Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Lulu

So.

She was going to be working with Ben. That would be fine. No problem at all. Big boss Ben.

He would definitely be a good boss, right? Not like Mark at the greeting card company. He would be firm but fair, stern but supportive, and definitely, definitely, not totally, distractingly, smoking hot.

What would be distracting about working with the sexiest guy she’d ever met? What would be distracting about a guy who she’d fantasized about every second since she’d bumped into him outside the Nursery a few days ago?

God, she’d love him to spank her.

To kiss her.

To push his fingers inside her and. . .

“Enough!” she shouted out. “No more, Flopsy. People aren’t allowed to sleep with their bosses. It’s yucky. And probably illegal. Ben and I are . . . business associates. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Still in bed, Lulu pulled her knees to her chest and reached for her stuffed rabbit. She hugged him tight, nuzzling her cheek against his soft fur.

"Today's the big day!" she whispered. "My first planning meeting for the Christmas carnival. And I’m not going to act like a horny little rabbit. I’m going to act like a normal human being."

She felt like she had a swarm of butterflies in her stomach. It wasn’t just that she was going to be working with Ben. No. She was also anxious about her role as Artistic Director. It was a huge responsibility, especially for an outsider like her who had only recently arrived at the ranch.

"Can I really handle this?" Lulu murmured to Flopsy, giving him a squeeze. "What if I mess up and ruin the carnival? Or make a fool of myself in front of Ben?" She sighed, her brow furrowing. If he knew the effect he had on her, how tongue-tied and flustered she got in his presence, he probably wouldn't have agreed to work with her in the first place.

Lulu hopped out of bed. She padded over to the closet and began rummaging through her clothes, searching for the perfect outfit. She wanted to look professional yet still express her playful Little side. After much deliberation, she settled on a pale pink sweater the color of cotton candy and a denim skirt that hit just above her knees—youthful and feminine, but still mature.

She finished off the look with a pink-and-white “Santa’s little helper” elf hat.

As Louisa examined her reflection in the full-length mirror, uncertainty niggled at her. The sweater brought out the emerald sparkle in her eyes and the skirt flattered her figure, but would Ben take her seriously? Was the hat a crazy idea? She nervously fiddled with a lock of her wavy chestnut hair.

"Get it together, Lulu!" she chided herself firmly. "Today is about the carnival, not your silly schoolgirl crush. You've got to focus." She gave herself a resolute nod in the mirror.

Louisa's heart raced as she approached the meeting room, her notebook clutched tightly to her chest. Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door, only to see Ben already there. He sat at the table, his sandy blond hair tucked under a Stetson as he studied the sketches she had left behind.

At the sound of her entrance, Ben looked up, his piercing blue eyes locking with hers. A warm smile spread across his rugged features. "Lulu! Good morning. I was just admiring your sketches."

A blush crept up Lulu’s cheeks as she returned his smile shyly. She loved how he called her Lulu. Mark never did that. "Thanks, Sir. I'm glad you like them." She moved to take a seat across from him, her hands trembling slightly as she set down her notebook.

“I’m looking forward to working with you,” he said. He was so professional, so distant.

“Me too,” she squeaked, already feeling silly in her hat.

They began, working on a map of the woods near the Maple Cabin, thinking about which stalls could go where, and what the decorations might be like.

Lulu found herself stumbling over her words, her tongue tied in knots. She mentally kicked herself. Why did he have this effect on her? She had never been good around her bosses, but then, she had never had a good boss before.

After a couple of hours, Ben suggested they take a coffee break.

“I’d love that,” she said with a nod. “I’m kind of a coffee addict back home.”

Ben smiled. “Nothing wrong with that. But how about we go for something festive? A cinnamon-spiced latte, perhaps? Something to get us in the festive mood?”

“Great idea!”

Ben fetched them the lattes from the ranch coffee shop and brought them back to the meeting room, the cinnamon scent filling the air.

“I love your hat, by the way,” he said as he handed her the cup of coffee.

“You do?” she asked, blushing. “I wasn’t sure if it was . . . unprofessional.”

Ben looked at her, his brows knitted together. “You worry about that, even in a place like this?”

She winced. “Maybe it’s silly. I mean, you know I’m a Little, so I guess I have nothing to hide.”

Ben blinked at her. "Tell me more about your job back home." He leaned forward with genuine interest.

Louisa fidgeted with her pen. "Oh, it's nothing special, really. I design greeting cards. Pretty boring stuff." She gave a self-deprecating laugh, avoiding his gaze.

But Ben shook his head, his eyes filled with admiration. "Are you kidding? That sounds amazing, Louisa. Greeting cards are hardly boring. They can be funny, sweet, romantic, serious. Think about every major event in a person’s life. How do we celebrate it? With a greeting card. When people get married, when they graduate, when they get older, hell, even when they die. There’s a card for everything. And helping to craft those cards for all those important moments . . . it’s a big responsibility.”

His words made Louisa's heart flutter, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I guess that’s true. And it’s kind of why I got into it in the first place. The problem, I guess, is that my boss . . . well, he doesn’t make it a very nice place to work.”

Lines appeared on Ben’s forehead. “He’s mean to you?”

“I guess he’s very result-oriented. And he thinks everyone works exactly like him. One snap of the fingers and out pops a new greeting card idea. But for me, well, the process isn’t linear. I need time to daydream, to doodle, to think outside the box. And ideally, to be myself, though that’s not always possible. . . ”

Ben nodded. “I get that. You need a boss that appreciates that everyone has a different style of work. Who understands your individual strengths.”

She smiled. “That’s exactly right.”

“You know, I’ve worked with a lot of people in my time. I’ve always found that understanding that everyone’s different is the best way to get the best out of everyone.” He paused. “My problem is that I care a little too much. I guess it’s very time-consuming, trying to support that many people.”

“It must get exhausting. Hard to find the time for yourself,” Lulu said kindly.

Ben smiled. “I find it quite energizing most of the time, thankfully. But . . . I’m not sure the people around me do.”

Lulu wanted to press Ben on that further. There was a sadness in his eyes now, and she wanted so badly to help him make it go away. But she saw him shaking his head, as though trying to push the thoughts out of his brain.

And then, suddenly, his expression changed. "Hey, I have an idea. What if we do a live storytelling event as part of the carnival? Some of the Littles can dress up as the characters. Bring the lovely creatures from your book to life!"

Lulu’s face broke into a grin, excitement bubbling up inside her. "That's a great idea!" she exclaimed, her earlier nervousness forgotten.

She reached for a pencil to jot this down, but Ben went for the same one. Their hands brushed, a jolt of electricity passing between them at the contact. Lulu quickly withdrew hers, her cheeks flushing a deep pink. She glanced up at Ben, noticing the softness in his eyes as he looked at her, a gentle smile playing on his lips. The air felt thick with unspoken tension.

He's just being nice because we're working together.

It doesn’t mean anything.

But if it didn’t mean anything, why was her heart still pounding? And why was he looking at her like that? Like a wolf, eyeing a lamb.

Her mind flashed back to their first meeting, when he’d pulled away from her. Told her “it was a big ranch” so they might not run into one another. It had felt like he was making a quick escape. The memory stung, reinforcing her doubts. Someone as experienced and successful as Ben wouldn't be interested in a novice like her, still navigating her own Little identity.

Determined to maintain a professional demeanor, Lulu refocused her attention on the carnival plans. "What if we had a costume contest?" she suggested, her voice a bit too bright. "We could have different categories, like most creative, cutest, and best book character!"

Ben grinned, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "That's a great idea! We could even have a little parade where they show off their costumes."

As they continued to plan, she couldn't help but steal glances at Ben, admiring the way his strong hands gestured enthusiastically as he spoke, the genuine excitement in his voice.

"You're so good with Littles," she blurted out, immediately feeling shy. "I mean, the way you come up with these ideas . . . they're going to love it."

Ben's smile softened, his blue eyes meeting hers. "Thanks, Lulu. I have quite a bit of experience working with Littles. It’s my passion.”

Lulu hesitated, her heart pounding as she gathered the courage to ask the question that had been on her mind. "Ben, are you . . . are you a Daddy Dom?" She bit her lip, her cheeks flushing with a mix of curiosity and nervousness.

Ben's eyes widened slightly, but a warm grin spread across his face. "Yes, I am," he confirmed, his voice gentle yet confident. "I run an ageplay night club back home, so it would be a little strange if I wasn't," he added with a chuckle.

Lulu’s mind raced, imagining the countless Littles Ben must have encountered. "So, you've met, like, a ton of Littles?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded, his expression softening. "I have, but each Little is unique and special in their own way."

Lulu had never had a Daddy before, and the thought of Ben's vast experience made her feel like a complete novice.

Ben, as if sensing her unease, leaned forward, his eyes filled with genuine concern. "Lulu, have you ever had a Daddy before?"

She shook her head, her voice catching in her throat. "No, I haven't."

He nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Is there anyone here at the ranch who you think you might be compatible with?" His voice sounded hoarse all of a sudden.

Lulu’s mind immediately went to Ben, but she quickly pushed the thought away. "I . . . I don't know," she stammered. She forced a smile, trying to mask the turmoil within. "I'm sure there are plenty of wonderful people here," she said, her voice strained. "But right now, I think it's best if I focus on the carnival and getting settled in."

Ben's eyes searched hers, as if trying to read the truth behind her words, but he simply nodded, respecting her decision. "Of course, Lulu. We're all here to support you, in whatever way you need."

Lulu took a deep breath, pushing aside her swirling emotions. "So, about the carnival decorations," she began, her voice bright with forced enthusiasm. "I was thinking we could have a giant gingerbread house as the centerpiece, with twinkling lights and candy canes all around."

Ben nodded. “Love it. We could even have a gingerbread decorating station for the Littles."

"Ooh, and a hot-cocoa stand, with all sorts of toppings and flavors!"

As they brainstormed, the tension between them melted away, replaced by a shared sense of purpose and joy. Lulu found herself laughing easily, caught up in the magic of their vision.

"You know," Ben said softly, his gaze warm and appreciative, "I can tell this carnival means a lot to you. The way your eyes light up when you talk about it . . . it's really special."

Lulu ducked her head, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "I just want to create something amazing for everyone," she murmured. "Growing up, Christmas was always a bit lonely for me. I want to make sure no one feels that way here."

Ben reached out, his hand gently covering hers. "With you at the helm, I have no doubt this will be the most incredible Christmas carnival Littlecreek Ranch has ever seen."

Lulu’s heart fluttered at his touch, a wave of warmth spreading through her. For a moment, she allowed herself to bask in the connection, in the feeling of being seen and understood.

But as quickly as it came, the moment passed. Lulu withdrew her hand, her smile turning bittersweet. "Thank you, Sir. That means a lot to me."

Ben stood up and walked over to the small kitchenette in the corner of the meeting room. "Before you go, how about another drink to celebrate our progress?"

“I don’t think I could drink another coffee,” she replied. “I’d be bouncing off the walls.”

“Not a coffee,” he said. He grinned, holding up a colorful sippy cup. "I've got just the thing for a hardworking Little like you."

Lulu giggled, feeling a warm flutter in her chest at his playful gesture. "A sippy cup?” she said, trying to push away her embarrassment. “You're definitely in full Daddy mode now."

“Nothing wrong with that,” he returned playfully. “How about we get you into full Little mode?”

Why, oh why, was it so sexy when he said that?

He filled the cup with apple juice and handed it to her. As she took a sip, Lulu felt herself slipping into Little space, the world around her softening at the edges.

Ben watched her with a gentle smile. "You know, your whole face lights up when you talk about being Little. It's beautiful to see."

Lulu blushed, looking down at her feet. "It's still new to me, being able to express this side of myself."

"Have you ever been regressed, Lulu?" Ben asked, his voice low and soothing.

She shook her head. "No."

Ben leaned in closer, his eyes locked on hers. "Would you like to be?"

Lulu’s breath caught in her throat. Before she could answer, Ben reached out and gently wiped a drop of juice from her lower lip with his thumb.

Without thinking, Lulu kissed his thumb, a feather-light touch that sent sparks racing through her body.

Ben's eyes darkened with desire. "You don't know how much I want to lean over and kiss you right now."

"Then do it," Lulu whispered, her heart pounding in her chest.

Ben closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. When he opened them again, they were filled with a mix of longing and regret. "I can't," he said softly. "I think we had better stop there, don't you?"

Lulu nodded, a lump forming in her throat. She knew he was right, but it didn't make the ache in her heart any less intense. “Yes, Sir,” she said. “We work together. It wouldn’t be appropriate.”

Plus, you’re not really into me. This is just some sort of . . . festive fling.

With a final, bittersweet smile, she turned and left the meeting room, the sippy cup clutched tightly in her hand.

Back in her cabin, Lulu flopped onto her bed, hugging Flopsy close to her chest.

Had that really just happened?

It had felt like they were going to kiss.

And then they just . . . hadn’t.

"I have to focus on the carnival and my book," she said firmly, trying to convince herself as much as her stuffed companion. "He doesn’t want me. I’ve got to accept it."

She sat up, determined to pour her energy into creating a magical experience for the ranch's guests. Yet, as she settled down to sketch out more ideas, Lulu couldn't shake the feeling that her resolve may not hold for long.