Page 26 of Second Chance Daddy

Cassie laughs, nervous, flustered, but she follows—because nobody says no to Tina when she’s on a social tear.

She glances back, eyes flicking to the kid like she’s about to bolt. Like she doesn’t trust me alone with a toddler.

“I’ve got her,” I say, soft but firm, tipping my chin toward the little girl left standing by my side.

Cassie hesitates, just for a heartbeat, like maybe she doesn’t believe me. Something is flickering behind her eyes—fear? Am I reading too much into it? Wouldn’t be the first time my head’s made shit worse.

Tina snickers, pulling Cassie out of reach, and suddenly I’m left standing there, the spot where her hand gripped that little girl’s tightening like a noose.

This day’s gonna be a fucking mess.

I look down at the kid, and she looks up, all expectant. She’s small. Shemightcome up to my thigh.

What the hell am I supposed to do with a kid?

There’s no manual for this. No Bratva protocol for toddler management.

She blinks at me, waiting. Probably expecting me to conjure a unicorn or braid her hair or some shit.

I clear my throat. “So… what do you like?”

“Ummm,” she cocks her head, thinking for a while. I brace myself for some Einstein-level shit for an answer on how hard she thinks. “Cupcakes?”

My lips twitch. “Cupcakes, huh? Dangerous choice. We talking vanilla or chocolate?”

Her eyes widen like I just suggested robbing a bank. “Chocolate’s better. Vanilla’s for babies.”

I huff a quiet laugh. Kid’s got standards.

“Alright, chocolate it is,” I nod, playing along, ignoring the fact that my pulse hasn’t slowed since the second Cassie walked through my door—and now her damn mini-me’s holding court with me. “We have some cake that’s chocolate, but no cupcakes. Want some?”

“Oh yes! Please, sir!” She beams, thrusting her tiny hand out.

I stare at it for a long moment before reaching out with my own. Hers is so warm and so damn small. Ridiculously small. Like her whole hand barely covers two of my fingers. That shouldn’t hit me like a gut punch, but it does.

And for the first time all fucking day… my grip falters.

“Alright, sunshine,” I say, forcing steel back into my voice before I completely lose my shit. “Let’s go find you that cake.”

She tips her head as we walk. “You’re tall.”

“Yeah,” I reply, biting back a grin. “You’re short.”

She giggles like that’s comedy gold and shuffles closer without fear. Either this kid’s got zero stranger-danger instincts, or Cassie taught her to always be nice. Both possibilities seem wrong.

“What’s your name, nugget?” I ask, though I already know, but I want to hear her say it.

She straightens like a soldier. “Aria.”

It really is a beautiful name. Definitely something I would’ve picked for a kid.

I swallow it down.

Not mine.

I was only with Cass once. Fast, messy, unforgettable, but one time doesn’t make a kid. The chances for that are too low. Especially since she was still married—soon-to-be-divorced—at the time.

“Mommy says I can’t have cupcakes before lunch, but I like ‘em anyway.”