Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Chapter Twenty-Three
Several days later, Zara was finally able to ignore the scratches on the sides of the elevator doors. Her Daddy still rode with her, but he didn’t have to carry her inside. The team had brought in more powerful generators to make any lapse of electricity undetectable by guests. They would know when the auxiliary power took over, but it would be a faint hiccup to everyone else.
According to Sadie, the influx of single men coming to the resort had slacked off as well. Even Magnus seemed more at ease if that was possible. The team and Sadie had settled into their groove of supporting the Danger Bluff resort, and things ran like clockwork. Her time with Kestrel was limited by her work in the lab and his flight schedule, but her Daddy definitely helped her enjoy every minute together.
“You’re thinking very hard, Little girl,” Kestrel murmured as they sat at the dinner table.
“Sorry, Daddy. Just thinking back over everything that’s happened. Do you think it’s over?” The look on his face answered her, and she slumped against him.
“Hey, Kestrel. I put a ton of delivery boxes in your apartment this afternoon,” Caesar called across the table. “Remind me never to walk past the registration desk.”
“I wondered how I was going to get the mail delivered up there. Thank you for helping,” Sadie said with a smile. Everyone knew Caesar would be the first to help in any situation.
“We have boxes?” Zara asked, sitting up, invigorated.
“Eat, Little girl. Then we’ll go rip open cardboard. Did you all decide what time the party starts tomorrow?” Phoenix asked.
“We wanted to start at eight, but our Daddies were concerned it would go past our bedtimes. So, we’re starting at seven,” Celeste said with a meaningful look at Hawking.
“Be good, Little girl. I would hate for you not to be able to sit at the party,” Hawking warned with his own message-laden glance.
“Seven o’clock is a great time. You guys are coming, aren’t you?” Sadie asked, looking at Magnus, Caesar, and Phoenix.
“Not me. I’m manning the cameras,” Magnus immediately said to excuse himself.
“You couldn’t take one night off to dance?” Celeste asked.
“I don’t dance.”
“We could teach you,” Zara suggested. “You know, so you can dance with…someone important in the future.”
“I doubt if Baldwin Kingsley III will magically produce my Little girl,” Magnus said in a skeptical tone.
“Who knows?” Zara countered. “He sent me and Sadie here. Celeste is a mystery. She thinks she remembers seeing an ad promising a getaway where you can escape from everyone. Maybe he had something to do with that appearing where she’d see it…?”
“I don’t doubt that he could make that happen, but finding a Little girl who’s a match with me will be the challenge of a lifetime. I know. I haven’t found her,” Magnus pointed out.
Zara shrugged and nodded at Kestrel. “I’m pretty sure our Daddies searched to find us, too. Who knows—maybe Mr. Kingsley is a Little-Daddy whisperer?”
“Next time, I’ll attend your party. Okay, Little girl?” Magnus said nicely to put her off.
“I’m going to hold you to that.”
Shaking his head, Magnus took a bite and groaned as Hawking picked up the silver serving spoon in the center of the table.
“I have balloons for the party. I’m counting on everyone to help me blow them up. Magnus, I already put a bag on your keyboard,” Hawking informed him with a smirk before continuing, “Sadie, did you get the desserts and snacks ordered for the party?”
Sadie nodded from her position, sitting on Rocco’s lap. She was busy putting Band-Aids on her Daddy’s fingers from his rock-climbing expeditions. Rocco ate and fed Sadie with whichever hand she wasn’t doctoring. “I ordered some tablecloths from the laundry room. I thought they’d come with the meal, but they’re not here yet.”
After everyone had a chance to share, the dinner conversation focused on a variety of party-related chatter. Sadie continued to grumble about the tablecloths. Zara knew she really wanted this party to be perfect. They could get them later, but it would help so much with the decorations now.
When the meal was finished, Kestrel volunteered to escort the Littles up to the fifth floor with the decorations. Zara was better about stepping into the elevator, but none of the men would risk her being alone again.
“Hey, do you mind dropping off the ladies and then taking the cart with our dishes back to the kitchen?” Caesar asked Kestrel.
“On it,” Kestrel agreed, wheeling the cart toward the opening doors.
In a flash, they arrived on the top floor. Zara watched Kestrel scan the open area before allowing them to exit. He held Zara back as the others stepped into the gathering room.
“I’ll be just a few minutes. Stay with the Littles,” he instructed.
“I’ll be fine. Stop worrying, Daddy. Magnus is babysitting us,” Zara reminded him.