“Oh, hey! I didn’t know you were still here.”
The unexpected sound of his daughter’s voice tookhim by surprise “Shadow?” Rafe frowned, his gaze sliding to Digger. “I thought you two were supposed to be at Falcon and Avery’s.”
“We just left there,” Digger responded as the two exited the elevator together. “But Shadow wanted to swing by here on the way home.”
“I accidentally left that new tablet I ordered on my desk,” she explained. “I figured I’d spend the weekend loading it up with my usual programs, so it’d be ready to go for the next op.”
Hearing this wasn’t surprising in the least. For Shadow—or Alice, as he and his late wife had named her the day she was born—designing high-end, encrypted programs to assist the team in their endeavors was more fun than work.
Rafe unlocked the office door and turned off the alarm. He and Digger waited together while Shadow hurried down the unlit hall.
“So.” He turned to his son-in-law. “Since I was unable to make it to the party, tell me. What are Falcon and Avery having?”
“A boy.” Digger grinned.
Rafe’s chest grew warm at the news. “I bet Falcon was quite relieved.”
“Oh, yeah. Poor guy was terrified at the thought of being a girl dad.”
It was a sentiment Rafe understood well.
“Being the father of a girl definitely comes with its own set of challenges,” he shared. “But I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world.”
“Really?”
“That surprises you?”
“Well . . . yeah.” The former SEAL sent Rafe an incredulous stare. “You’ve kept Shadow’s existence a secret from the world for pretty much her entire life.”
“And I would have done the same had she been a boy.”
“You would have?”
“Absolutely.” Rafe gave a dip of his rugged chin. “My list of enemies is long and decades in the making. After Shadow’s mother was murdered, I wasn’t about to risk losing her too. It would have been the same had she been a son, rather than a daughter. Either way, it’s a father’s job to protect their child.”
Memories from that heart shattering night were never far from the surface. It was the moment his life was changed forever.
“Okay, I’m good.” Shadow returned with her new high-end tablet in hand. “I can’t wait to get this baby home and test it out.”
When she flashed a smile Rafe’s way, his heart became infinitely full. The men on his team were family in his eyes, but his daughter . . . she was his entire world.
“Where did you two park?”
“Dig scored a sweet spot right out front.” Shadow’s loving gaze turned her husband’s way.
Rafe motioned toward the office door. “Come on. I’ll walk you two out and then head to my car, in the garage.”
Minutes later, the three were on the sidewalk in front of the building discussing their weekend plans.
“Why don’t the two of you come over for dinner onSunday?” He looked to Shadow. “I’ll even make your favorite.”
A sparkle of child-like hope filled her widening eyes. “Shrimp alfredo with garlic toast and a Caesar salad?”
“I’ll even add a little cayenne to the sauce,” Rafe promised.
His daughter looked to Digger for confirmation. When the other man nodded, Shadow released a tiny squeal and clapped her hands with excitement.
“I haven’t had that in forever,” she gushed. “Oh! I can whip up some tiramisu to bring for dessert.”
