Page 3 of Margo

“Right.” Knox felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. When you looked at it that way, it was pretty black and white and left Margo out of the equation completely. That didn’t work for him because she was part of the equation, and as Derek had once told him, not that long ago, Littles had to be handled with care.

“Knox.” His mentor’s voice broke through his fog. “That part of the situation is what it is. Nothing can be done to change it. And Margo’s feelings being different than you thought, that’s a complication for sure. It’s going to make the next week more difficult and certainly different than you anticipated, but it might end up being a good thing. It will be a practice run for you both so to speak, and it will take some of the pressure off Margo because your attention won’t be solely focused on her, but she’ll get a chance to see you in action. It might go a long way toward easing her fears.”

Right. Knox nodded as if what Derek was saying made perfect sense, but he couldn’t help but feel like the older man was putting way too much faith in his abilities to not flub it all up and make the situation worse. His unease must have shown on his face because Derek stood and clapped him on the back. “It’s gonna be okay. Just talk to Baze the first chance you get. And talk to Margo too, so she isn’t blindsided.”

It was a solid, sensible, reasonable plan. The kind of good advice that was nothing less than he’d expected from a man whose life revolved around caring for broken Littles. Taking a deep breath and forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, he nodded. “Okay, boss. Will do. Thank you”

“Good talk. Go have a chat with Baze. I’m gonna take my wife on a spin around the dance floor before she has a chance to devise any nefarious plans. Trouble seems to follow that one.”

Knox chuckled. He didn’t know Derek’s wife, Sadie, well, but her reputation was well enough known that he knew Derek wasn’t exaggerating. “Go. Have fun. I’ll be fine. And I’ll take your advice and talk to them both and try not to overthink.”

Derek left, and Knox waited until Baze had a break from well-wishers and was standing alone with Luna before he went over.

“Hey, boss. Can I talk to you for a minute?”

Baze excused himself from Luna with a kiss on her cheek, and when they were alone, Knox laid out the problem.

Baze didn’t seem overly concerned. “That’s unfortunate, but it is what it is, and honestly, that’s just Margo. She has a hard time trusting the good things that happen to her sometimes.”

“Understood. And yeah, I’m sure I can work around it. I just don’t want to create more anxiety for her and make her have like… a setback that you’ll have to deal with when you return.”

“Nah. If that happens, then it happens and I’ll deal with it, but staying the course and not letting her fear run you off is going to be the thing that gets her through her anxiety. Margo needs understanding, but not hesitation. She needs strong and steadfast, and she needs to know she can freak out without scaring you off.”

Knox furrowed his brows. “Respectfully, boss, you didn’t see her. It was pretty bad. I can’t come at her all gung-ho, big man, a deal’s a deal.”

“That’s not what I’m saying. Don’t come at her all gung ho, but you also can’t let her run you off with your tail between your legs. Because she will try. And if you let her do it, you’ll lose her respect forever.”

“Okay. Yeah. That makes sense.” It did, kind of, although Knox had no idea how that advice would play out in their current situation.

Baze looked at his watch. “We have to do the dance, and the cake cutting and photos, but we’re probably going to call it a night shortly after that. I’ll go tell the girls what’s up now. Come with me.”

Knox didn’t think that was a very good idea, but Baze was still his boss, and he wasn’t going to argue with the man on his wedding day, so when Baze cut across the reception hall to where the girls were huddled in the corner of the room, Knox followed. What else could he do?”

He could feel Margo’s death stare on him as Baze got their attention.

Baze waited until all eyes were on him, and then started to speak, outlining the plan.

“I’ve decided to take my bride on a honeymoon after all. We will be gone ten days, and during those ten days, Knox will be staying in the penthouse with you, and he will be in charge. I expect you to continue to follow all your rules, but the consent you give Knox is up to you. He’s not going to come in heavy-handed and start dishing out spankings. If you earn punishments, it will be up to you whether you will take them then or wait until I get home. Since you are good Little girls who are used to being independent while I am away, the same law of consent will apply to your daily care. You can wear Pull-ups and handle your hygiene on your own, and Knox will only be there to help and make sure everyone is taking care of themselves the way they should.”

The Littles were nodding their heads, taking the announcement way better than Knox had anticipated. Of course, he wasn’t looking at Margo. He should have been.

Baze cleared his throat and then continued, “Everything I just said applies to everyone but Margo. Margo, if you earn a punishment, Knox will deal with it then and there, however he decides to, within reason.”

There was a collective gasp from the group and then Margo’s indignant voice cut through the silence. “Mister Daddy!” she protested, using the special title the girls had given Baze when he’d taken them under his care.

Before she could go on, Baze put up a hand to quiet her. “If you don’t like it, be a good girl and don’t get in trouble.”

Knox closed his eyes and sighed. He hadn’t been expecting that little addendum any more than Margo had. He reminded himself that Baze knew the girls, including Margo, better than he did, and opened his eyes to find Margo staring at him.

Cutting his gaze to hers, he mouthed, “I’m sorry.”

Chapter Two

Margo

Baze walked away, with Knox and Luna following and all the rest of the girls turned their attention to Margo with wide eyes.

“Well, ain’t them some apples,” Jade finally quipped, falling back on her southern heritage.