Chapter 4 Daddy Is Shy
Coralyn’s POV
For a second, I thought my brain short-circuited again.
Because when I turned at the tug on my dress, my eyes slid straight into a familiar shade of deep forest green.
The green-eyed stranger.
There he was, his daughter was half-hidden behind my leg, her tiny hands gripping my dress like she had claimed me at that moment.
He still smelled like rich cologne.
He stepped forward and gently peeled his daughter’s hand off my dress.
"You...are inviting me to stay with you? But you do not know me. We are like… strangers."
He lifted his hand between us.
"My name is Orion Merrick. People sometimes call me Rye, although I prefer Orion. This is my daughter, Zilla. You met the both of us on the plane, so I believe we are not strangers anymore."
His eyes softened just slightly.
"Plus, you refused to let me pay for your dress or the dry cleaning. So I find it essential that I make us even."
I scratched the side of my head, half aware that the receptionist was staring like she was watching a drama unfold.
And standing this close to him, I felt intimidated in a way I did not want to admit. Like I might do something embarrassing simply because he existed within my breathing radius.
"It is a very spacious suite," he added, as if he sensed my anxiety.
"Three beds and plenty of room. So I do not think you would have any problem staying with us."
I hesitated.
"I do not know. It feels like I am imposing. Like I am intruding on your personal space."
"I am inviting you. So I do not see how it is imposing when I am the one who is making the offer."
This man had an answer for everything.
Before I could respond, tiny fingers gripped my sleeve.
Zilla peeked up, big-eyed and earnest.
"Please ma'am, say yes."
Her voice was so small that it could make anyone fawn over her.
"My teacher says Christmas is for helping people. And she says my dad is a Christmas Grinch, but I do not think he is, because he helped a lady who dropped her phone once, and he gave me extra candy yesterday, and he let me pick the window seat. And I think we can help you too."
She was talking in that breathless child rant rhythm.
Her hand curled shyly around the edge of my coat.
"My daughter is correct. I am not truly a fan of people. Mostly. But I don't think you have family around here, and it seems like you were very excited about this vacation. So sharing a suite with us will not be a problem."
I should not have said yes.
I absolutely should not have.
But what other choice did I have?
I could not go home.
And it wasn't like I could camp in the lobby until the storm retired.
"Okay." Come on...Cora. "I will stay, and thank you for inviting me to be your Christmas roommate. Since I do not have many options, I will accept your offer."
Zilla squealed softly and hugged my hip.
The receptionist blinked as if she had forgotten she was supposed to be working. Orion snapped his fingers in front of her and she jumped.
"Yes, Mister Merrick?"
"She will be staying in my suite."
"O-oh... yeah, I heard...of course. I'll be registering her now. Room sixty-eight, right?"
He nodded and turned to me.
"Let us get you settled."
I grabbed my luggage.
Zilla grabbed it too, planting her tiny hands on the handle.
She pushed with dramatic effort and the suitcase rolled easily (mainly because of the wheels underneath it) but... I had to let her think she was doing all the work.
"You are very strong," I told her.
Her smile brightened.
"My teacher says so too."
"You know, strength is a good thing... once I grabbed a guy's balls because—"
Orion narrowed his eyes at me.
Shit. She was a kid.
"Um...his soccer ball..because uh, he was a football player...um..."
She obviously looked confused but I waved it off with a smile.
Close one.
As we walked toward the elevators, she looked up at me again.
"Will you be staying all through the Christmas celebration?"
"If you both won't mind hosting me that long. Then yes, I planned to."
She grinned,
"Good. Because I think you are nice. And Dad needs more nice people around him, and you smell like cookies."
I knew she was sugar-coating complimenting me.
Because I smelled nothing like cookies at the moment.
Desperation, a tinge of sweat and receding frustration? Yes.
Zilla kept talking, swinging our hands.
"I hope you like our room. I made space for my teddy. You can meet him too. His name is Sprint because he runs fast, but he does not really run because he is a teddy."
As the elevator opened, Orion stepped aside, letting the both of us enter first.
She tugged me closer.
"Miss?."
I looked down at her rosy cheeks. Was she....flushed?
"Yes, Zilla?"
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"I think I like you."
A laugh escaped my lips.
"You're not so bad yourself kid." I playfully tapped her brown mini-bow. "Quite the stylish lady yourself."
×××××
As the doors slid shut, Orion stepped in last. He stood on the opposite side of Zilla, while she kept rambling on about why she picked this specific bow.
"Miss Coralyn, can we make cookies later?"
"Oh...I can't cook, or bake for shi—shipples."
Close one. Again.
"Oh." She tapped her chin. "Well, papa is an amazing cook."
Orion gave a short glance when she mentioned him. And for a millisecond we locked eyes.
Zilla whispered again, leaning into me.
"Dad is shy."
"I do not think he is."
"I do," she insisted confidently.
The elevator pinged for our floor, Zilla ran out first, tugging my hand, eager to lead me toward their suite like she had already appointed herself my holiday tour guide. I followed, tugging my luggage behind me.
I took one step forward and Orion reached out at the same time, probably to guide me around the corner.
Except his hand missed my waist.
And landed firmly on...
"Ah..." A gasp left my lips.
His palm was on my backside.