Page 139 of The Heartbreaker

Ridge put his phone away and put one arm around Daisy and the other around me. “What can I do for you ladies?”

“Daisy has a very important question to ask you,” I said.

He looked at his daughter. “And that is?”

Her grin was so wide as she wiggled in my arms. “Will you be Addy’s boyfriend?”

Ridge chuckled.

“It was Daisy’s idea,” I told him, smiling. “And since it was, I thought she should be the one to ask you.”

Ridge leaned into Daisy’s ear and whispered something I couldn’t hear.

Daisy giggled just before he pulled away, and she put her hand on Ridge’s chest and another around my hair.

“Tell her,” Ridge nudged.

“Daddy says yes.”

“And what else did I say?” Ridge pushed.

“That he loves the both of us very much,” Daisy sang.

THIRTY-FOUR

Ridge

It was one thing to be in love with a woman. But it was a whole other thing to see that woman love your daughter, to watch her treat your little girl with patience and tenderness and respect, the way Addison did with Daisy. Witnessing them together, circling the dance floor at Brady and Lily’s wedding, was a feeling that had never entered my body because I’d never been with a woman, aside from Jana, who had a relationship with Daisy.

I wouldn’t allow it.

Until Addison …

She was the exception when it came to everything.

And Daisy was enamored with her, so much so that, because the two of them had been having such a blast together, Daisy started to cry when it was time for them to leave. It was late, and our girl needed to go to bed. All the drivers were outside Brady and Lily’s house, waiting to take the guests to the hotel for the night. And even though we promised Daisy that we would have breakfast with her in the morning, many tears were shed, andarms were outstretched for hugs that she didn’t want to end. I knew the second Jana got her into the car, a full-on meltdown would go down with screams and sobs, triggered by Daisy being overtired. And minutes later, I also knew she’d be asleep, and Jana would have to carry her up to their room. So, I asked Jana if she wanted me to ride back with them and help out. Jana appreciated the offer but told me that she’d manage just fine.

I just hoped Addison’s level of sleepiness wasn’t the same as Daisy’s. I planned to do everything in my power to keep her awake for as long as I could. Because tonight wasn’t going to end without me tasting her. Without putting my lips on every inch of her body.

So, the first thing I did when we got back to our suite room was draw her a bath. I added in some bubbles and oil—luxuries I’d had my assistant request before we checked in—and as I started to walk out of the bathroom, she was standing in the doorway with a grin on her face.

“A bath?” She casually crossed her arms over her chest.

“I thought you could use one. It’s been a long day.”

“That it has.” She shifted her weight, assessing my expression. “Are you going to join me?”

When I reached her, I gently turned her around, placing her back to me. I found the zipper of her dress that was hiding beneath a fold of the fabric, and I lowered it. As it got to her waist, freeing her from the top, I helped her step out of it. She looked at me from over her shoulder, wearing nothing but a pair of heels and a strapless bra, which I unhooked and let fall to the ground.

“I see you’re not wasting any time.”

I ran my hands up her sides and turned her around. “I waited an entire ceremony, reception, and a ride back to the hotel—what is that, fifteen or so hours?—to get you naked. It’s more than fucking time.”

She set her arms on my shoulders and stepped in closer, giving me a breeze of vanilla. “Are you sure you want me in the tub?”

“I want you relaxed.”

“You’re telling me your tongue can’t do that?”