Chapter Nine
Emily was holding Grey’s hand when Saul opened the front door. Her first look at the three girls made her stomach cramp. They looked confident and were really beautiful, and she didn’t know if she’d fit in.
Grey squeezed her hand. “Baby, I would never allow this meeting if I thought they’d hurt your feelings or you girls wouldn’t get along. Give them a chance.”
She nodded and looked back at the group.
The three couples walked up.
Grey got their attention. “Girls, I’d like you to meet Emily. She’s a little shy, so you’ll need to be gentle with her.”
“We will,” one of them said as they all nodded.
Grey pointed to one of the women. “This is Larkin. And these two are Riley and Sienna.”
Emily lifted her hand, stuck a finger in her mouth, and leaned against his shoulder.
“Why don’t you show them my playroom?” Grey asked.
The other three girls looked confused.
“You have a playroom?” Riley asked.
“Well, kind of. It was supposed to be for Emily, but she doesn’t want it.”
She gasped. “I didn’t say that. I just don’t want you to buy me so much.”
“I had that problem at first,” Larkin said.
“But, oh, man, did she get over it.” Darian smirked.
Larkin put her hands on her hips. “Daddy, that’s not funny.”
Darian nodded. “I’m sorry.” But he didn’t get the grin off his face.
Larkin turned back to her and held her hand out. “Emily, will you show us the playroom?”
Emily looked up at Grey, got his smile, turned toward the girls, and took Larkin’s hand.
Larkin led her up the steps, practically pushing her with the other two right behind.
“It’s the last door to the left,” Emily said.
“This is a cool house,” Sienna said.
Emily nodded.
The three girls gasped when Larkin swung the door open. There wasn’t much in the room, but it was painted a pretty light pink and had a colorful rug with swirls of color in the middle of the wooden floor. White shelves along one wall and a few soft-colored cushioned chairs had been put in, but otherwise, she was stuck on what to do.
She looked at the bags the girls brought. He had gotten her Barbies, and they had a car and a house for them, but she hadn’t wanted anything else. “What do you want to do?”
Larkin smiled. “How about we sit on the floor and go through the bags?”
“Those aren’t for me, are they?” Emily asked.
Larkin nodded. “Yes, we were thrilled to help with your playroom, and you’ll hurt our feelings if you don’t take them.”
Emily narrowed her eyes on Larkin because she knew she was trying to be sneaky.