Page 18 of Finding Little Fiera

“Yep,” Mace agreed, already planning how he would handle the situation. “It looks like you still have time for fun, little firefly. What do you think?”

She hopped up from her seat. “I think that sounds great!” She headed for the door.

“Just a minute, young lady,” Mace said. “Isn’t there something you want to say to Master Derek?”

Fiera’s brow scrunched. “Something like what?”

The honest confusion in her voice saved her bottom. “Like thanking Master Derek for his time and for working so hard to come up with a solution that lets you enjoy the rest of summer camp.”

Her cheeks pinkened in the most delicious blush he’d ever seen. “I’m sorry. Thank you, Master Derek. Thanks for coming up with such a cool solution for me.”

“You’re very welcome, little one. I have a feeling you are going to enjoy summer camp.”

Her gaze shot to Mace, and the pink of her cheeks deepened to rose. It was too adorable.

“That was very good, babygirl. Now let’s get back to the fun.” Mace rested his hand at the small of Fiera’s back, gently guiding her from Derek’s office. She leaned into it without thinking, which was a good sign.

He needed to get to know her better, not that it would be any hardship. In fact, to his way of thinking, the summer camp rodeo had just gotten a lot more interesting.

Chapter Seven

Of all the things Fiera imagined she’d be doing today when she woke up and headed for camp, leaving Master Derek’s office with a new, albeit temporary, Daddy would not have made the list. Heck, she hadn’t even had a meeting with Master Derek on her bingo card.

But it was going to be okay, right? This was Rawhide Ranch, after all. And just because it was unexpected didn’t mean she couldn’t roll with it. She glanced down at the tanned, callused hand holding hers. She’d loved it when he’d placed his palm on the small of her back to lead her outside before taking her hand. Well, swallowing it was more like it. Like everything else about him, his hands were huge.

It was hard to believe the sexiest cowboy she’d ever seen was leading her back to her new friends. Hopefully, she could get in some good freeze tag before they moved on to craft time. She was practically vibrating from the stress of the past thirty minutes. Running as fast as she could was exactly what she needed to keep from combusting.

She slid her gaze to her new temporary Daddy, trying to get a better look at him without his noticing. At the distance she’d been the day before, she hadn’t noticed the sexy sprinkles ofsilver dusting his temples and beard. She had the sudden urge to run her fingers over that beard to see if it was as soft as it looked.

Having a Daddy at Rawhide hadn’t been on her bingo card either. To be honest, her desire for a good Daddy ended months ago. Well, not her desire for one, but her belief that one existed. Why was it that some people didn’t seem to care about you at all when you wanted them around, but as soon as you told them it was over, they wouldn’t leave you alone? Erwin… wait. Turning to him, she asked, “What’s your whole name?”

He gave her a questioning glance. “It’s Mason Grant Cody. But as I said earlier, most people call me Mace. Now it’s your turn. What’s your whole name?”

Wow! He had a name that was just as sexy as he looked. And you couldn’t get more stable than someone named Grant. She’d have to look up the meaning once she got back to her room. Um… their room… as soon as someone showed her where it was. Now, what had he asked her? Right. Her name. “Mine’s Fiera Danielle Sharpe. It means passionate and wild, God is my judge, quick and smart. So, should I call you Daddy now?”

Yep. She said that. Just blurted it out like an idiot.

The heat blooming in her cheeks told her she was blushing. Why did her mouth run away with her so often? She should have waited for him to say something. Now she had no way of knowing if he really wanted her to call him that, or if he was just being nice. Unless he said no. She really hoped he didn’t say no.

“Of course, that’s who I am for as long as you’re here. How long are you going to be here, by the way?” His deep, rumbly voice was perfect for a Daddy’s voice. She could imagine it being firm and stern, yet kind. She’d bet he never whined. Erwin had been a whiner. No Daddy should be a whiner.

Fiera swallowed and forced her thoughts back into something resembling order. A few days, she reminded herself. A tiny, contained, manageable amount of time. Not enoughto ruin her. Not enough to get attached. Not enough for disappointment to really dig in and make itself at home.

It wasn’t as if Master Mace was going to be with her forever. She’d never see him again. She’d be returning to Wilder alone.

Her chest tightened. How was that going to work? Wilder was once her safe place. But Erwin the Vermin still lived there, still lingering like a bad smell. Still sent messages that pretended to be polite and concerned while somehow making her feel small and wrong and ungrateful all over again.

What if Master Mace decided she was too much, too? What if Erwin had been right all along, and she was “extra,” her personality was “too much,” or her conditions made her “too loud and selfish”? Did she really try to make everything all about her?

Or even worse, what if Master Mace turned out to be one of those Daddies who smiled kindly but made everything about her Waardenburg Syndrome instead of abouther? Sure, she had special considerations, but that was what she dealt with, not who she was.

Her steps slowed without her meaning to. Her grip on his hand tightened just a fraction. Master Mace noticed immediately.

“Hey,” he said gently, slowing to match her pace. “You okay, babygirl?”

Babygirl.

Her stomach flipped. She nodded quickly, too quickly, with a grin that was too wide and too bright. “Yeah. Totally. Just… thinking.”