Page 126 of The Heartbreaker

Which couldn’t have been any cuter.

“Miss Lark, Miss Lark, you really came.” She held the door just wide enough that she could stand in the opening, the grin on her face contagious.

“I did.” I ducked down so we were at eye level. “And I brought you a present, but you can only have it under one condition.”

Her eyes lit up and widened. “A present?”

As I held it behind my back, I said, “Yes.”

“Okay, I promise everything.”

I laughed. “Whenever you see me outside of school, you either call me by my real name, which is Addison, or my nickname, which is Addy. But when we’re at school, you have to call me Miss Lark. Do you think you can do that?”

She bobbed her head. “I can do that, Miss—” Her mouth formed an O when she realized the mistake she was about to make, and then she giggled. “Addy. I like Addy. It’s cute.”

“I like it too.”

“Addy, does that mean I get my present now?”

I stayed kneeling and smiled. “I went on a walk this morning, and I passed the most beautiful store.” Her big blue eyes were getting larger again as I spoke. “I saw these in the window, and because I knew I was coming over here to play with you, I thought you absolutely had to have them.” I moved my arm out from behind my back, and I handed her the gift.

She jumped up and down. “You bought me daisies! They’re pink! And light pink! And dark pink!”

“Do you like them?”

She nodded. “I love themsooomuch. I want Daddy to see them. Come on!”

As I followed her inside and shut the door behind us, she yelled, “Daddy, Addy got me flowers. She said I could call her Addy, so don’t get mad I’m not calling her Miss Lark. And the flowers are pink, and they’re mine!”

When I reached the kitchen, Ridge was at the counter, putting away what looked like the remainder of their lunch, and he smiled the second he saw me. “Addison …”

I winked. “Ridge …”

He left my gaze to look at his daughter. “They’re beautiful. You’d better take good care of them.” He placed something in the fridge, shut the door, and asked, “Did you thank Addy for the flowers?”

“I don’t remember.” She turned toward me. “Miss—Addy, did I thank you?”

His smile caused every inch of my body to not only flush, but blush. And if I had to guess, he wasn’t even trying to cause this reaction inside me; he was staying completely appropriate in front of his daughter. He just had this effect on me.

I grinned at Daisy. “Not officially, but your excitement made up for it.”

“Daisy, you know better than that,” Ridge said to her. “What do you say to Addy?”

She rushed over to me and threw the arm that wasn’t holding the flowers around my waist. “Thank yousooomuch. I love them to pieces.”

I palmed the side of her head and leaned down to squeeze her. “You’resooowelcome.”

When she pulled back, she said, “Daddy, I need them to last forever and ever. Because flowers die, and these are too pretty to die.”

He chuckled as he walked to the far side of the kitchen and opened a cabinet, taking out a vase that he handed to me. “If you ask Addy nicely, she’ll show you how to put the flowers in water so they have the best chance of lasting.”

“Will you show me, Addy?” she pleaded.

“Of course. Come here.” I brought her over to the sink and set the glass in her outstretched hand. “I’m going to turn on the water and fill it halfway,” I instructed so she knew it was about to get heavier. I shut off the faucet when I was pleased with the level and had her set the vase on the counter. “Do you know where your dad keeps the scissors?”

“Over here.” She rushed to the island, opened a drawer, and came back. “Can I cut whatever you’re cutting?”

“Yes, you’re going to do all the cutting.” I opened the plastic wrap that was around the bouquet and placed all the flowers onthe counter. “You’re going to lift each stem”—I placed one in her hand—“and you’re going to cut it at an angle.” I used my fingers as though they were scissors to show her what I meant.