Page 17 of Swing and a Little Miss

ROYCE

My phone was silent on the bed beside me. No messages. No missed calls. Nothing to suggest Abby had been thinking of me since she woke up.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the way she called me "Daddy" for the first time. Her eyes had widened with vulnerability as she tested the waters, and she had no clue that I'd nearly combusted with desire.

She was just so perfect.

My phone remained stubbornly silent as I showered, dressed, and made coffee. By nine, I was pacing my apartment, checking my phone every thirty seconds like some lovesick teenager. This wasn't like me. I was Royce Elliott, the guy who kept his cool in board meetings and who’d never chased a woman in my life.

And yet, I was coming undone by radio silence from a woman I'd only spent a single night with.

But she wasn’t just any woman.

And that wasn’t just any night.

I poured another cup of coffee and forced myself to sit down with the morning paper. The words blurred together as my mind wandered back to the moment my entire world tilted on its axis and Abby opened herself up to me.

By ten, I'd convinced myself she regretted everything and I’d never get to feel her in my arms again. I’d drafted and deleted a dozen messages to check in, but each sounded more desperate than the last. I was a mess.

At 10:30 exactly, my phone chimed, and I nearly dropped it in the toilet in my rush to check.

Good morning!

Those four emojis said everything I needed to see. She didn’t regret the bath and she saw my note. My heart thundered in my chest like I'd been handed the keys to the universe. A universe in which Abby was my little girl.

I responded immediately, then counted to twenty before I hit send. I wanted to sound eager but not desperate.Morning, baby girl. Sleep well? I was thinking about breakfast... or brunch. My treat?

Three dots appeared and then disappeared before they reappeared again.Yes, please! I'm starving. We never got around to eating last night. But I need at least thirty minutes to get ready.

My smile was wide and my tension was completely gone.Take your time, sweet girl. I'll pick you up in an hour. Wear something comfy.

I added the last part without thinking and immediately regretted being so demanding. But her response came immediately.OK, Daddy. See you soon!

That simple heart emoji had me floating.

I spent the next forty-five minutes in a state of anticipation, changing my shirt twice, checking traffic patterns to her apartment, and reviewing brunch menus at three different restaurants on my phone.

I chose The Toasted Café because it had a great brunch menu and a nice view of the lake from the patio.

My car had barely rolled to a stop when Abby came running toward me. Just the sight of her made my breath hitch. She was wearing a baby-blue sundress with tiny white flowers and a light cardigan draped over her shoulders. Her skin was flawless, but it didn’t look like she was wearing any makeup to distract from her gorgeous smile.

I quickly hopped out of my car and opened my arms to her. “My gorgeous girl.”

Abby crashed into me and pressed her face against my chest. “Thank you for coming back.” She tilted her face up to mine and looked at me like I was her hero.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about you, baby girl.” I bent down and gave her a chaste kiss. “Now, we need to get some food in your tummy.”

She pulled back and nodded. “Yes, please. It’s grumbly!”

At the restaurant, Abby scanned the menu for a while, flipping it over several times as she grew more and more tense. Then her wide eyes darted back to me as if looking for help.

I recognized that look. She was overwhelmed by all the options and her desire to make the right choice. “Um…”

"Would you like me to order for you, baby girl?" I kept my voice low so no one surrounding us would hear me.

The relief in her eyes was immediate. "Yes, please." She nodded and slid the menu toward me with a grateful smile. “Anything is fine.”

The server appeared to take our drink order.

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