Page 49 of Secrets We Fight

I pulled my hand back and thought for a moment as I stared into his eyes. Then my eyes widened as I came up with an idea. “Hold on.”

Standing from the couch, I walked to the pile of mail sitting on the dining table I didn’t use. I flipped through the junk until I found what I was looking for. It was a flyer to attend a workshop and make a box of chocolates—a Valentine’s Day promotion at a local chocolaterie.

I walked back and handed him the flyer. “Let’s go make chocolate with her.”

Rhett balked slightly. “You want to make chocolate with a three-year-old?”

“Yeah.” I lifted a shoulder.

“Do you know how messy that will be?”

“So, we get chocolate on us. I have a washing machine, you know.”

“Okay, well, how are we going to pull this off?”

“You’re Secret Service, right? You can make anything happen. At least, that’s what you told me your first day on my detail.”

Rhett snorted. “It’s true, but I need a reason for why you want my daughter there.”

“Because I like her,” I simply responded.

“Do you think that will work?” He grinned.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Just tell them I want to do this and I had the idea that Poppy come along because you’ll be there too.”

“All right. I’ll try to sell this.” He stood and wrapped his arms around me, then placed a quick kiss against my lips. “This means a lot to me. Thank you.”

* * *

The team wasable to make the chocolate-making workshop happen. I didn’t know many details other than instead of being with a group of people, the chocolatier was letting me and Poppy make chocolates by ourselves. I was almost positive it had to do with me being the president’s son and they felt I needed a private lesson. I didn’t really enjoy the special treatment, though.

Since Poppy was still in a car seat, Rhett drove her to the chocolaterie, where I was already waiting outside. I beamed brightly as I saw them walking down the street hand in hand. Seeing them smiling and laughing warmed my heart. Damn. I had it bad for the guy.

“Well, hello, Ms. Poppy.” I bent to her level. “Are you ready to make some delicious treats?”

“Yeah,” she said excitedly. “Can we eat it too?”

“Of course.” I held out my hand for her to take and winked at Rhett as I stood. “Let’s get inside and fill our bellies with chocolate.”

We walked into the building and were instantly hit with the sweet smell of cocoa, and my mouth watered. My detail stayed in the front of the store while Rhett followed me and Poppy.

“Mr. Donnelley, welcome. My name is Elise. I'm a master chocolatier and I’ll be your instructor today. Have you ever made chocolate before?”

“No.” I shook my head. “First time.”

“And what about you, sweetie?” Elise asked Poppy.

Poppy shook her head too.

“Well, in order to do so, you must wear a cool chef’s hat and apron,” Elise declared.

“Really?” Poppy questioned and peered up at me with her bright blue eyes.

I smiled down at her and then turned to Rhett. He was smiling too.

Elise grabbed two chef hats and aprons from a table that had a giant copper pot on it. “These are for you.”

Rhett stepped forward to help Poppy with her hat and child-size apron while I put mine on.