The Surprise
Providence kept her eyes trained on the road. Back and forth over every car that drove into her field of vision. “Which pizza joint are we going to?” she asked as Dakota headed back toward his office.
“A local one.” Though she wanted to look at him, she kept her eyes on the cars. “We’ve had a woman directly behind us or two cars back ever since we jumped on Route 7.” She recited the license plate number into her Notes app on her phone. “Never mind. She turned into the mall.”
As Dakota drove past his office, she said, “I need my car.”
“We can pick it up later.”
After driving into his neighborhood, he pulled over. “Thanks for being my eyes.”
“Wait, we’re going to your house?” She set down the binos.
“Yes.”
“I’m gonna be straight-up honest. When I’m Venus at the club—”
He placed his large hand on her thigh and heat radiated up her leg. “I didn’t bring you home to have sex with you. I brought you home for pizza night.”
“Pizza night?” What man brought a woman home for pizza? Dakota Luck did, and she was curious enough to take the bait.
When he pulled away from the curb, she watched for cars, but the upscale neighborhood was quiet. He drove to the end of a court and pulled into the driveway of a beautiful home with a cozy wraparound front porch. Seemed kinda domestic for a man like Dakota.
The garage door opened, he pulled in, and cut the engine. “Bring your laptop into the house.”
“Of course,” she replied.
His kitchen was bright white and muted grays, and top-brand stainless-steel appliances. The delicious aroma of pizza made her stomach growl. They were alone, so who made the pizza?
As he set his computer bag on the floor, a small child flew around the corner. “Daddy!”
Oh, my God, he has a daughter.
He scooped her up and hugged her. “How’s my angel?”
She hugged him hard. “I am soooo hungry and my growly stomach has been waiting and waiting—” The child looked at Providence and grew silent.
“Hi,” Providence said, and the child gave a shy wave.
Dakota’s daughter had long, dark hair and bright blue eyes. She looked so much like Dakota, it was like staring at his mini-me. Providence guessed she was five, maybe six. Hard to tell because she could have been tall for her age.
Repositioning her in his arms, Dakota turned to Providence. “Sammy, this is my work friend, Miss Reynolds. Providence, this is my daughter, Samantha Luck.”
She nestled into Dakota.
Providence smiled at the tyke. “Hi.”
“Let’s drop our laptops in my office,” Dakota said as he shouldered his bag, his daughter still in his arms.
She followed him out of his kitchen. A middle-aged woman sat on the floor surrounded by a racetrack and toddler-sized cars.
The woman stood. She was petite with a pleasant face and a friendly smile. After Dakota introduced his daughter’s nanny, he said, “Pizza smells great.”
“Mrs. Morris and I baked a cake, too,” Sammy said. “I wanna get down.”
Dakota set her on the floor and she walked over to Providence. “Do you like pizza?”
“I love pizza.”
