“I find that hard to believe, considering the very real and very logical reason you have for not wanting to date me in the first place.” She locked eyes with him. “I can’t change my career, and more importantly, I don’t want to. My job is who I am. It’s me. I won’t apologize for it.” She crossed her arms in front of her. “Don’t ask me to.”
“I never would. I respect you for your job.” He couldn’t help but think she was trying to protect herself from him, even now. Like she was so sure he’d hurt her in the end. And maybe she was right. Or maybe she’d be the one to hurt him. There was only one way to find out. “I’ll be scared shitless every time you go out, but that’s on me. Not you.”
She stared at him, saying nothing.
“Still not ready to take the leap? We’ll keep talking.” He took a tinier step toward her. She backed up one big one. “Cats or dogs?”
“Cats,” she said immediately.
“Same.” He cocked his head. “Ginny wants one.”
“Go to the SPCA. Don’t buy.”
“Maybe you could come with us?”
She hesitated. “Maybe.”
“Would you like to meet her? You could stick around in the morning and have breakfast with us.” He tried his best to keep his tone as unexcited as possible, shoving his hands into his pockets. He wore jeans and an unbuttoned shirt, and she was in pajamas, so the mood was casual, but his question was anything but. “Would you like that?”
She hesitated again. And that hesitation was like a dagger digging into his back. “We’re both new at this. At trying to make things…work.”
“If you’re not ready, that’s fine.”
This time, she took a step toward him. “It’s not that. It’s just…it’s a huge step. I don’t want to rush things more than they’ve already been rushed. More importantly, I don’t want to rush you. So if you truly want us to meet, I’ll gladly stick around, but don’t feel like you have to want that. We can be separate parts of your life for a while. I’m okay with whatever you want.”
“I want you,” he said softly, holding a hand out. “In any way you’re willing to give yourself to me. The good. The bad. The ugly. The pretty. I want it. I want it all.”
After what felt like a million years, she placed her smaller hand in his. “God help us both, I want it, too. But I’m warning you now, I’m a hot mess, and this’ll probably blow up in our faces, and you’ll end up hating me, and then—”
She was doing it again. She was running even though she hadn’t moved her feet. Chuckling, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her into silence, effectively cutting off her nervous babbling. She melted into him, fisting his shirt tightly, and opened her mouth under his, granting him access. He slid his tongue inside her mouth, holding her so close it was a miracle she didn’t protest. She didn’t like being held down, his Daisy. He’d learned that about her. If he held on too tight, it would only be a matter of time until she pushed away.
He loosened his grip, and she shifted closer, curling her arms around his neck. He let out a predatory growl, slid his hands under her ass, and lifted her up. She broke the kiss off and rested a hand on his cheek as she locked eyes with him. “Are you sure about this?”
“Absolutely positive,” he said without a sign of doubt. Because he felt none. It was weird, this certainty he had that this was the right move.
“How can you be so sure?” she exclaimed, her voice half frustration, half disbelief.
He headed down the hallway toward his bedroom, pausing in front of Ginny’s room to peek inside. She was sound asleep with Mr. Bunny in her arms, just like the last time he checked on her. “Because I am.”
“I’m not.” Daisy stared at Ginny, her eyes wide, and lips parted, and she looked… “I’m scared.”
Yep. That’s what she looked like.
Fucking terrified.
“Because of my kid?” he whispered, tenseness taking over him. He’d had enough women in his life who’d learned he was a father and split. But she hadn’t. She’d come here tonight. So he’d assumed she was okay with being thrust into his little ready-made family. “Is Ginny a problem for you? You said you liked kids, originally, but is that not true?”
“What? No.” She turned back to him, still in his arms, and he stood frozen just outside his baby girl’s room, uncertainty finally taking hold. “I love kids.”
“But could you love mine someday?” He glanced at Ginny again and whispered. “If you don’t want to be a part of her life, tell me now. It’s best if I know now, as opposed to—”
“Mark?” she whispered, closing her hands on either side of his face and smiling gently. “I want to meet your daughter, and I’m sure I’ll love her. What’s not to love?”
A warmth spread through his chest, taking over his whole body. It felt a hell of a lot like…hope. An emotion he hadn’t felt in three years.
Without another word, he kissed her and headed again toward his bedroom. She slid her hands under his shirt and ran her fingers over his bare skin as he stumbled down the hallway. By the time he locked the bedroom door behind them, he was desperate to show her just how right he was for her. And there was only one way for him to do that.
He lowered her to his bed, running his hands over her curves. She arched into him, begging for more, and he felt more complete than he had in…well, ever.
Because this woman, this amazing woman, had agreed to be his and Ginny’s. For the first time in years, he wasn’t alone. He had Daisy, and she had him, and one way or another, no matter how hard it was, they would make this thing between them work. What they had was real. And nothing would break that. He wouldn’t let it.
As a matter of fact, he’d fight like hell to protect it…
And her.
Chapter Fifteen
What the heck am I doing here?
Daisy sat at the dining room table, staring at the tiny creature across the table from her. She had light blonde hair that cascaded down her back, and bright blue eyes, and Daisy felt…out of place. Like she was intruding on another woman’s territory and she had no right to be here. And yet, at the same time, it felt…right. So frigging right it was terrifying.
It didn’t make any sense at all.
None of this did.
She wasn’t supposed to be doing this—starting a relationship that was doomed to fail. Joining a family that wasn’t hers. Ignoring the million reasons why the two of them made no sense. This wasn’t her plan. It wasn’t her course. And yet…
Mark came up behind her, ran a hand across her back, and placed a mug of coffee in front of her. She smiled gratefully and picked it up, closing her hands around the warmth.
With one touch, everything made sense again.
Go figure.
You’ve got it bad, O’Rourke.
Ginny shoved a mouthful of homemade waffle in her mouth—yeah, apparently Mark cooked…and he didn’t just put a frozen Eggo in a toaster and call it breakfast like she did.
He frigging baked.
With flour and shit.
Ginny chewed with her tiny mouth shut. Clearly, her daddy was instilling manners in her at a young age. She stared at Daisy’s police uniform, her eyes wide.
She pointed, glanced at Mark, and said, “Paw Patrol.”
Mark chuckled and sat down next to her, ruffling her hair with an ease that she wasn’t sure she’d ever feel toward the tiny little human. Her experience with children was extremely limited, and even though she liked them, she didn’t really know how to interact with them. Was Ginny too old for the baby voice people used with kids? Would she look at her like she was crazy if she tried? “Uh…”
“Yes, she’s a cop,” Mark said. “Like on Paw Patrol.”
Daisy lifted a brow and leaned closer to the child, after shooting a quick glance at her father. “What’s Paw Patrol?” she asked, keeping her voice it’s normal pitch, but softening it a bit. It seemed appropriate, since Ginny was so delicate looking. “Is it a movie? A book? A show?”
Her voice was so quiet it was almost inaudible.
“And it has cops in it? Like me?” she asked, pointing to her badge.
Warmth spread over Daisy as the little girl shifted closer, and nodded. “Can I please touch it?”
“Of course.” She slid out of her chair, forgetting all about her coffee, and knelt beside the child. She could feel Mark’s eyes on her the whole time. “Go on.”
Ginny touched it, then pulled away almost immediately, a small smile on her face. “Cold.”
“Yeah. It is. It’s metal.” She smiled back, reaching out and tucking the little girl’s hair behind her ear. It seemed so natural. So… God…so right. Just like everything else did with Mark. It was all so easy. So natural. Like it was meant to be. No, like they were meant to be. “But guess what?”
Ginny leaned closer. So did Mark. “What?”
“In the summer, in the sun? It gets really hot. It can burn my arm, if I’m not careful.”
Ginny’s attention fell to Daisy’s cast. “Is that why you have a boo boo?”
A laugh escaped her, and she shook her head. “No. I fell and broke my arm, but I’m getting the cast off today.” Daisy tapped Ginny’s nose then rose, going back to her seat. “Finally.”
As she sat, she checked her phone. She had a text from Tim. She’d run back home early this morning to get dressed, but had returned to meet Ginny properly, like Mark wanted. It had felt weird, telling Tim she was going to her boyfriend’s place to meet his kid.
Guess everything was out in the open now.
She’d have to tell Lauren, too. God, she’d never shut up about being right. Because she was. Mark was perfect for her. There was no denying that anymore.
Mark adjusted his suit jacket. “Do you need someone there with you? I can call out of work and go with you for support.”
“Nah, I’m leaving in…” She checked her phone. “Well, now, actually. I have to pick Tim up. We’re driving in together afterward, since it’s our first day back together.”
He stared. “You’re going back out already?”
“Once I have the okay from the doc? Yep.” She stood and finished off her coffee in one long drink. Caffeine was her drug of choice, thank you very much. “But until then, I’ll ride around with him. Get the feel of the streets again. You know. But it won’t take a long time to get clearance. I’ve been keeping up on everything I needed to, so I wouldn’t have any setbacks.”
He smiled, but it looked forced. “Awesome. I know how important this is to you, so I’m happy you’re going back.” He closed the distance between them, cradled her face, and kissed her forehead. Ginny watched with wide eyes. “Text me when you’re out of the doctor’s office? Let me know how it goes?”
A reluctant smile lifted the corners of her mouth up. “Are we that couple now? The kind that texts one another updates throughout the day?”
“Yep.” He leaned in, pressed his mouth to her ear, and whispered, “And dirty pictures. I welcome those any time of the day, too.”
She snorted. “Dream on, pal.”
“Oh, I will.” He pulled back, a mischievous glint in his eye chasing away any darkness that had been there moments before. He gave her a onceover that made her feel like he’d stripped her clothes off in front of Ginny. “I am.”
Her cheeks heated and she glanced down to make sure her uniform was still in place. “I see that,” she muttered. Stepping back, she offered Ginny one last smile, which the child shyly returned. “It was nice meeting you, Ginny. If you see a police car race by, maybe it’s me inside it. Wave just in case.”
The girl nodded enthusiastically and waved.
“Yep, just like that,” Daisy said, grinning.
Mark let go of her hand reluctantly. “Have a good first day back.”
“Thanks.” She hesitated. Were they the type of couple that spent every night together, or was she supposed to go home and wait to see what happened? If given the choice, she’d rather do away with those games and simply be with him. “See you later tonight? Or are you busy?”
He shook his head. “I’ll be here, with Ginny. Come by after work. We’ll cook for you. Ginny makes a mean spaghetti, don’t you, Ginny?”
Ginny nodded, smiling again, and ate another bite of waffle.
“I love spaghetti,” Daisy said, stepping back and waving at the two sets of eyes that watched her go. “See you guys tonight.”
“Bye,” Mark said, resting a hand on Ginny’s chair.
The whole way to her apartment, the smile didn’t fade from her face. She was impossibly, irresistibly, irrefutably happy. So much so that it was almost sickening. At her building, she beeped three times then lowered the visor to check her hastily applied makeup. It was…good enough.
She’d never been big on obsessing over eyeliner.
There were bigger and better things out there.
When Tim came out and saw her in her car, grinning like a fool, he shook his head. He slid into the passenger seat, buckled up, and said, “You’re awfully smiley today.”
“Duh.” She slid into reverse, backed out of her spot, and pulled onto the road. “What’s not to smile about? My cast is finally coming off, and…” I have Mark.
That’s what she’d been about to say.
God, she was a goner.
“I’m happy to have you back,” he said, glancing out the window and resting his arm on the door. “Guess the wedding is off, huh?”
She laughed. “The wedding you never agreed to in the first place? Yeah, I guess it’s off.”
“Pity.” He grinned. “This Mark guy better treat you good.”
Her laugh died and turned into a frown. “How did you know it was Mark?”
“I’m a cop.” He shot her a narrow-eyed look. “Do you really need an answer to that?”
“Guess not,” she mumbled. “What gave us away?”
“Aside from the fact that he followed you to the bathroom, and then you avoided looking at him the rest of the night and snuck out of the apartment at midnight after trying to sleep but failing? Not much, I guess.” He shrugged. “Plus, I recognized his voice. Our walls are thin.”
She blushed at the reminder of all he’d heard. “Ugh.”
“How did meeting his kid go?”
She latched on to the change of subject gratefully. “Good. She’s a cute girl.”
“So you two are going public now? No more secret meetings in the bathroom?” he asked, nudging her playfully.
“Right,” she said, turning left onto Main Street and then pulling into the parking lot.
He grinned. “Ready to get your cast off?”
“Hell yeah, I am,” she said, smiling.
“Then we can go on patrol and wait for something to be called in, and for your reinstatement paperwork to go through.” He got out of the car and closed the door, smiling at her over the roof. “And it’s back to the good old days.”
She locked her doors. “Thank. God.”
He fell into step beside her. “So this Mark guy…he’s good?”
“Very good. He’s…he’s…”
“I get it,” he said gruffly. He elbowed her affectionately. “He’s in security?”
“Yeah, with Steven. He guards old farts.”
Tim laughed. “Get him on the streets with us. Show him what a real job is.”
“He’s done what we do. Or, similar to it, anyway.” She hesitated, then added, “He was in the military. He got out because his wife died, and he’s the only one left to raise his daughter.”
He stopped walking, staring at her. “Wait. He’s a vet?”
Tim was the only person who had ever helped her take care of her dad when he needed it, so he probably understood her hesitance to date a military man more than anyone else.
“It’s different,” she said quickly. “He’s different.”
Tim shook his head. “Daisy…”
“He�
��s not my father. Nothing is going to go wrong, and he isn’t a drunk like him. He’s not going to lead me down that hole again,” she said defensively. “Okay?”
Tim looked doubtful, but he nodded anyway. “Yeah. Okay.”
Chapter Sixteen
The fireplace was crackling, Daisy was tucked under a warm afghan on his couch, and she had her feet resting on his lap. It was well after eleven o’clock, and Ginny had gone to bed three hours ago. He and Daisy had been sitting in the living room talking about everything and nothing at all ever since. Having her here like this, all domestic and at ease, was fucking fantastic. Even his workday had gone faster than usual, because once he came home, his two favorite girls would be with him. Having those two pieces of his life collide so perfectly, so seamlessly, was priceless. He was ready to shout out to the world that they were together.
That she was his.
The question was…
Did she feel the same way?
“Was it nice, being back out there?” he asked softly.
“God, yes. I missed it.” She smiled, her eyes still shut. “I didn’t realize just how much until today. You know?”
He nodded. “I do. I get the same feeling when I get a client that requires actual protection. That hint of danger is a breath of fresh air. It’s a rush. A thrill. A high.”
“Yes.” She smiled. “You get it.”
Oh, he definitely did.
All too well.
And truth be told, he missed it as much as she probably had.
Only difference was, he wouldn’t be going back to that rush. And he was okay with that. But still, sometimes he really fucking missed it. He picked up his beer, took a sip, set it down, and closed his fingers over her foot again. “Did you tell anyone about us yet?” he asked, massaging the spot right above her heel.
She moaned when he dug in a little harder. “Hmm?”
“Did you—?”
“Oh. Yeah. Tim.” She sighed and stretched luxuriously. “You?”
“Not yet. I wasn’t sure if you wanted me to.”
“That was part of the deal, right?” she asked, yawning. “No more hiding. No more secrets. That’s what you wanted, right?”
His Best Mistake (Shillings Agency) Page 12
