Chapter One
Larkin was excited to have several of her friends over at the house for dinner and playtime that night, and she hadn’t seen some of them in a while. These were the friends most like her, and she was happiest spending time with them. They didn’t want to dress up in dresses, lipstick, and high heels or go to cocktail parties. They’d rather play dress-up in princess costumes and fake wigs.
They were women who didn’t understand or want to play the games regular women did. They wanted their men, their daddies, to take care of them and make most of the decisions for them so they could live a simple life.
Larkin knew she was lucky to have them, and she cherished every one of them.
She grinned when Aleena, the last to arrive, raced into her playroom, almost tripping over Riley.
“Guess what?” Aleena yelled.
“What?” they all said at the same time and then looked at each other and laughed.
Aleena held up her hand to show an engagement ring. Even from where Larkin was sitting on the floor, she could see how beautiful it was. The girls screamed, jumped up, and hugged her.
Larkin stepped into the circle, jumping and laughing because she was excited for her friends. They seemed to be getting engaged or married one after another, but she wasn’t. It just seemed like her and Darian’s relationship was on hold somehow, and they’d been together the longest. She was starting to think she would never be married. They never even talked about it anymore because he always changed the subject when she brought it up.
She hadn’t ever thought Darian would never want to marry her, but the more time passed, the more she believed it wouldn’t happen. They’d been living together for over four years, and they never even talked about it.
She had always wanted a husband and children. What if Darian didn’t want the same things? Would her love for him be enough, or would she regret not going for her dream?
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Brylee asked and touched her arm.
Larkin focused on her friend and smiled brightly. “Nothing. I want to celebrate. I’m going to go see if Ella has some sparkling grape juice.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” Brylee asked.
“No, you stay here. I’ll be right back.”
Larkin stopped halfway down the steps when she heard Darian and Kaleb in the office. The other daddies were there but having a different conversation.
“Seriously, man. Congratulations,” Darian said.
“Thanks. I’ve been planning it for a few months, but I wanted to get the ring just right.”
“The glimpse I saw of it when she ran past it looked gorgeous.”
“Speaking of rings and engagements,” Kaleb said. “Anything I should know about in your future?”
Larkin heard her daddy laugh but could tell it was forced.
“No. This arrangement works well for us right now. I don’t want to rock the boat.”
“Last year, you talked about her not being ready to be a wife. Is that still true?” Kaleb asked.
Larkin leaned forward and held her breath.
“Yes.”
Her heart dropped. Why did he feel like that? She didn’t act any different than the other littles, did she?
Maybe he really didn’t want to have to deal with a little. Maybe he wanted a woman he could take to business functions in slinky dresses and high heels? Not one that would rather have mac’n’cheese and wear sneakers.
The creaking of the leather chair caught her attention and brought her out of a daze, making her hurry down the steps and around the corner before they saw her. She pressed her back against the wall outside of the kitchen and took several deep breaths. She couldn’t go into the kitchen looking devastated because Ella would tell Darian, and Larkin wasn’t ready for the questions she knew he’d have.
When she calmed enough, she pasted on a smile and walked into the kitchen.
“Ella, we’re celebrating Aleena’s engagement. Do you have any of that grape juice we had on New Year’s Eve?”