Chapter 6 #2
Mace opened the door and guided Fiera inside, acutely aware of the tremble in her hand.
If not for that small, telling shake, he would never have known she was nervous.
Her body language and movements gave nothing away.
His little firefly was quite the little actress.
He didn’t want to think about how she had learned to mask her emotions so well. Or why.
He leaned slightly toward her. “Hey,” he murmured. “Like I said, you’re not in trouble. Master Derek just wants to talk, and I’ll be right here the whole time.” She nodded, swallowing hard, and tightened her grip on his fingers.
Derek looked up from behind his massive desk and smiled. “There you are. Come in, both of you, and take a seat.”
Mace helped Fiera into one of the large leather chairs across from the desk, taking the one beside her. The chair nearly swallowed her whole.
“That desk is big enough to sleep on,” she said, peering at it with awe.
Derek chuckled. “You are not the first to say that.” He leaned back, hands folded. “So, have you settled into your room?”
“Yes, Sir,” Fiera said quickly. “It’s quiet. And the curtains are really good at blocking out the light.”
“That’s good,” Derek said. “If you need anything—anything at all—be sure to let Erika know.”
She nodded again. Her posture suggested calm attentiveness, but Mace watched her knee bounce. She was coiled tight inside, like she was waiting for the real reason she’d been called there.
Thankfully, Derek didn’t drag it out. “I’ll get right to it, then.
Did you hear me mention this morning that unsupervised Littles need an escort or guardian?
” Fiera nodded. “Good. To keep everyone safe and out of trouble, most unsupervised Littles stay in the dorms. We didn’t put you there because we were concerned the noise might be difficult for you to adjust to when you came here to relax. ”
Mace’s shoulders eased a fraction as some of the tension left Fiera’s body.
“Now,” Derek continued, “if a Little stays alone in a guest room, standard procedure is that they have a guardian… someone responsible for them while they’re on the Ranch.”
Mace watched Fiera’s face closely as Derek continued to speak. “I’d like you to consider letting Master Mace be your Daddy while you’re here.”
Surprise flickered across her features, but no distress showed. She didn’t run for the door, so that was good.
She tilted her head. “My room has only one bed.”
“If you agree,” Derek said easily, “we’d move you to Master Mace’s cabin.
It’s just on the other side of the stables and barn and is one of our few two-bedroom cabins.
As we did for your current room, we’ll make all the accommodations you need.
” Derek paused. “I don’t know if it makes a difference, but I think you will enjoy the trees and natural scenery, and you’d be able to get away for a spell if the crowds and noise become overwhelming. ”
Fiera liked the sound of that. Mace saw it in the way her gaze snapped to him and the slight smile that curled her lips. She searched his face. He wasn’t sure what she was looking for, so he returned her smile and waited.
Then her gaze dropped to her lap. “Well, it’s not just me. Is this something you… want to do? I mean, are you willing to be my Daddy while we’re here?”
Those gorgeous eyes lifted to meet his, and he was lost in their brilliant blue. Willing wasn’t the word. Not even close. Mace had never wanted to be a Little’s Daddy more in his life. “I’d like that a lot, actually.”
Derek leaned forward. “If you’d like Master Mace to step out so you can ask me questions in private—”
“No,” Fiera said, cutting him off before he could finish his sentence.
And there it was. That look Mace had already come to think of as classic Fiera, chin up, spine straight. This girl was a charge-forward, don’t-look-back, take-no-prisoners type.
She was not, however, completely lacking in common sense.
At the Master of Rawhide Ranch’s expression, she quickly added, “Sorry for interrupting. I meant no thank you, Master Derek. I don’t need to ask any questions.
If he wants to be my temporary Daddy and that’s what we have to do, it’s fine with me. ”
Mace bit the inside of his cheek. Part of him wanted to kiss her for trusting him so readily. Another part wanted to roast her bottom for not asking a single damn question. He kept his voice even. “You sure you don’t have anything you want to ask me?”
She thought for half a second. “Nope.”
Those types of snap judgments were going to catch up with her eventually. He saw more than one trip over his lap in her future.
Casting a knowing glance at Mace, Derek slid the paperwork forward. “All right, then. We’ll get you moved over.”
Mace signed. Fiera signed. And just like that, it was done.
“I’ll have all your things sent to your new room and make sure you have new keycards,” Derek said. “Mace, it looks like this went smoother than I expected. It sounds like the tag game is still going on.”
“Yep,” Mace agreed, already planning how he would handle the situation. “It looks like you still have time for fun, little firefly. What do you think?”
She hopped up from her seat. “I think that sounds great!” She headed for the door.
“Just a minute, young lady,” Mace said. “Isn’t there something you want to say to Master Derek?”
Fiera’s brow scrunched. “Something like what?”
The honest confusion in her voice saved her bottom. “Like thanking Master Derek for his time and for working so hard to come up with a solution that lets you enjoy the rest of summer camp.”
Her cheeks pinkened in the most delicious blush he’d ever seen. “I’m sorry. Thank you, Master Derek. Thanks for coming up with such a cool solution for me.”
“You’re very welcome, little one. I have a feeling you are going to enjoy summer camp.”
Her gaze shot to Mace, and the pink of her cheeks deepened to rose. It was too adorable.
“That was very good, babygirl. Now let’s get back to the fun.” Mace rested his hand at the small of Fiera’s back, gently guiding her from Derek’s office. She leaned into it without thinking, which was a good sign.
He needed to get to know her better, not that it would be any hardship. In fact, to his way of thinking, the summer camp rodeo had just gotten a lot more interesting.