but we liked to sit up there so we could check out the action.
And by action, I was obviously referring to the cute girls coming in.
From up there, we could see every table and get a feel for who might be interested in a drink or a dance or a night of fun.
When I first saw Willa Brandt walk in, my instinct was a lean away from the railing so she didn’t see me.
But as usual, I couldn’t take my eyes off the firecracker who was wriggling on her stool at the end of the bar to the beat of some Taylor Swift song.
She wore a little dress and sandals that looked like she was coming in from a beach party.
She pulled her hair down from a high ponytail and shook it loose like she had been waiting to do that all day.
Considering that Willa was a highly coveted wedding planner who was booked almost every day of the week, that was probably a safe guess.
She’d just ordered a drink when some douche sat down beside her. Maybe she was on a date.
Ben kicked my chair and then nodded down toward the bar where Willa and her dude were sitting. “Why the frown? You know her?”
“Yeah, one of Kiley’s friends.” Ben had met my ex a few times but I’d never brought him around her friends. He wasn’t part of the kink community and I wasn’t entirely sure what he’d think if he saw my girlfriend and her friends in diapers and pigtails. “She’s cool.”
Willa was more than cool. She was fucking awesome. Sassy and smart and not afraid of anything.
It hadn’t been that long since Kylie and I broke up, but those four months felt like a lifetime.
So much of my free time had been spent with Kylie and her friends, especially when they wanted Little time.
I was Daddy Troy to all the girls as a temporary caretaker and trusted friend, but I wasn’t anyone’s actual Daddy. Not anymore.
Kylie and I left as friends and I’d still do anything for her, but we just weren’t right together. She was too sweet and gentle and just wanted a cuddle Daddy.
That wasn’t me.
I wasn’t a strict disciplinarian but I definitely gravitated toward structure and rules and a firm hand.
That just wasn’t the right dynamic for Kylie, and I respected that.
But I missed the social network that I also broke up with.
We were still in touch and I’d visited the girls at Poppy’s Place, their private playroom.
But as more of the girls found their partners, it was harder to always be alone.
Standing by to lend a hand or make a snack, was nice but I wasn’t really needed by anyone. I wanted to be depended on for everything. For good times and bad times. For love. Maybe some day.
Willa was different.
She never looked at me with the same kind of need as Kylie. She always had a glimmer of mischief in her eyes that made you want to laugh at her antics at the same time you reached for a paddle. Willa needed to be chased and told no. She wanted to be put in her place.
Fuck, just thinking about some of those times when she and Kylie got into trouble just to be put in a corner did things to me. Inappropriate things.
Willa was a true brat, and I was there for it.
Down at the bar, the dude said something to Willa, and after deliberating for a moment, she giggled and started talking to him. They weren’t touching or even leaning in to each other, but they were close enough to put a sour taste in my mouth.
Was that jealousy? Maybe. Or maybe it was just my innate rescue instinct kicking in. The one that made me “Daddy Troy” the caretaker to all the girls, but I’m not the guy anyone saw as a serious option.
Ben said something about heading home, but I was too busy watching Willa throw her hair back and almost topple right off the back of her chair.
She finished her drink fast and then ordered another.
That worried me because she seemed to be more giddy than usual.
Willa could hold her booze, but not on an empty stomach.
If she hadn’t eaten enough today, she’d be on her ass before midnight.
“You’re seriously creepin’ on her, bro.” Ben nudged me as he pushed past me to leave. “Should I go save her, or are you gonna do the white knight thing yourself?”
“I got it.” I flipped him off as my eyes focused on the way Willa tipped her glass back and swung her feet under the bar like a little girl. Like the sweet and sassy little girl I always had so much fun with.
Willa glanced up, and I thought she might have seen me, but she just squinted at the dart board and shook her head.
I could have finished my beer and gone home to my empty apartment. But I didn’t. There was no world in which I’d leave her alone with that stranger. Whether she knew him or not, he was a stranger and I didn’t trust him with my girl. Not my girl…but…my girl.
When she was halfway through her drink, the guy spun her around on the stool and pointed toward the window so her attention was drawn outside. But my eyes didn’t follow where he was pointing. I was watching his hand as it hovered over Willa’s drink.
Motherfucker.
I slammed my drink down on the table and took off down the stairs.
By the time I got to her, Willa had the straw to her lips and she was sucking down the last few gulps of her drink.
“Put that shit down.” I grabbed the glass and tugged it away so she was left holding the straw in the air. “This asshole put something in your drink.”
The guy was instantly on his feet and heading toward the door. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. We were just talking. She didn’t tell me she has a boyfriend.”
“Hold up.” I went to stop him from leaving, but then Willa started to slide off the stool so I turned back to grab her and the guy disappeared.
I steadied her on the stool and waved to the bartender. “Can I get some fries over here?”
He nodded and then slid a glass of water toward Willa. “Is she okay?”
I turned to her. “How are you feeling, Willa Rose?” The nickname I only occasionally used with her when she was in play mode slipped out and I had to check myself. “I mean, Willa.”
She looked up at me with big eyes that were slightly dilated but still focused. “Daddy Troy?” She grabbed the front of my shirt and yanked me closer. “Why are you here?”
I brushed her hair off her forehead and gave her a quick peck on her sweaty skin.
Partly because I really missed seeing her every day but also because I wanted to see if she felt feverish or clammy.
As always, she was perfect. ”I was having a drink with a friend and I saw you.
” I glared at the doorway as if the bastard would be stupid enough to come back. “Who was that dude, anyway?”
She shrugged. “No clue. Just needed a drink to help me sleep and he sat down.” She reached for the glass of water. “My head hurts.”
“I know, sweetheart.” The bartender put a plate of fries in front of us along with another glass of water. It was probably meant for me, but I swapped it out for her empty glass. “Have some fries and then I’ll take you home.”
“Okay.” She grabbed a fry and popped it into her mouth, chewing with exaggerated interest. “Mmm, it’s yummy.”
The urge to go after that fucker was strong but I couldn’t bring myself to leave Willa alone. She was fierce as hell when she was on her game, but when her walls came down, they came all the way down. And I couldn’t trust anyone else to take care of her the way I would.
“I don’t feel good.” Her eyes drifted shut and a lock of her hair kept falling into her face. “I’m gonna go.” She slid off her stool and took a wobbly step toward the door.
“I’m parked on the street.” I left some cash on the counter and slid my arm around her back, securely holding her against my side. “Do you need to go potty first?”
She giggled, and for a moment I saw the little in her trying to break free. “Yes, but no.”
“Willa?” I stopped just before we got to the door. “Do you need to go?”
She shook her head and kept walking. “Not here. I can hold it.”
“If you’re sure.” Normally, I would have made her go before we left, but she lived close by, and since I couldn’t exactly go into the women’s room with her to help if she needed me, it was almost a relief that Willa was willing to hold it. “You’ll be home in a few minutes.”