Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
“I should have asked her to dinner,” Briggs muttered to himself as he stepped back from Athena’s mansion and admired his work.
The project was progressing nicely. He was particularly proud of the cut-in work he’d done on the windows and ornaments that adorned the stucco in various places.
His mind, however, was more focused on Riley.
He just couldn’t get the cutie out of his thoughts! But why? There was no chance it would work between them.
“Wow, this place is looking great! Thanks, Briggs.”
Looking toward the front door, he saw Athena step onto the porch and then come down the walkway until she met him in the grass.
“Thanks. Glad you like it. I’m finished with the front so I’ll move to the sides tomorrow. Should be done with the back by early next week.”
“I’m going to miss seeing you around every day.” Athena turned her gaze from the structure to him. “But of course, I might be seeing you more with Riley hanging out here and all.”
Briggs met her gaze and almost blushed when he saw her smirk.
Damn. Not much gets past Athena, he thought. It didn’t surprise him. Taking care of all those Littles meant she had to be on her toes.
“It’s not just me,” she told him, clearly amused. “Iris and them are all talking about how you two went out to lunch yesterday.”
Briggs chuckled. “Word travels fast, huh?”
Athena nodded.
“Well, it was just In & Out.”
“What’s wrong with In & Out?”
He shook his head. “Nothing. I eat there way too much, actually. But I’m just saying she’s probably used to fancy Hollywood places, like Craig’s and Mother Wolf. You know, places that wouldn’t let a painter in.” Looking down, he pointed to the stains on his work shirt.
“There’s not a thing wrong with your profession.”
Briggs nodded. “I know that. I’m proud of what I do. Combine this with my Army pension and I make a pretty good living. But I’m not the type who dates movie stars. She’s not interested in me, anyway. I’ve got a good ten years on her. We come from different worlds. It just wouldn’t work.”
Athena didn’t look so convinced.
“What?” he pressed.
“Well, you’re a Daddy looking for a Little. She’s a Little looking for a Daddy. You seemed to hit it off fast. Instant chemistry. If you ask me, you’re selling yourself short. You’re a good man, Briggs. And, if it’s not weird of me to say, you’re smoking hot.”
He laughed. “Much obliged. You trying to pick me up?”
This time it was Athena who laughed. “Again, you’re a great guy, and beyond attractive. But I’m searching for my Little, just like you’re looking for yours.”
Briggs had been joking with the question. He knew it would never work between him and Athena for the very reason she’d mentioned: they were both Bigs who needed a cutie to hold and protect.
“I hope you find him soon,” he told her.
“Thank you. And I hope you find her soon, too. Or…” Her grin widened, “Perhaps you already have.”
She turned and walked back into the house, leaving him there to ponder what she’d just said.
Damn it, maybe she was right. But… he was still just a guy who painted houses for a living. Not some hotshot Hollywood star or movie mogul.
“Athena,” he called out.
She paused before pushing the heavy, rounded-top wooden door open and casting a glance over her shoulder.
“I’m really not her type.”
He was trying to convince himself of that more than he was her.
“I think you should let her decide that,” Athena replied.
With that, she went back into the mansion.
Damn it if she wasn’t right again.