Please Me Daddy (Gracie) novel Chapter 134

Aren’t you a little bit bold, kid?

Grace

“Would you like to kiss me, Grace?”

That was what I heard. But I was sure, that was not what he had just said.

River didn’t see me like that. To him, I was just a friend, maybe even like a sister. So why was he suddenly standing so close? Why was his hand tilting my chin up, histhumb brushing softly against my skin, like he was waiting for the slightest nod, the smallest sign that he could lean in and kiss me?

My mind went blank.

What was even happening right now?

Was it the dress? Did it make him act this way?

That didn’t make sense. Sure, I looked nice. But that didn’t mean he would be attracted to me. There were plenty of women with better figures, and they practically hovered around him every day, desperate for a glance. But he never cared. So why was he looking at me like that?

“Grace.” His hand slid to my waist, holding me in place.

He leaned in, close enough that I could feel the warmth of his breath brushing my lips. His voice dropped low, teasing, and dangerous. “If you don’t answer,” he murmured, “I’ll stop being a gentleman and claim your lips.”

My heart thudded loudly in my chest. I blinked, frozen. Then, before he could get any closer, I lifted a hand and pressed it gently against his forehead.

He paused, brows furrowing as he looked at me.

“Your temperature’s normal,” I said.

“What?” he asked, his voice caught somewhere between disbelief and amusement.

I tilted my head, pretending to think. “I’m just wondering what’s wrong, You’re behaving strangely.”

He stared at me for a long second, the corner of his mouth twitching like he couldn’t decide whether I was being serious or just losing it, then he actually laughed.

“Strange, huh?” he said between chuckles. “And what do you think is making me behave strange, Grace?”

I frowned, pretending to think it over, then leaned forward, close enough that he paused. Our faces were just inches apart, our breaths mingling. Then I leaned in a little closer, and sniffed his mouth.

His eyes widened, surprise flashing across his face as he instinctively leaned back, a hand flying up to cover his mouth. For the first time since I’d known him, River actually looked caught off guard.

I almost laughed. So this is what it felt like, catching him off guard for once.

I leaned back in my seat, feigning innocence. “I was just checking if you’d been drinking”

For a moment, he just stared at me, clearly not expecting that. Then his head tipped back and a rich, genuine laugh escaped him.

“Unbelievable,” he said, shaking his head, the corners of his lips lifting higher. “I can’t tell if you’re clueless, or if you’re doing this just to make things harder for me.”

“Harder for you?” I blinked. “I wasn’t trying to-

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Are you a little bit bold kid

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He just laughed again, before finally stepping back. “And here I thought you thought highly of me, Grace. I may be strange, but I don’t show up to work drunk.”

I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly. “I know. I was just messing with you.”

River sighed, but his eyes were still glinting with amusement. “Well,” he said, smirking, “I guess I was rejected.”

“Rejected for what?”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m not the type to give up easily. I’ll just have to work harder.”

I looked at him and smiled. It was nice to finally see him acting like himself again.

“Do you want to talk later?”

His head tilted slightly, that familiar curious look flickering across his face, and immediately I backtracked, waving my hands a little. “I mean, it’s fine if you don’t want to. I was just worried about you these past few days. If you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here.”

For a second, I thought he would tease me again, but instead, River’s grin softened into something genuine. Thank you, Grace.”

I smiled wider. “No need to thank me. We’re friends, after all.”

“Yeah,” he said, still smiling. “Friends.”

“Miss Grace!” someone called from across the room.

I turned toward the voice, spotting one of the interns waving for me to come over. I sighed and looked back at River. “They must be calling me because of work.”

He nodded, slipping his hands into his pockets again, watching me.

“Bye, River,” I said, lifting a hand to wave. “Let’s talk later Take care of yourself, okay?”

He nodded and I turned and walked away, feeling his gaze on my back until I disappeared into the backstage.

****

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River

I watched her walk away, that smile still lingering on her lips as she disappeared into the noise and light of the backstage. A small smile pulled at my own mouth before I could stop it.

She was really a strange woman.

The kind that never tried to impress, never realized how much she did.

“Are you just going to let her leave?”

The amused female voice behind me broke through my thoughts. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. That sly, teasing tone was impossible to mistake.

I tilted my head slightly, still keeping my eyes fixed in the direction Grace had gone. “You want me to chase after her?” I said. “Aren’t you supposed to be on my uncle’s side”

Genesis chuckled, the sound low and mocking. “So you know the relationship between her and your uncle,” she said, “and yet you’re still chasing after your uncle’s woman Aren’t you a little bit bold, kid?”

I finally turned, facing her. Genesis leaned lazily against the wall, a lollipop between her lips, eyes gleaming with amusement. She always looked like she knew something I didn’t.

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Aren’t you a little bit bold kid?

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“Woman?” I repeated with a smirk. “From what I know, she’s not my uncle’s woman yet. He didn’t exactly put a name on whatever it is they have.”

Genesis arched an eyebrow. “And how do you know that? Maybe they are in a relationship.”

I met her gaze. “I know my uncle. He’s not the type to do that. What they have is just physical. A sexual arrangement. Nothing more.”

She laughed softly, swirling the lollipop between her fingers. “And yet you still want her, after knowing your uncle’s the one sleeping with her?”

“Why not?” I said with a casual shrug. “Of course I’m jealous. Seeing them together pisses me off. But I can’t take her from him by force. He’d kill me if I tried. But I’ll make fair. If she falls in love with me, my uncle can’t force her to stay with him.”

For a moment, Genesis just looked at me, studying my face like she was searching for something beneath the surface. Then she smiled. “You Reeds are insane,” she said “And don’t be too sure of yourself. You never know they might’ve already fallen in love with each other.”

I turned away, hands in my pockets. “Only time will tell.”

I took a step forward, ready to leave, but her voice stopped me.

“Let me give you a piece of advice, River Reed.”

I paused mid–step, glancing at her over my shoulder.

“I know you’re doing something,” Genesis said, her tone suddenly serious, the playfulness gone. “And whatever that is, you’d better stop playing games. I’d hate to see you become the villain in this story.”

Her words hung in the air for a moment.

I smirked faintly, but didn’t reply.

Instead, I just turned and walked away, her warning echoing somewhere in the back of my mind.