Page 332 of The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The Second Collection

“I’m okay for now, Sir.”

Mostly I’d just like to unglue my back from the door and make it to the bed, or the couch, or even the floor, I’m not picky as long as it doesn’t have splinters.

He adjusts his hold on me and walks us over to the bed, slipping out of me as he sets me down. I unlace my Docs, kick them off, push off the rest of my clothes, and scoot back into the pillows. I’m not sure what Mac plans next—I’m not sure he knows, either, because he stands there with his jeans around his knees looking confused—but I don’t plan to let him out of this room until he’s vented in a way that doesn’t involve his dick.

He sinks to the edge of the bed and begins striping off the rest of his clothes. I scoot forward and wrap myself around him.

“You had a good talk with Naomi,” he says as he tugs his jeans down his calves.

“I did. She’s great, Mac.”

He rubs his hands through his hair. “She is. She’s a great kid when she’s not trying to kill herself with methamphetamines. I do know what those are, by the way. Amy loves to shove my lack of education in my face, but I’ve researched it and talked to Naomi’s doctors. I know what they’re poisoning themselves with.”

“I don’t doubt it.” And I don’t. Mac’s devotion to his daughter is obvious. “She has a ton of love for you.”

He nods and I hear him swallow hard. “Today’s the first time she’s said those words since she was fifteen.”

Fuck, no. That can’t be right.

“That’s the first time she’s told you she loves you in six years?”

“Yeah.”

I sit back enough to rub his back but keep my legs around his hips. “Mac, she may not have said it, but she loves you. All she cares about is disappointing you.”

“Only way she could disappoint me is if she keeps taking the drugs.”

“I told her that. I know addicts lie about using and relapse is really common, but she seems serious this time.”

Mac nods. “This is the first residential rehab program she’s been in since leaving Florida. They have an amazing recovery rate. If she stays in the program, she has a four in five chance. I’m just afraid Amy will convince her to leave.”

“Sir, I’m not telling you what to do. She’s your daughter. But your ex is freaking toxic. If Naomi even thinks about leaving the program, you should invite her to move in with you at Logan’s rather than going back to school. If you need me to get out of the way—” My throat tightens with what I’m offering. It’ll kill me to do it, but it feels right. “So you can focus on your daughter, then that’s what you should do. She needs you.”

“Bren.” Mac shifts away from me and turns around, the blue of his eyes all the more piercing against the bloodshot whites. “Real talk. Do you need space? I know that was ugly and if you want to back off me because Amy and Naomi are just too much, I’d understand.”

“No, Sir, that is not what this is about. I like Naomi and I—” No, I’m not saying those three words right now. “I want to be part of your life. But if you need Naomi to move in with you ... I could stay in my apartment and we could just date, so you can focus on her.”

Mac’s shaking his head before I even finish speaking. “That’s not what I want. If you need space, I’ll give it to you, but this isn’t coming from me. Nomes needs my help and my attention and I will give it to her, but not at the expense of what’s between us.”

He knows just what to say to silence my doubts. And I’m sure I’m grinning like an idiot hearing him prioritize me like that.

“I’m sorry, Sir, I didn’t mean to make it about me. I just want you to be free to focus on your daughter if that’s what you need to do.”

He cracks a smile. It’s a pathetic effort, but it’s the first I’ve seen in over an hour. “Only good thing about having too much time on my hands? I have plenty of attention to go around.”

I trace his dimple with my fingers. “I’m sorry today sucked so bad.”

“This morning wasn’t awful.” His smile shades from sad to wry. “Hard to beat IHOP’s pancakes.”

I punch him in the arm without any force. “If you’re trying to get me to dump you, slandering Bebe J’s pancakes is the way to do it.”

He grins and tackles me into the bed. “Did you just threaten to break up with me over pancakes, girl?”

I wrap my arms around his neck. “Yes, Sir. And I’ll do it again if you don’t admit Bebe J’s pancakes are the best in the world.” I pinch his ear. “Say it, Sir. I need your submission.”

Mac chuckles. “Bebe J’s pancakes are definitely the best in the world.”

I run my hand down the side of his face and cup his cheek. The strain’s beginning to ease around his eyes and mouth.