“I did notice she’s quite adorable.”
“Did you notice anything else?”
He shook his head and waited for Athena to explain why she’d asked that.
“Something is off. I’m not saying she’s shady or anything like that. I’m saying she’s… desperate, maybe. Like she’s in some sort of trouble.”
Jack cast a glance behind him, watching Iris and the other Littles hugging before scurrying back into the yard toward the play structure. Turning back to Athena, he said, “Do I need to step in?”
Athena shook her head. “No. At least, I don’t think it’s something she needs the police for. I think it’s more… financial desperation. I’m concerned about her.”
The Bigs continued to stand there on the covered patio, looking at one another while the fan attached to the pergola’s ceiling turned lazy circles above them.
“You know how it can be. Desperate finances can make people do desperate things. I don’t want to see her getting hurt.” Athena paused, seemingly reflecting on how she wanted to phrase her next statement. “Plus, I want to make sure she has enough to eat. I’ll not have a Little going hungry if I can do anything about it.”
Jack knew that to be true. He’d seen her bend over backward to help Littles in need. She truly loved and cared for them and didn’t expect a thing in return. That was just her nature.
“Do you want me to do a welfare check?” Jack asked.
Athena wouldn’t have to twist his arm very hard. She had good instincts. If she suspected Iris was in a tough situation, then Iris was probably in a tough situation.
“Could it be a discreet welfare check? I don’t want to alarm her. Or make her think we’re prying.”
Jack laughed. “Weareprying.”
This drew a quiet laugh from Athena, as well. “True. But I’d rather her not know. Our motives are pure. But there’s no reason to make her feel uncomfortable.”
He nodded in agreement. “Tell you what. I’ll poke around later when I leave here. But you know me—I’ll be discreet.”
Athena smirked as she arched an eyebrow. “No jumping over fences or being chased by pitbulls?”
Jack groaned. “You know about that?”
“It made the news. That’s tough to do in a town like L.A. Good job.”
He just groaned again, shook his head, and laughed.
He had one hell of a job, that was for sure.
But it was never boring.
Chapter Eight
Iris had fun playing with the other Littles.
They went from the playground to the toy room on the third floor. There, she found almost anything a Little could want.
“What if we play dress-up?” Elena asked.
“Ooh, that sounds fun,” Graham said.
He was a trim man of average height with dark brown hair and brown eyes. Iris would peg him for about thirty. He wore shorts and a t-shirt, but based on the poof beneath his waist, he clearly wore a diaper underneath.
“Yeah. I want to dress up as the queen! I can be the queen of Little Land,” Jocelyn said.
She was a beautiful, curvy woman with long blonde hair, rosy cheeks, and big, vibrant blue eyes. Iris wasn’t for certain, but she’d guess Jocelyn was about thirty-five. There was no question that she was wearing a diaper, because her short dress did little to conceal it.
“And I’ll be the Prince of Pacifiers,” Graham declared.
