“Lunch is in the microwave in case you’re hungry,” she informed him as she stretched a hand toward her granddaughter.
“Er, Mom.” Tyler ran his fingers through his midnight-black hair. “You don’t have to bother yourself. I’ll take her to the dance school.”
The woman’s brows arched.
“I want to have a word with the owner of the school.”
After a moment’s silence, she nodded. Tyler hoped she wouldn’t take it to heart because she loved doing things with her granddaughter. He would have acquiesced, but he really wanted to be the one to take Lili to her first dance and every dance class, if possible.
She smiled and turned to the little girl. “Come give me a hug and a kiss, sweetie. Daddy is going to take you to your dance class.”
“Okay, Grandma,” Lili said and whirled her body to give the woman a hug and a kiss.
Tyler’s mom kissed her granddaughter’s cheek. “Have a nice time, sweetie. Remember, you’re already a star.”
Lili nodded and smiled. “Bye, Grandma.”
“Bye, sweetie.”
Tyler walked up to the imposing oaken front door with his daughter. He turned and nodded at his mother, who was observing both of them with fond eyes.
“See you later, Mom,” he said as he opened the front door.
“Bye, Ty. Drive safely.”
“I will, Mom,” Tyler returned and shut the front door.
Hand in hand, father and daughter ambled to the car, where he helped her into the back seat. He helped her with her seatbelt, kissed her forehead, and shut the door.
Swiftly, he strode around the car and slid into the driver’s seat. Through the rear-view mirror, he glanced at his daughter.
“Are you ready?”
She nodded.
Tyler acknowledged that the question was for him as much as it was for her. Was he ready to see that selfish woman again? He didn’t think he was, but it couldn’t be helped.
Chapter 3
A low sigh escaped from Tyler’s lips as he pulled in front of the Just Dance dancing studio. He stayed in that position for a moment looking at the large red building that was flagged by a restaurant and a spa. Tyler admitted that he would rather be at the dentist having his teeth pulled out than be there but for his daughter. He curved his body in his seat and gave Lili a tender smile.
“Here we are, Pumpkin. Do you think we should go in now, or do you want to wait till it’s time to go in?”
Glancing around her as a car pulled to a stop beside theirs and a little girl climbed out of it with the aid of their mother, his daughter nodded.
“Let’s go in, Daddy.” Her voice was laced with excitement.
He wished he could be as enthusiastic as she was. Schooling his features, he pushed open the door and alighted from the vehicle. Quickly walking around the car, he reached his daughter’s side and helped her with her seatbelt and also to alight from the car.
He held her hand as they walked into the cool interior of the building. Tyler pushed away the recollection of the other time he was there. Several pictures of girls in various dance positions graced the brown walls.
Intending to speak to Kaiya, he had come a little bit early. But now he was beginning to wonder if it wasn’t a mistake because there was no one about. He glanced down at his daughter, who was looking around her with something akin to awe on her face.
Just then, a slim woman with blonde hair and a moon face walked into the lobby. She saw them and smiled broadly. Then she quickly walked over to them.
“Hello. I’m Molly,” she introduced herself and shook hands with him after he told her his name. Then she bent to look at Lili. “And who’s this pretty little angel?”
Giggling, his daughter answered, “I’m Lili.”
