Owen
I’m pretty sure Ryan and Meredith still have some if you want a square.
Maverick
That’s what I call a team player. Good work, Sly.
Shaking my head,I put my phone in my pocket, checking my reflection before heading downstairs. My hair’s still too long, but otherwise, I’m good.
“Did you see me walking Peepee, Daddy?” Maddie meets me at the bottom of the stairs, holding up her arms, Zander in hand.
I reach down to lift her onto my waist. “I sure did. You looked like a real pro out there.”
“I’m going to walk with her in the dog show. But only if you say it’s okay. That’s what Miss Gina said.”
Her eyes are round, and I smile, thinking of Gina working with her, teaching her to walk that little dog, supporting my position as Maddie’s dad.A second chance…
“I think that would be a lot of fun, Shortcake.”
“You do?” A huge smile breaks across her face, and she throws her arms around my neck. “Thank you, Daddy! And you’re going to walk Ladybird!”
My brows furrow, and I put her on her feet again. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea. We’ve talked about LB.”
“You can do it.” She holds my hand, walking with me to the door. “It just takes practice, and then after a little while it just clicks into place like a puzzle piece. That’s what Miss Gina said, and it’s true.”
Stopping at the door, I give her another hug. “If Miss Gina said so, I’ll give it another try. Now I’m meeting her for lunch. Wish me luck.”
My daughter’s face scrunches. “Why do you need luck to eat lunch?”
“I’ll tell you later.” I tweak her chin and jog out to my truck.
It only takes a minute to drive down the block to our old residence. Gina walks out when she sees me, and she looks so good. She’s wearing a navy plaid skirt that shows off her long legs, and a navy sweater that clings to her body in a way that should be sinful.
She skips out to the truck, her long hair shining in the morning sun, and I hop out to open the door for her.
“Such a gentleman.” She pauses to kiss my lips before climbing into the cab.
My eyes slide down to the hem of her skirt rising up the curve of that ass, and I fight the urge to touch her there.
“I’m not always a gentleman.” I shut the door, jogging around to the other side and climbing in.
She scoots across the seat to lean closer and whisper in my ear. “You’re not, and I like it a lot.”
I catch her face before she can move away and kiss her. “Good.”
It’s a short drive to the Alcove, and it’s not too crowded when we arrive.
“I love this place!” Gina grabs my hand. “It’s like something out of a storybook.”
“That’s what Maverick told me. He said you have a thing for greenery.”
“And this place is historic. You know these are two of the oldest homes in Los Feliz? They date back to the 1800s.”
She’s so excited, I can’t help a chuckle. “As long as the food’s good.”
“The lemon ricotta pancakes are incredible, and they have great vegan and gluten-free options.”
“I’m not either of those.”
