News Boy - Susan Hawke Page 0,7

the hall, slamming the door to my room behind me.

I put Lady K on the bed and bent down to pet her. “I’m sorry to scare you by yelling. Mr. Brody just made me super mad. Let me get out of my work clothes, and we can go play, okay?” I took her rumbling purr as a yes and changed out of my suit. I put it in the dry clean only bin and skipped over to my dresser.

Since I’d worn my blue Superman underoos today, I didn’t have to change my underwear. I could step straight into a pair of denim shorts and a red Mario Brothers T-shirt. I didn’t bother with shoes, instead pulling on a matching pair of Mario socks.

I scooped Lady K up in my arms again and rushed over to my supersecret panel. After I high-fived the picture of Mario, the door slid open with barely a whisper of sound.

Lady K hopped out of my hold, looking around for a comfortable place to curl up while I got my bin of soldiers. By the time I had them all set out and ready for battle, I quickly forgot how angry I was at stupid Mr. Brody.

Chapter Three

Brody

To cover my amusement, I coughed into my fist. Watching a grown man throw a temper tantrum and stomp away with his kitty held tight shouldn’t have been so adorable, but it really was too cute, not gonna lie. Especially given his perfect posture, suit, and dress shoes.

Glancing around, I decided to grab my bag and give myself the grand tour while Neil calmed down. I already knew his security code, thanks to the printout of general information Jim Michaels provided, so I locked the door behind me when I went outside.

The neighbor was working in his yard, or lurking. He seemed nice enough, but I trusted no one. Especially not if Neil's life depended on me. I thought about going over and making nice but changed my mind as he scowled and turned his back.

Okay, Mr. Dylan. I see you now.

I found myself smiling as the way Neil introduced us both as Mister flashed through my mind, a dead giveaway of his little side wanting to emerge. When he was angry, I hadn’t noticed he'd only called me by my first name. Or maybe it was a sign of disrespect.

Whistling cheerfully and feeling lighter than I had in years, I walked around the perimeter. I made a few notes—the backyard gate definitely needed a lock, and no windows should be open while the security system was alarmed. Which it would be at all times, now that I was in charge.

The adult-sized play structure in the backyard and a sprinkler toy right out of the kids’ aisle didn’t surprise me. When I encountered ‘littles’ at the club, I'd always thought they were cute, but this was the first time I'd been up close and personal with one.

I could have been wrong, but I was fairly certain his coworker Brittany was also a little. She had seemed much younger sitting on Jim's lap. To anyone watching, their behavior was nothing out of the norm. But on closer inspection, the clues were there. He was her Daddy.

And Neil. He'd slouched in his seat and slurped through his straw like a frustrated kid. Again, cute.

Yeah, even without Mack's heads-up, I would've seen the little in him from a mile away. Except he wasn't quite as little as the ones I'd met in the past. Not like Brittany. He was... older, somehow.

Shaking my head, I grabbed my go-bag from the trunk. I didn't need to concern myself with anything other than protecting my charge from Mad Dog. His personal kinks were his business, while mine was to keep him safe. And somehow manage not to deal with his bratty side if I could help it. Even if it was damned precious to see… especially on such a fine-looking man.

Nope. Not here to think about his pretty face or tight ass either.

I smirked. Dylan was still studiously ignoring me while watching my every move from the corner of his eye. What’s his deal? A crush on Neil? Maybe. Something darker? Hmm. Hard to tell. With his perfectly styled dark hair and preppy polo shirt paired with khakis, he seemed like an average suburban guy.

And I probably had no reason to be suspicious simply because the man had been waiting there with Neil’s cat. Hell, maybe the cat did get out a lot and liked