Page 17 of Mob Boss Daddy

I practically jump up and down with excitement. “Oh, thank you. This is going to be so nice.”

“Every minute with you is. Rory knows where to take you. I’ll give you my credit card. Get anything you want or need. You have until seven tonight to be dressed and ready to go.”

He leaves me to dress so he can begin his work day. I don’t know exactly what it is that he’s doing but I’m never going to ask. That’s a part of his world he doesn’t want me or Macy to be in and I can respect that. I do worry sometimes that he might be in danger, but I don’t think I can handle it if I know that for sure. I don’t ever want to lose him.

I don’t see Jack again between breakfast and Macy’s nap time. He normally slips out of the office and checks in on us. Sometimes, I pretend I don’t see it. I like that he feels so strongly about looking after us, and I don’t want to do anything that might cause him to detract from this behavior.

Macy yawns and stretches her arms. She climbs into her bed and closes her eyes, turning to the side and hugging her favorite pillow tightly.

Making as little noise as possible, I slip out of her bedroom and find Rory waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs.

“Are you ready, Miss?”

“Yes. Should I bring anything else?”

“There’s no need for it. The boss has everything taken care of.”

Half an hour later, I have to pinch myself because it doesn’t seem real. It’s like stepping into some sort of fantasy world.

I spent most of my life wearing donated clothes. When I was finally on my own, I had to scrimp and save for everything I had. I could still remember those days when I’d stand outside the stores, watching the sparkly dresses on display and wondering how they would look on me.

Now, Jack is making all of my dreams come true. This is why he’s my Daddy.

The idea of someone taking care of me this way is so foreign that I begin to fear it’s all been just a wonderful dream. Am I going to wake up in my little one-room apartment disappointed the dream has ended? I suppose that’s my biggest fear. I’ve finally found somewhere I feel wanted and special. If that goes away, I don’t know what I would do.

Rory pulls up in front of the boutique and lets me out of the car. He holds the door for me and follows me inside, looking like he’d rather be anywhere but here. I can’t blame him. He does look out of place with his massive frame, gruff exterior, and intimidating stare.

He nods to the woman at the checkout counter and says, “Give her anything and everything she wants.”

The woman’s eyes light up as though she’s just won the lottery. She turns to me with a huge smile. “Let us know if you need any help, dear.”

My head swims as I take in the array of dresses ranging from short and sexy to long and flowing. I don’t know where to begin. What’s the protocol here? I don’t even know where we’re going. I consider calling Jack for some guidance but a mid-length royal blue dress catches my eye. My hand reaches out to it, and I pull it off the rack and take it to the fitting room.

The woman raps at the door and asks, “Would you like to come out and take a look in the mirrors?”

I hesitate, unsure if I’m ready for this sort of attention, but I don’t want to be rude either, so I open the door and step out. The woman looks me up and down, then turns me in a circle and breathes, “That dress was made for you.”

She takes my hand and pulls me to the circle of mirrors in the center of the store. I take a deep breath and look at myself. She’s right. For the first time in my life, I feel truly beautiful. God, I can’t even recognize myself.

I never understood when people say something “fits like a glove” until now. I can’t stop looking in the mirror, wondering who’s that girl staring back at me. It can’t be the orphan turned bartender now nanny, right?

Is this what happiness looks like? Is this what a girl…in love looks like?

“You’ll need shoes and accessories,” the woman tells me. “Sit down and I’ll bring some options over for you. Would you like some water, coffee, tea, or wine?”

* * *

It’ssix forty-five and I take a final look at myself before heading down the stairs. Jack is talking on his cell phone and doesn’t see me coming. Thank goodness for that. It would have been so awkward having him watch me.

He glances at me and does a double-take. His eyes darken, and his mouth hangs open. With his phone in his ear, he stands motionless and just stares.

“Yes, yes, sorry. I need to call you back,” he says and abruptly ends his call.

I stop at the foot of the stairs and rest my hand on the banister, palms already starting to sweat. “Do you like it? Is it too much?”

“Too much? No, baby girl, it’s not too much. It’s perfect. You’re perfect.” He walks to me, takes my hand, and brushes his lips along my knuckles, which almost makes me whimper. “Let’s get out of here before I change my mind and carry you back up those stairs.”

My chest gets hot at his words and I lightly touch the rhinestone choker the store clerk selected for me. Jack moves my hand away and holds it firmly as he escorts me to the car.

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