Page 5 of Daddy’s Accidental Little Runaway

"Derek is with my boss, Skye," she informed me, "and Tristan is Xavier's brother. He's a good guy, just a bit of a geek." She smiled mischievously at me. "Why do you ask? Are you interested in someone?" She raised an eyebrow at me. "It's Tristan, isn't it?" My eyes widened, and I shook my head.

"No," I protested as I stared at her. "I don't like anyone. Why would you ask?" She laughed until she looked at the door.

"Oh my God," she muttered as her eyes widened in shock. "Tristan just walked by the door, and he was shirtless." I immediately looked, and she burst out laughing harder. "I knew it!" I rolled my eyes and looked away, trying to hide my blush.

"You're childish," I told her, and she shook her head.

"As you always told me, that's what it means to be a Little," she laughed as she shook her head at me. "However, the fact that you are trying to hide that you're crushing on Tristan is too cute." I sighed and motioned for her to quiet down.

"No need to announce it to the world," I warned her. "Any louder, and Xavier will come in and yell at us." Stephanie raised an eyebrow at me.

"Really?" she asked. "That's what you're worried about?" She shook her head, and, as if to prove a point, she looked at the other room. "Hey, Daddy!" My eyes widened as Xavier came to the door.

"What's up, baby girl?" he asked as he looked at us. Stephanie pointed at me.

"Rachel has a crush on Tristan," she told him. "Is she in trouble?" He raised an eyebrow at me and shook his head.

"No, she's not in trouble," he told us. "Who she likes is completely up to her. If she likes him, she should tell him. Otherwise, it's okay." Stephanie smiled and bounded across the room.

"Thanks, Daddy," she said as she hugged Xavier. With that, she turned back towards me and smiled. "See? It's all up to you, but you should act on it fast. He's pretty cool." Xavier raised an eyebrow as he stared at her.

"Is that so?" he asked as he stared at her. "You haven't been spending any time with him behind my back, have you?" Stephanie immediately shook her head.

"Of course not, Daddy," she told him. "I was just telling her that Tristan is a good guy." He shook his head and smiled a little as he looked at me.

"Do you mind if I take her into the other room so that we can talk?" he asked, and I shook my head.

"No, sir," I said with a mischievous smile. "Go right ahead." He nodded and took Stephanie's hand before turning to Derek and Tristan.

"I need the room, please," he said, and both men immediately entered my side of the room. Immediately, Xavier shut the door, and the three of us stood there awkwardly.

"Excuse me," Derek said as he made his way to the door. "I've got to get going." With that, he disappeared into the hall.

CHAPTER SIX

Tristan

As soon as we were left alone, awkwardly standing there while Xavier did as he pleased with his Little, Derek immediately disappeared to his room. I was left alone with Rachel. After the awkward conversation, I overheard. I don't know what had prompted the conversation Stephanie started with Xavier, but based on how Rachel had turned up the TV to block out the noise, Xavier was taking care of Stephanie's involvement in the conversation. That just left Rachel and me.

“So, did you get enough to eat?” I asked as I looked at her half-full plate, which sat on the bed next to her. Rachel looked down at it, thankful for the distraction.

“Yes, I did,” she said with a slight blush in her cheeks. “Sorry, I haven’t been hungry ever since the…You know.” I nodded understandingly at her.

“Did they give you anything for nausea?” I asked, and she shook her head at me. “They should have given you something.

“Thanks to me not having medical insurance after Victor took me off of his, I didn’t get anything from them besides that hefty hospital bill your brother paid,” she said, her voice full of despair. “I hate that he had to pay so much just because of me.” I shook my head.

“That didn’t leave a dent in his finances,” I informed her. “Besides, I made sure he was going to be okay.” She stopped and looked at me.

“You did?” she asked, and I nodded. “Oh, thank you so much. That does make me feel a little better.” She then lowered her gaze. “I feel so useless.” I raised an eyebrow at her.

“I may not have much say in this,” I warned as I stared at her, “but I know Stephanie would not want you talking poorly of yourself like that. Besides, if you’re staying with Xavier for the time being, I would stop the self-criticism. He hates that, even if you’re not his Little.” She frowned as she looked at me.

“How do you know that?” she asked, her voice full of curiosity. I smiled a little as I rubbed the back of my neck.

“Because he always gets on my case about it,” I admitted. Rachel stared at me in disbelief for a moment before shaking her head.

“You?” she asked, the disbelief as apparent in her voice as it was on her face. “Never. You’re too handsome, and I bet the ladies fawn after you. You must be a pretty popular Daddy.” I shrugged.