“Well, we’ve been here for almost three hours now, and she didn’t hardly anything at the hotel’s breakfast buffet,” Allison explained. “My guess is, she’s starting to get a little?—”
“I’m hungry.” Maddie pushed herself up and over the pool’s tiled edge. “Can we get pizza?”
“You were saying?” He shot the girl’s mother a crooked smile.
Rather than respond, she sat up straight and reached for a hotel-provided terrycloth towel. Without a word, Allison began drying the dripping water from her daughter’s drenched form.
“Can we, Mommy?”
“Can we what?”
Maddie’s round eyes grew wide with a pointed look sent in her mother’s direction. “Get pizza.”
“Oh. Right. Um…I don’t know.” She shook her head. “Delivery is expensive.”
The child’s face fell with disappointment, but it was quickly replaced with what appeared to be hope.
“Maybe the hotel has a coupon.” Maddie helped her mom wrap the towel around her small form. “We’ll have to wait and see.”
The comment was like a giant fist reaching into Liam’s chest and squeezing his heart. For her to jump to that option so quickly gave him a deeper insight into the life she and her mother had been living.
“I like pizza, too.” He spoke directly to Maddie, unable to let either of them worry about their next meal a second longer. “What kind is your favorite?”
“Pepperoni.” She didn’t so much as hesitate. “But Mommy likes veggies on hers.”
Liam reached for the phone he’d left on top of his folded towel. Opening an app for a nearby pizza delivery, he announced, “Two pepperonis and a veggie, coming up.”
“Oh, you don’t have to do that.” Allison shook her ponytailed head.
“We all have to eat, right?” He winked.
“Yeah, Mommy. We all have to eat.”
A laugh bubbled its way out before he could think to stop it. He didn’t have much experience with kids, but damn. This one, he liked.
“I have some cash in my purse,” the sexy blonde shared. “Tell me how much it is, and I’ll pay you as soon as we get back to the room.”
“No need.” He confirmed the order before picking up his towel and pushing himself to his feet. “Any food we get while you’re under my protection is considered a business expense.”
“Right, but I still need to?—”
“It’s a write-off, Al.” The shortened version of her name just sort of slipped out. “Really. It’s no big deal.”
Though she looked as if she wanted to say more, Allison clamped her lips closed and gave him a nod. “Thank you.”
“It’s all part of the job.” He smiled, shifting his focus down to Maddie. “But it’ll be here in about forty-five minutes, and I’m guessing you need a bath before you eat.”
“But I’m already wet.” The cutie pie frowned.
“True, but you should wash off the chemicals that are in the pool water.”
“What are chemcicals?”
“Never mind.” He chuckled. “Come on. Let’s get you and your mom back to the room.”
Ninety minutesand several slices of pizza later, the three of them were sitting in the living room area of the suite he’d gotten for the girls.
“You reallydolike pizza, huh?” Liam motioned to the empty paper plate in Maddie’s lap.
