“I’m sorry, Palmer. I’m sorry, Master Beau.”
“We accept your apology, right, Palmer?” Beau asked.
“Yes, we do,” Palmer said, nodding.
Bless her. Beau imagined she’d never held a grudge in her life. “I do hope that I will be Palmer’s Daddy one day. She’s precious and I would be so lucky if she were my Little girl, but good dynamics can’t be rushed and I want to take my time to make sure I can give her everything she needs,” Beau said. “Even if what she needs isn’t me.”
Sadie gave a happy sigh and Palmer pinkened under his words. He chuckled at her before reaching over and grabbing the leg of her chair and sliding her towards him a bit. “No pressure, honey. We have all of the time in the world. I will be happy tobe whatever you need, a mentor, a friend, and maybe even your Big.”
Palmer wound her hands tightly together. “I’m not sure what I need.”
“Then we will find out together, yeah?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“I would like to see you put a little more food in your belly, though, so right now I am going to help you eat.” He spooned up some of the rice and lifted it to her mouth.
Palmer’s eyes grew wide and she quickly glanced over to Sadie. Beau wasn’t upset by her nerves, though, this was all new to her.
Bless Derek, though. He spooned up some rice for Sadie. Once Sadie took a bite, Palmer followed suit.
“Is it good?” he asked Palmer.
“Yas, huh,” she said with a happy little nod.
“Yas, huh?” Beau teased, winking at her.
She ducked her head, but Beau gently lifted her chin. “I love Little speak. Yas, huh is adorable.”
Beau was granted another sweet blush.
Beau guided Palmer back to the Littles’ dorm, finding himself sad to see the night end. They’d had a wonderful dinner with Derek and Sadie. Once the spacious kitchen had been cleaned, they’d played some board games. Palmer had been so nervous in the beginning and Beau had been pretty sure her fear was because she’d never played games before. Foster care didn’t always provide opportunities for fun. Once she’d warmed up, she’d won a few times and he’d enjoyed the way her eyes would search his for praise when she’d reached the candy castle.
The elevator dinged and Palmer stepped off first. Beau could see her hesitating a bit too.
“W-would you walk me to my room?” Palmer asked, biting her lip.
“Of course I am going to walk you to your room, little girl. Did you think I was going to let you walk all the way there alone? That’s a long way for someone so young.”
All the way therewas actually just past the locked doors and down the hall, but the distance mattered to Beau. He wanted to walk her to her door at least and to speak to her dorm Top.
“Do you want me to hold your blanket for you?”
Palmer gasped and pressed it closer to her chest. “No, thank you. I-I want to hold it.”
Damn it. He was already a goner. Beau used his thumb print to unlock the double doors. The white tile instantly transformed the space into a softer light. Gone were the formal hardwood floors and cream-colored walls; bright colors and laughter transformed the space into exactly what it was—a home.
“What’s your favorite color, Palmer?” he asked, guiding her down the hall and waving at all the peering eyes who stopped to stare at the new man in their space.
“Um, I-I don’t know.”
Beau rubbed her back gently. “That’s okay, little one. We can figure it out together.”
“Do you have a favorite color?” Palmer asked.
“I do. Before today it was blue, but I’m starting to like red much better,” he said, gently pulling at one of her space buns.
“Hey, Palmer, welcome back,” Alistair Robinson, one of the Doms on the Ranch said, smiling at Palmer.