“You slept over?”she asked innocently.
“I did.”He walked closer and crouched down to her level.
Maddy studied him with narrowed eyes, too smart for six.“You and Mommy are dating now?”
Dasher choked, caught off guard.“That ...uh.That’s complicated but yes, I’d like to think so.”
She tilted her head like a tiny interrogator.“Did you kiss her?”
“Maddy,” he said, laughing under his breath.
“I saw the look on her face last night,” she said matter-of-factly, like she was already planning their wedding.“She likes you again.”
He scratched his beard.“Well, I like her too.A lot.”
“Okay,” she said, apparently satisfied with that answer.“Do you like pancakes?”
“I love pancakes,” Dasher replied solemnly.
“Good.Me too.”She stood and dusted off her hands, clearly business now.“I’ll let you help if you don’t burn them.”
He saluted.“Yes, ma’am.”
They headed to the kitchen.Maddy dragged a chair over to the counter with serious intent and climbed up, standing proudly.She pointed to the mixing bowls like a commander directing her troops.
“Whisk,” she instructed.“Two eggs.One cup of milk.No lumps.”
Dasher chuckled, grabbing the bowl.“Yes, Chef.”
Her tiny brow furrowed as she watched him crack the eggs.“You’re not allowed to get shell bits in there.That’s gross.”
“Understood.”He worked carefully, keeping his smile tucked behind his focus.
There was something grounding in her bossiness, in the rhythm of kitchen noises, in the safe normalcy of it all.She reminded him a little of Ellie.She was fierce, smart, with a big heart she tried to keep tucked behind a no-nonsense attitude.
They moved through the steps of the recipe, and Maddy made him redo the whisking twice before she deemed it acceptable.Halfway through flipping the first pancake, he sensed movement behind him.He glanced up and nearly fumbled the spatula.
Ellie stood in the doorway, arms crossed, wearing one of his old flannel shirts, sleeves rolled up past her elbows.It hung loose on her frame, just brushing her thighs.Her hair was tousled, her eyes still soft from sleep.She was, without a doubt, the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
“Well, well,” she said, voice teasing.“What’s going on in here?”
Maddy grinned proudly.“Dasher’s my pancake assistant.”
“He’s doing okay,” Ellie said, her gaze landing on him with a warmth that made his stomach flip.
Dasher flipped the pancake, a little smug now.“Not bad for an outlaw.”
She raised an eyebrow.“Mmm.I think I like this softer side of you.”
He turned toward her, spatula in hand, the heat from the stove nothing compared to the heat in his gut.“Only for you, Ellie.”
Her cheeks flushed, but she didn’t look away.The air between them hummed with something unsaid, something alive.
They ate breakfast together at the small round table.Maddy chatted nonstop about school and Christmas decorations and how Santa probably liked pancakes too.Dasher listened, adding comments here and there, but most of his attention stayed on Ellie.On her laughter, the way she kept looking at him like she didn’t quite believe he was real.
After breakfast, Maddy ran off to the living room with a plastic wand and declared herself Queen of the Pillow Fort.Dasher stood to help clean up, but Ellie was already gathering plates.
“I got it,” he said.
