Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Trixie instantly regretted getting onto the roof of the big old mansion.
It had all started innocently enough—as most of her trouble did.
She was on the trampoline with some of the other Littles, throwing a big foam ball around while they bounced.
Only the ball went too high, cleared the trampoline’s net, and then got caught on the gentle breeze that was sweeping off the mountains.
A few seconds later, the ball came to rest on the roof.
“I can get it!” Trixie had yelled.
Then, without really considering everything, she’d sprung into action.
She’d shimmied up one of the poles of the trampoline—it looked sturdy enough—and then onto a nearby tree.
From the tree she’d hopped right onto the roof.
It was so simple! And she’d always been flexible and agile. A great climber.
But when she got up on the roof and realized how high the mansion actually towered, well… that was a different story.
She’d almost slipped and tumbled right off to the hard ground below.
Several of her new friends had screamed. Others were shouting for her to be careful.
Trixie had let out a little yell, too.
All the commotion must have grabbed the attention of folks around, because two men suddenly came into view in the backyard.
“What the hell?” one of them said.
The other, who Trixie recognized as Trevon, having met him when she’d arrived to the mansion earlier, stared up in wide-eyed astonishment. “She’s on the roof!” He then cupped his hands and yelled, “Stay where you are! I’ll get a ladder.”
There was no real reason for him to shout or try to magnify his voice. She’d been able to hear the other guy, though a bit fainter. But Trevon? There was no missing his within a mile range, it seemed.
Trixie tried to tell him that she’d stay right there, but she couldn’t quite form her words once she’d opened her mouth. So she just nodded, even though the men didn’t see it. They were no longer just staring up at her, having jumped into action to rescue her.
The aluminum ladder clanked loudly as Trevon extended it and put the end against the roof.
“I’ll go up and get her,” she heard the one guy say.
“You sure?” Trevon asked.
“Sort of my job.”
“Hey, we’ll suspend our little bet for now.”
The guy laughed as he hopped up on the ladder.
What little bet did they have? It wasn’t any of her business, Trixie realized. But she was curious what the two men were up to.
The guy scaled the ladder gracefully. He was on the roof in mere seconds.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. I’m sorry. I just… Hey! I know you! You’re the hot fireman that saved me the other day! The one I’m going to dream about dominating me in bed!”
It was when the guy smirked that Trixie realized what she’d said.
Nice one, Trixie. Real smooth. Why don’t you just tell him to rail you hard on the roof right now? Gosh, doesn’t your filter ever work?
He nodded. “We’ll chat in a minute. Right now, I want to get you down from this roof.”
“But our ball is right there.” She pointed to where the blue ball had come to rest against the chimney.
“I’ll get that.” He walked on the slanted roof as if it were the easiest thing in the world to do. Once he retrieved the ball, he sent it back down to the yard. It landed right in the center of the trampoline and bounced several times.
“All right. You’re going to hold my hand as we walk to the ladder. Don’t let go.”
“Yes, Sir. And I’m sorry you have to save me again. I didn’t mean to put you in danger.”
“It’s okay. Just be a good girl and do as I say. We’ll have you safely on the ground in no time.”
Once they reached the ladder, he said, “Now, I’m going to hold onto you as you slowly turn around and back toward the ladder. I’ve got you. Slow and easy.”
He continued to guide her and a moment later, her feet touched down on the soft, lush green grass as the other Littles cheered.
“Woohoo!” Iris called out.
“You’re safe!” another Little named Regina said.
Everyone clapped, but Trixie felt more than a tad embarrassed. Offering an apologetic smile to her savior, she said, “I have a habit of getting into trouble, huh?”
The guy grinned and said, “About that… Let’s have a little talk.”