“Seven exactly.” Daddy had been firm that I could not take all of them, but we could pop back over the week and grab extra ones if I needed. I’d liked that idea, so I agreed.
I couldn’t wait to get back to the house. Sam was going to teach me how to get through the maze without getting lost, and Papa was going to teach me to ride his horse. I was very excited.
This week had been like a dream. Tuesday I’d gone with Papa to find Daddy the perfect Christmas present. Papa had found him a chess set inspired by Salvador Dali, and I had bought him a soft pair of gloves and a matching scarf to keep him warm. I was learning that Daddy was not a fan of the cold. He let Papa and I do all the ‘snow shenanigans’ as he called it. On Wednesday it was Daddy’s turn to take me out to shop for Papa. It seemed that the way to Papa’s heart was in the shape of a bottle of twelve year old single malt Scotch. Daddy found a bottle of The Balvenie and said Papa was going to be very happy with him, especially since he also found a nice box of cigars to go with it. I knew cigars were bad for you, but I had to admit Papa looked all kinds of sexy when he sat in his leather wingback chair smoking one. Daddy agreed with me, and said it gave Papa a bad boy vibe.
My gift was simple. Papa loved chocolate, so I arranged with the local chocolate maker to have a special collection of chocolates and sweets boxed up for him. I was feeling proud of my gifts, and I even had pocket squares for them with Papa and Daddy embroidered on each one. They and the other gifts I had for them were neatly packed in bags, ready to go when Daddy got here.
“I’m glad Marco and Roman make you happy. I just hope you won’t be giving up working here anytime soon. I’d honestly miss the hell out of you,” Rose said as she looked at the latest supplier’s list of latex clothing. I could tell by the slight tic of her left eye she really was worried about me leaving, but was trying for levity.
“Nope, I told Marco and Roman that while the whole Daddy thing is amazing and perfect and all that stuff, I also need myown time and space. I love working with you and Lilly, and I adore my little flat,” I answered, though I’d also thought about what it would be like living with my Daddies full time. How could a boy not imagine something as wonderful as that?
“I was wondering,” I said, unsure how to proceed.
“About?”
“Well, you know how I’ve been designing those little playsuits, and I’ve had some ideas for patterns and fabrics for training pants as well.”
Rose nodded. I could see she understood what I was trying, in my roundabout way, to get to.
“You want to sell them here?” she asked, pulling out her note book to jot something down.
“Well, if it would be okay.”
“Sebastian, of course it would be okay, especially now with Crimson House up and running. I’ve already noticed an uptick in business from people coming through before the events, and your playsuits and onesies would sell like hot potatoes at a midwinter fair.”
Leaping from my chair, I hugged Miss Rose. This would be amazing, and just the kick in the pants I needed to get designing more clothes. Daddy had already said they would happily set a room aside for my crafts and sewing for when I was at their house. I loved how supportive they had been when I had told them about my designs, and my dreams to create a Littles range of clothes and play clothes.
We were so engrossed in our conversation I didn’t notice the buzzer over the door going until I heard Daddy’s voice by my ear.
“Did I tell you how much I love that purple shirt on you?” Daddy’s voice purred by my ear.
I turned and flung my arms around his neck. “You’re here!”
Daddy laughed, lifting me off my feet and spinning me around. “Of course I am. I promised I was picking you up.”Daddy looked over at Miss Rose and smiled apologetically. “I hope I’m not interrupting?”
“Not at all. I was just looking over some of Sebastian’s designs and deciding where we could set up a display of his onesies in the shop.” Rose inclined her head to the crowded store. I knew she would work her magic and find the perfect place for me to display my things.
“Baby, have I told you how proud Marco and I are of you?”
I stood on my tippy toes to kiss Roman’s nose. “Not today you haven’t, so I’ll take it.”
“May I kidnap our boy, Miss Rose?” Daddy asked while I tried to clean up my spot at the counter—sadly, not before Daddy noticed the candy wrappers hiding on the shelf under the counter.
“Didn’t I pack you some healthy snacks?”
“You did,” I said slowly.
“And did you eat them?” Roman’s voice had slipped lower, into what I liked to think of as his Daddy tone.
“I actually ate them all this morning while I was cleaning my flat and packing my things to bring to the house. The chocolate bars happened this afternoon, I promise.” I fluttered my eyelashes. I wasn’t lying. I did eat the healthy snacks Daddy packed, but I also had a couple of chocolate bars I didn’t want to go to waste today.
“All right, sweetheart. Well, let’s get your bags and head out.” Daddy nodded to Miss Rose, who leaned under the counter pulling out a wrapped gift box.
“Miss Rose, you didn’t have to.” I touched the gorgeous wrapping and wondered what hid inside. I would be good and wait until Christmas day, even though it was very tempting to open it now.
“It’s nothing much, but I was browsing a favourite store of ours and found something for you that I know your Daddiesmight enjoy.” She winked at me, knowing I knew what store she meant, which sent my brain racing as to which lacy pretty she had found for me. It was going to be very tempting to open my gift before Christmas morning.
“Now go and have fun and I don’t want to see you or Lilly in this shop before January fifth, do you hear me?” She pecked me quickly on the cheek
