Page 2 of Marrying the Billionaire Single Dad

Her chin trembles. "But I wantyouto read to me at bedtime."

I swallow the lump in my throat, then rinse the razor under the tap. "I did read to you yesterday," I remind her. "It's just one evening Riley."

"But...but, I don't want to wake up and not find you at home." A tear slides down her cheek, "I feel safer when you are here, Daddy. Otherwise, I have nightmares. Please, can't you come home tonight?"

I take in her pinched features, her furrowed forehead, and a hot sensation stabs at my chest. This little girl has me wrapped so tightly around her finger, I'd do anything for her. No way, can I stand to see her unhappy. I'd give anything to put a smile on her face. "Fine." I heave out a breath, "Fine, I'll be back home tonight—"

"Yay!" She claps her hands together.

"On one condition," I hold up my finger.

"Uh-oh." She folds her arms over her chest, suddenly looking more like a teenager than ever. "Am I in trouble, Daddy?"

"Not yet," I grab a towel and wipe my face, "but you will be if I come back home and I find you still up."

"B...but..." she blinks, "don't I have to be awake for you to read to me?"

I gape at her. What the—? Did she just try to twist my words around? When did she get this clever? "I said," I pronounce my words slowly, "that I'll be home at some point tonight,notthat I'll be home in time to read to you."

"But I want to see your face before I go to bed, Daddy," she pouts.

"Riley," I warn her. "Didn't you say that you are all grown up? Grown up girls go to bed on their own. They don't wait up for their fathers to come back home before they go to sleep."

She blinks rapidly, and her shoulders slump, "Guess I'm not grown up then." She peers up at me from under her eyelashes. "If you promise to be back in time to read to me, I'll promise not to trouble Meredith."

What the—?The little imp is bargaining with me? Only this little girl could get away with something like that.

"Why you little monkey." I scoop her up and pretend to tickle her.

She shrieks, "Daddy, stop, stop—" She bursts out into peals of laughter. "Daddy, please..." She giggles and my heart blooms.

Just like that, everything is right with the world.

I hold her close and press my forehead to hers. "I'll be back home tonight, but I don't want you to wait up."

She pouts, "But Daddy—"

"Or I can be home in time to read to you and then you don't get pancakes for breakfast Sunday morning."

"But I loooove pancakes," she protests.

"You gotta choose, Riley." I tilt my head, cross my fingers mentally. "Which one is it gonna be?"

She sighs, a big gust that blows her hair up from her forehead. "Fine, I'll let Meredith read to me tonight."

"And you promise not to trouble her, or stay up until I come home?"

She pouts, and I hold her gaze, keep my features calm.

"Okay, fine, I won't stay up until then."

"And you won't cause trouble for her?"

She lowers her chin.

"Riley," I warn her again.

She purses her lips, "I won't cause trouble for her." She peers up at me from under her eyelashes. "But I get to choose the book she reads."