Daddy's Searching

“It’s too late. I’ve got to go.” Cynthia stood and ran toward the parking lot. She pulled a set of keys from her pocket and jumped into a battered, older-model car. As Belinda watched, Cynthia drove toward the security gate.

What is going on?

Belinda shook her head. She headed back to Tower B to change. Knox was behind the guard desk this afternoon. Belinda headed for the elevator and then changed course.

“Knox. I don’t know what’s going on, but I think someone should know.”

“Definitely,” he agreed.

Nodding her head at his agreement with her, Belinda shared, “I heard Cynthia crying.”

“Cynthia Grant from the cafeteria?” he interrupted, grabbing his phone and making notes.

“Yes. She was looking at her phone like she’d gotten the worst news of her life. When I asked her if I could help, she asked me to tell Easton that she hadn’t done it maliciously. Cynthia mentioned something about a man. He’d lied and maneuvered to wrap everything up in a neat package. She was really upset.”

“That’s not like Cynthia. Where is she now?”

“I tried to get her to go with me to talk to Easton, but she ran to her car and drove away.”

Knox’s eyebrows drew together as he paused in his notes. “She left?”

“Just a few minutes ago. I’ll admit that I’m rattled by this. I don’t know anything more about Cynthia other than she’s the talented chef of amazing soups. Over the last year, I’ve spoken to her a dozen times. But I could feel the fright emanating from her. She was terrified.”

Knox shook his head. The Daddy who had waited for his Little to be ready for him for years was on alert. “Thank you for telling me. I’ll see if I can find her and get this settled.”

“Thanks, Knox.”

As the oversized security director plunged into investigation mode, Belinda walked across the lobby to the elevators. When a car opened, she stepped in and slumped against the metal wall. Talking to Cynthia had rattled her nerves. Arriving at her floor, she passed her apartment to reach Pedro’s. She needed him.

“Hey!” Pedro’s warm welcome shifted to concern as he scanned her face. Immediately, he pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. Tinkerbell wove around her ankles, providing his support as well.

Belinda rested her face on his chest. Thank goodness I found him. The steady beat of his heart reassured her. After several long seconds, she raised her head to meet his gaze.

“Something’s wrong. She wouldn’t tell me any details. Cynthia’s gone now. I stopped and told Knox. He’s going to research whatever is happening.”

“I’m glad you talked to him. Is there anything you need to do now?” he asked.

“There’s nothing I can do but think of her.”

“Send strength to her. She’ll need that for whatever she’s running from. Let’s go run ourselves and burn off some of that negativity,” Pedro suggested.

Nodding, Belinda said, “I’ll go get changed. Give me five minutes.”

“Hold on. I’ll come with you. In, Tinkerbell,” Pedro directed and shut the door after the cat wandered back into the apartment.

He took her hand and squeezed it gently. When they reached her door, Pedro followed her inside. She expected him to wait in the living room area. When he entered her bedroom, Belinda said quickly, “I’ll be just a minute.”

“Daddy’s going to help you, baby.”

“Get dressed?” she whispered. She’d been over his lap half naked. Why did this seem so intimate?

“Find a pair of shoes, shorts, a sports bra, and a T-shirt,” he directed from the center of the room.

Belinda scrambled to find all the items she needed. Passing him several times on her path, she checked his expression to see if he’d become exasperated with all her delays to their run. His face remained composed and pleasant.

“I’m sorry I’m slowing you down,” she blurted when she passed him the next time.

Pedro stepped in front of her and ran his hands down her arms. “Are you nervous about me seeing your beautiful body?” When she hesitated, he stroked over her bottom and squeezed one cheek.