Daddy in Disguise (Crescent Cove 7)

“No problem. I knew you were working. It was scary for both of us, but she barely cried. She’s a real trooper, si—John.” Karen flushed. “Anyway, I’ll be here by eight tomorrow so you can get to work.”

“Oh, I was going to go in later tomorrow, since you stayed later tonight than anticipated.” Which I should’ve realized when I was working at The Haunt. I’d only had a couple of free hours, but I’d gotten so wrapped up in that goddamn bat carving that I’d lost all track of time.

“You can do that?” Karen stared up at me, her eyes almost comically wide.

“Well, I’m the boss.” I didn’t intend to puff up my chest, but I’d had to work my way up to the head of my own very successful business, so hell yeah, I was proud. “I usually prefer to get a jump on the day and I’m an early bird by nature, but I’m sure you have homework or whatever—”

“Oh, no, I did that while I was waiting at the hospital. So, if you need me early, I’ll be here early. Whatever you need, sir—John.” She swallowed her giggle but I still caught the tail end of it.

Was she extra solicitous tonight or was I just imagining things? God knows I was exhausted and could be seeing just about anything at this point. “Well, if it won’t inconvenience you too much, then yes, earlier is better. The Haunt is taking up a lot of my time and the more hours I can devote to it, the better.”

Not that I was in a hurry to get back to Macy. The bright side was she typically only swung through a couple of times a day at most. I also picked up my morning coffee on the way to the restaurant, but there were other places to get coffee that came with fewer icy looks and thin smiles.

Like my own kitchen.

I wasn’t going to avoid her, exactly. But it was probably prudent for us to steer clear until the dust settled. Literally and metaphorically.

“Then I’ll be here at eight. My class tomorrow was cancelled anyway, so I can stay straight through to afternoon if you need me.”

“Didn’t classes just start?”

“Yeah, but the professor had a…thing.” Karen tucked her hair behind her ear and cut a glance at Dani. “She seems peaceful, so if you’re all set, I’ll just be going. Unless you need me for anything?”

“No, you were a huge help tonight. I really appreciate it, Karen. It takes a big load off me to know Dani is in good hands while I’m working.”

“Not a baby,” Dani mumbled, shifting restlessly.

“Of course you aren’t, squi—” I stopped, thinking of Macy, and frowned.

Maybe she was right. I needed a more particular nickname for Dani. Something that referred only to her. My eyes narrowed on her fine strawberry-blond hair, pale skin, and freckles, so like her mother. But her eyes were pure green, all me. Those eyes were frightfully direct. They never shied away from anything.

Unlike me. I’d turned my back on a lot just recently. Such as dealing with Macy every time things between us got a little too uncomfortable. Now that would be amplified by fifty.

“Of course you aren’t, Red.”

Dani’s eyes popped all the way open while Karen coughed discreetly into her fist.

“Red?” Dani asked. “Like a dog? Also, my hair is actually basically blond.”

“Your hair is not blond. Your mother’s hair is red, and so is yours.”

“Not anymore.” Dani stuck out her chin. “Her hair is platinum blond, just like Marilyn’s.”

“Marilyn who?”

Dani made an annoyed noise. “Night, Karen. I think you’re right, what you said.” They both looked at me then away. What the heck?

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe not. I say all kinds of things when I’m revved up.” Karen waved her hands. “Don’t mind me.”

Forget minding her, I was still trying to keep up.

“Thank you for staying with me, Kar.”

“You don’t have to thank me for that. We’ll have fun tomorrow. Get some sleep, G-wiggle.”

Dani grinned. “I will. Say hi to Professor Hottie.”

My frown grew. So, Red was out, but G-wiggle was in? What did that even mean? And Professor Hottie? Had my daughter turned eighteen when I wasn’t looking?