Page 187 of Her Daddies' Everything

The inside was far lighter and nicer than the outside. There was a woman behind a desk in front of them. She looked to be in her sixties with white-gray hair that was cut short.

There were four doorways and above each door frame was a sign.

One said ‘Littles’, the next one said ‘Middles.’ Then there was ‘Pets’ and ‘Play.’

What was this place?

She tightened her hands around Tobias’s, uncertain that she really should be here.

“Hello, welcome to Penelope’s Playground. I’m Evelyn,” the woman said warmly. “You have access for the next hour. I really hope you enjoy yourself. I’ll remain here and there’s an intercom system if you need anything.”

She should probably say something in return, but her mouth had gone all dry.

“Remember the rules while in public with me,” Tobias said as he led her through the door that had ‘Littles’ written above it. “We have the place to ourselves, but I still want you to stay with me at all times. I don’t want you to be more than arm’s length away.”

They stepped into a tunnel-like area with glass cases on either side filled with toys.

“I don’t know that I can do this,” she told him, nerves filling her stomach. Was she ready? Could she do this in front of Tobias?

“Look at me. Hey, look at me.”

She sighed and glanced up at him. “You’re very big on having me look at you.”

“That’s because your eyes are so expressive,” he told her. “I know when you’re lying because you do the potty dance. But your eyes can tell me what else is going on in your head.”

“Great, so what you’re saying is that I can’t ever keep anything secret?”

“I’m saying I find it easier to read you when I can see your beautiful eyes. Other people, don’t know.”

Did he really just call her eyes beautiful? Jeez. Why did he have to go and say such nice things to her? If he was a jerk, she could be mad at him for bringing her here without asking her first.

But it was harder to be upset with someone who was telling you how beautiful your eyes were.

Darn it.

“What is it?” he asked, eyeing her suspiciously.

“You really think my eyes are beautiful?”

He shook his head. “Fishing for compliments.”

“I am not!”

Tobias grinned and tapped her nose. “Yeah, you are. You’re cute.”

Beautiful eyes and now cute?

Be still her heart.

Actually, her heart had nothing on the rest of her body which was flooded with warmth.

“I am not fishing for compliments. And I don’t think my eyes are that expressive. You can’t tell what I’m thinking.”

“You’re thinking that you’re not sure whether you want to do this, and that you’re not happy that I sprung this on you without warning.”

Well. Hell.

That wasn’t fair. How could he see all of that?

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