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“Mary Lou,” I repeat, much calmer.
Shoulders hunched, Mary finally turns to look up at me.
“I’m sorry, Daddy.” And she is. Her words are quiet but sincere.
Anxiety slowly seeps from my body. Red catches my attention from the corner of my eye— blood. Her little knee really does look sore, but the woman is right. It’s just a scrape.
“It’s my fault,” the woman defends, jutting her chin out.
Another shiver courses through my body. Only this time, it’s not her voice that causes it. She’s beautiful. Her big brown eyes meet mine defiantly, the fearfrom just a moment ago nowhere in sight. That is until I take in the rest of her face.
Thick dark lashes surround her glaring eyes, her tan cheeks are flushed, and her cute nose flares as she breathes in deep, but what really gives her away is the death grip her teeth have on her bottom lip.
Yep, definitely having a heart attack today.
My heart isn’t the only thing that’s stirring. I’m getting a hard-on outside of the grocery store. Who the fuck is this woman?
Dropping down, I quickly join them on the ground. Startled, the woman flinches and falls on her ass.
“Careful,” I warn, reaching out to steady her. A wide-eyed stare is my only answer, and we’re back to terrified. My cock twitches, a smirk settling on my lips.
I turn my attention to Mary. “What did I say about running off?”
“Not to,” my daughter mumbles.
“I ran into her,” the woman rushes.
“Nuh-uh.” Mary shakes her head. “I wasn’t looking. I just wanted my ball.”
At least one of them is being honest. “Lying is not tolerated in this family,” I warn.
“But I’m not lying,” Mary huffs with a little too much attitude from the person who caused this mess. I give her a look.
“I didn’t mean you, Piglet.” Turning to the woman who captured my attention with one look, I repeat, “Lying is not tolerated in this family.”
Her slim throat bobs. “Yes, sir,” she whispers so low I barely hear it.
“So try again,” I tell her sharply, enjoying how her body shivers.
“I was told to be quick, so I rushed into the building just as . . .” She pauses for a second, “Mary Lou rushed out. It was both our fault.” Her eyes flicker to Mary, whose face is scrunched up.
“Mary Lou is for when she’s in trouble, which she is,” I remind my daughter, then turn back to my brown-eyed girl. “Otherwise, it’s just Mary,” I explain.
“Or Piglet!” Mary adds.
“Or Piglet,” I agree with a chuckle.
“Well, I like Piglet.” The woman reaches out and gently wipes away my daughter’s tears, which have thankfully stopped. “Is it because you wear pigtails?”
Mary frowns, her small hands holding one of her braids. “I don’t know.”
Both turn to me, looking for an answer, and something inside me shifts.
Never in Mary’s life have I thought she needed a mother until now. This moment was meant to happen. The three of us are meant to happen.
“No, it’s because she loves pigs. What’s your name?” I ask, wanting to know exactly who my future wife is.
Her eyes flicker between mine before she finally answers, “Lulu. It’s Louise, but my grammy used to call me Lulu, and it stuck.”
