Page 33

Talked at Damon was more like it.

The actor wasn’t saying much. The damn exec was getting every word in.

“Hey, what are they doing?” Lana asked.

“Who?” Iris said.

“Phoebe. You know, the lady who works in the back.” She pointed to a woman who was going around the outer walls, tacking something up.

“Oh, she’s hanging flypaper,” Iris explained. “I saw on the news the other day that L.A. is having an influx of flies this year.”

Tessa thought back to earlier when she’d been talking to Auntie Athena. So that’s what the woman had been doing! Made sense, she figured. Lots of Littles had snacks out there. Maybe these glue traps would keep the bugs off of them.

But then another thought struck her.

“Flypaper might have another use. It’s pretty sticky, huh?” she said.

“Yeah. Why?” Iris asked.

Cami shook her head. “That look on your face! You’re cooking up something naughty, aren’t you?”

Samantha giggled, rubbing her hands devilishly. “I don’t know what it is. But I’m in!”

Instead of answering directly, Tessa posed another question. “You think that paper is strong enough to rip someone’s clothes? But not their skin, obviously? I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

Iris nodded. “Yeah. I mean, if the paper got on someone’s clothes, it would probably rip them when they tore it off. But it wouldn’t go through that and get skin.”

Now Tessa giggled. She looked back down at Max Arden, who was still droning on and on. There might be a way she could save Damon and pay that jerk back for the awful thing he’d said about Charley.

“Okay, friends. Follow me. I have an idea.”

Iris and Cami casually walked behind the bench where Damon sat, the one that Max Arden was standing near talking incessantly, and waited for their moment.

Once Tessa saw they were in place, she did her part.

“Daddy!” she said, skipping happily up to Damon. Samantha, Annika, and Lana flanked her. “I’m kind of hungry. Will you get me something to eat?”

Damon was seemingly eager to play along. He quickly stood up, took her hand, and said, “Of course, princess.” Looking at Max, he flashed an apologetic smile. “Sorry to cut the shop talk short. But you know how it is with Littles.”

Tessa wasn’t so sure the studio exec did know. It seemed more and more likely to her that he was simply using Lissa Keller, pretending to be a Daddy to increase his foothold in Hollywood.

But that wasn’t any of her business, really, though she couldn’t help but feel bad for Lissa if that indeed was the case.

“Yes, yes. Of course,” Max said. Looking around, he said, “Speaking of, where is my Little Lissa?”

This was the make-or-break part of the plan, Tessa knew. From up in the tower, she’d seen Lissa disappear into the store with several other woman, probably going to shop or grab a drink at the café. But if she chose now to reappear, that would throw everything off.

Tessa glanced quickly at the doors. Nothing.

Turning on her acting skills, she giggled. “Lissa is playing hide-and-seek. She wants you to find her.” Tessa pointed at Max.

“Me?”

“Uh-huh. She said you have to sit down, close your eyes, and count to twenty-five.” Tessa clasped her hands together as if praying. “Please, Mr. Arden? This was very important to her!”

Damon flashed her a curious look and Tessa hoped her eyes said, “Just go with it” as a response. They must have, because he smiled faintly and then looked at Max. “Man, you know how these cuties can be. This stuff is important to them.” After a chuckle, he added, “All part of having a Little. Am I right?”

Max didn’t look so sure but he finally said, “Yes, yes. I suppose I can do that. Twenty-five, eh?”