Page 46 of Margo

Sure enough, the limo pulled into the loading strip at the front of the casino and rolled to a stop in front of them.

Before the limo driver could step out, and come around to open the door, the girls rushed it, yanking the door open and all but climbing into the backseat with Baze and Luna.

In their excitement for them to get out, they blocked them in, each of them jabbering at a million miles a minute, with Luna matching their speed.

Baze tried to get their attention more than once, but they always seemed to cut him off, not allowing him to get a word in edgewise.

Finally, an ear-piercing shrieking sound cut through their noise, and Margo looked over to see Baze sitting there with his fingers in his mouth, about to whistle again.

Jumping away from the limo, she ran back over to where Knox and Jade were standing, holding the sign.

The rest of the girls followed her, looking sheepish as they resumed their places on the sidewalk.

Finally, the driver came around to the trunk and took out their bags, Baze’s large black one and Luna’s two smaller hot-pink plastic ones. Then, even though they’d left it standing open, he grabbed the door handle and held it, gesturing for Baze and Luna to make their exit.

Baze got out first and held out his hand for his new bride. They were both much tanner. That was the first thing Margo noticed as they stepped from the dark limo into the sunlight.

Luna dropped Baze’s hand and rushed at her friends. “Hi, Hi!” she exclaimed, hugging them each individually and then again as a group.

“Hi yourself,” Margo answered. “Did you have fun?”

“Oh. Em. Gee. So. Much. Fun. Jamaica is beautiful, and I brought back presents for everyone. I can’t wait for you to see them. Margo, I got you something special for Knox to use.” Luna winked and Margo groaned.

“Whatever it is, he doesn’t need it,” Margo retorted, but she couldn’t help but smile.

“Whatever. And B.T.W. I want to hear everything that happened while I was gone. Especially with Knox. I want deets.” She lowered her voice an octave and addressed Margo directly. “I’m so sorry about what Baze did, by the way. It really wasn’t cool. I tried to tell him that, but you know Daddies… when they think they’re acting in your best interests, there’s no convincing them otherwise, even if you do know better than they do.”

“Who knows better?” Baze asked, coming up behind them. Mariah gasped, widening her eyes and Luna just smiled sweetly.

“You do of course, Daddy. Always,” she said, batting her eyelashes.

It was obvious that everyone, but especially Baze, knew she was mocking him.

Before he could respond, Margo ran from their little circle and back over to Knox, grabbing his hand, simply for the statement it made. Before Luna could ask more questions, or Baze could scold her, Margo wanted to make it very clear where she stood.

It worked. Both of them turned to stare and a slow, wide smile spread across Baze’s face as he made his way over to them.

“Well… well, well. Could it be? Did my plan work? Are the two of you official?”

Knox looked at Margo and she took a step forward, dropping Knox’s hand to hug Baze tightly around the waist. After a few seconds, she pulled back to look up at him. “I was mad at you when you left. Like really, really mad, but now… I’m just grateful. I know you were doing what you thought was best, and what you always do. You saved me from myself and forced me to keep my word.”

“I’m glad it worked out. I second-guessed myself a lot,” Baze admitted. “So… does that mean the ongoing saga of Knox and Margo taking it slow is over and done with?”

Margo shifted her gaze to look at her Daddy and let go of Baze’s waist.

“Yes… and no,” Knox answered, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her as he spoke to Baze over the top of her head. “In the way of being Daddy and Little girl and having our own rules, we are on a fast track, thank you very much,” he quipped. “You’re a very good matchmaker. Derek better watch out or Utopia will end up giving Rawhide a run for their money in the matchmaking department.”

Baze just chuckled. “I don’t know about that. I didn’t do much aside from make Margo keep her word and give you both a nudge onto the track.”

There was a moment of understanding silence between the three of them before Baze spoke again. “So… what does yes and no mean, exactly?”

“It means…” Margo got stuck in her explanation and looked at her Daddy for help.

“It means, Margo knows she is mine, and she will follow my rules, which match yours for the most part with a few extras. But, we are taking time to get used to that, and too much time all at once scares her.” He grinned. “So, since I don’t have my room set up for a Little yet, and her family she has made with you and Luna and the others is so important to her, she’s going to continue to stay in the penthouse for the time being, and sometimes spend the night with me. That is, if that’s all right with you?”

“Of course it is,” Baze answered quickly. “And this is what you want Margo? To keep taking it slow?”

Margo nodded, relieved that he was on board with their plan. “I’ve learned that too much change at once makes me super anxious,” she admitted. “Besides that, it took me a long time to find my chosen family, and I’m not ready to let them go yet.” She scrunched her nose, not quite sure how to articulate the last part. “Some people… sometimes… it’s important that we all move at our own pace,” she finally said, “and I think mine is slow… until it isn’t. For now… I’m not ready to move out of the penthouse full time, or to get engaged or have a wedding. Just because it worked so well for you and Luna, doesn’t mean it’s gonna work for me.”