“And Aunt Dani.”
He smiled down at her. “We can’t forget about Aunt Dani. All of them love you so much and want you to be happy. And so do I.”
Hope mingled with the sorrow lingering in her eyes. “I love you too, Daddy.”
Untangling herself from Princess Pumpkin, she climbed onto hislap and wrapped her arms around his neck. Burying his face in her curls, he soaked in all the comfort her hug provided. Despite being the adult tasked to soothe and protect, it never ceased to amaze him how any affection from his girls had the effect of calming his own emotions.
“But Isla,” he said after a minute, sliding her backward on his legs enough to look her in the eye, “it’s never okay to kick people.”
She dropped her gaze to the bedspread. “I know. I just … don’t want another nanny. I miss Annelise.”
Christian tucked her securely back in his embrace. “So do I.”
“Why can’tyoustay home with us?”
“I really wish I could.” He meant that more than anything. “But it’s my responsibility to take care of you. You know what responsibility means, right? We’ve talked about it.”
She thought for a few seconds. “It’s doing the things you have to do, even when it’s not fun, and you’d rather do something you love.”
“That’s right.” He tapped the end of her nose with his finger. “And part of my responsibility is making money so you and Nellie have all the things you need to grow big and strong. That means I have to go away sometimes and someone else has to care for you, even though I’d rather be here. But I won’t stop looking until I find a nanny who thinks you’re the coolest kid on the planet.”
“Pinky promise?”
He held up both fists with only his little fingers extended. “Double pinky promise.”
Her smile finally broke free and she locked her pinkies with his. She kissed her fist as Christian leaned forward to do the same with his. He couldn’t remember the origins of their little ritual, but their pinky promises were as binding as signing a legal document.
“But you need to make me a promise too,” he said, arching an eyebrow.
“What’s that?”
“No more kicking. Okay?”
She snuggled into his chest. “Okay.”
They sat for several minutes, the sounds of Penelope playing inthe next room the only thing breaking the silence. Christian leaned his head back against the headboard and closed his eyes. He’d handled this crisis, and he appreciated the momentary pause from the chaos.
Because he never knew when the next storm would blow through, but it always did.
It always did.
Christian had a daughter.
No, he hadtwodaughters. That would’ve been nice to know before showing up at his place unannounced. Why hadn’t Tyler told her?
Sure, Hallie could’ve figured it out if she’d just looked in his backseat the day he’d given her a ride. In her defense, the rain had made the inside of the car darker than normal, and she was more focused on her wet clothes than snooping around Christian’s space.
Once she’d come down from the panic of being accosted by his dog, she’d immediately recognized the cute little girl from the library last week. Who could forget those angelic cheeks? She was Christian’s daughter? Oh, the irony.
Hallie’s shin throbbed as she pulled into her driveway a few minutes later. She limped up the steps to the porch. Man, Christian’s older child packed a mean kick for someone so little. The girl couldn’t be more than six years old.
The house was quiet when she let herself inside. Beej’s shift at the hospital ran until eight, and Kendall no doubt had decided to study late at the campus library tonight. Hallie didn’t know what McKenzie’s plans were, but with Mitch on break from tournaments this week, she was probably at his apartment. He’d recently relocated from his old place in Long Beach to be closer to his fiancée.
Hallie didn’t bother turning on a light to chase away the growing shadows inside the house. She took the stairs at a jog in the dark, sliding her phone from her back pocket once she’d made it to the upstairs landing. Crossing through her open bedroom door, she hit the first speed dial and anxiously tapped her free hand against her thigh, waiting for Elise to answer.
“He’s got kids!” she blurted as soon as the call connected.
“Who’s got kids?” The man’s Irish brogue immediately announced his identity.
