“Yeah, about that Mr. Sneaux shit…”
Briefly, Sienna’s eyes darted my way. She glared.
“My fault,” I apologized. “Please, call me Synder, or Syn.”
Her face relaxed, then she put on the best smile as she kneeled onto the floor and spoke to Whimsy.
“Hi, pretty girl! I’m Sienna!” She stuck her hand out for Whimsy, who giggled and shook Sienna’s hand. “This is Whimsical,” Sienna introduced the damn teddy bear.
With her eyes big and round, Whimsy took the teddy bear and hugged it tightly.
“Daddy, Whimsy!” Whimsy showed off her teddy bear to me.
“How sweet,” I replied. She giggled and placed Whimsy in her lap.
“Were you having a tea party?” Sienna asked Whimsy.
Whimsy picked her teacup up and sipped it. “Mm.” Her smile was magnetic.
“May I join you?” Sienna questioned.
“Actually… We have somewhere to be,” I interjected.
Sienna glanced at me over her shoulder. In one fell swoop, she took in my attire.
“It’s totally last minute. I’m filling in for a teammate who can’t make tonight’s dinner party benefiting several community centers.”
“Really?”
“Really,” I confirmed. She stood, put one hand on her hip, and pointedly peered at me.
“And where do you suppose I’ll find something to wear at this late-hour notice?”
Posing that question made it difficult to keep my gaze from tracking her body covered in denim jeans and a red sweater.
“You gotta promise not to cuss me out,” I said.
She tilted her head and chuckled. “Why would I do that?”
“You may not like my answer.” She gave me a look that prompted me to say, “I bought several options for you to choose from. They’re all hanging up inside ya bedroom. You have several pairs of shoes to choose from, too.”
This time when she glared, I expected her to chop my head off, so I prepared myself for the lashing.
“You better be glad I can do my own hair and makeup,” she stated. “Or else, I would’ve raised my voice at you, Mr.—”
This time, it was my turn to glare.
“—Synder,” she finished. “Now, point me to my room, and I can get myself ready.”
Relieved, I said, “Sure. Follow me.”
Whimsy got up and followed us out of her playroom. She brought her teddy bear with her. Sienna reached out for Whimsy’s hand, and my baby took it. On the way up the stairs, I grabbed Sienna’s suitcase. We passed a couple of rooms, then came upon the room Sienna would be using.
“That’s an entire rack of dresses,” she fussed the minute she walked into the room.
“Precisely. So, get to it. I’ll get Whimsy ready. We need to be out of here by seven.”
Closing the door on the irritated expression she wore, I was glad to have made it past first base.Damn.
