Daddy in Disguise (Crescent Cove 7)

“So, it’s my fault you’re alone,” she said in a small voice, and my heart squeezed until dots hovered at the edges of my vision. “If you didn’t have me, you’d be dating and happy.”

“I am happy. What makes you think otherwise? Besides, I kind of like you, you know.” I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and tugged her closer, making sure not to jar her leg. “I wouldn’t want to live my life without you in it.”

“Can we eat soon? I’m hungry.”

I had to laugh. A sweet father-daughter moment interrupted by Dani’s growling stomach.

“Sure. Go get ready, and I’ll put the pancakes on. You might have to handle them for a few minutes while I get changed. Karen will be here in not too long.”

Not that I’d glanced at the time on my phone yet, but I was pretty adept at guessing the time judging by the slant of the light. Already sunshine was creeping into the corners of the room.

Guess discussing my nonexistent love life took up more time than I’d realized.

“Okay.” Dani muscled her way off to her room with her crutch without my help.

Stubborn, prideful, kindhearted girl that she was.

I let out a long sigh and pushed myself to my feet. That hot shower I wanted would probably take place in approximately th

ree minutes between pancake flips while Dani manned the stove.

“See, if I had a wife, it would all be different,” I said as I assembled ingredients in the kitchen.

Yeah, right. I’d had one of those once, and I’d still done the bulk of the cooking and getting up with Danielle when she was a baby. I’d never fully forgiven myself for missing her birth due to a job that had kept me away from Jessica’s shoot, so I’d made sure to take care of everything else I possibly could. About the only thing Jessica had taken the point position on was nursing and that was because I lacked the right equipment. And thank Jesus for that.

Shuddering, I set to work chopping apples.

When Dani finally came out, the pancakes were nearly done. As were my chances of showering off the night before Karen showed up and giggled me into submission.

“Here you go.” I set down the spatula. “You can handle this from here, right?”

Dani nodded and took her position at the stove like an old pro. “Got it, Dad.”

I hauled off my T-shirt from behind my head, whatever I was about to say disappearing from my lips as I realized my daughter was taking a picture of me. What the hell?

“To show Mom,” she said quickly, sending it off with a whoosh that made my eyes narrow.

“Your mom has seen my torso and we’re divorced, in case you’ve forgotten.”

I surely hadn’t.

“Yeah, but she thinks you’re getting sloppy. That’s why you can’t get any dates.” Dani bit her lip and did something else on her phone before tucking it in the pocket of her sweats.

“Let me see your phone. I want to see that photo. Now.” I was going to delete it. Possibly set it on fire.

Getting sloppy? Like hell.

“Ow, ow, ow! Burn,” Dani said almost smugly, sticking out her hand for my inspection. The corner of her thumb was red. Not red enough for me not to drop her hand to grab her phone, only to be confronted by her lockscreen.

Sometimes I really disliked her mother, and she didn’t even have to be present for me to feel that way.

“What is your passcode?”

“It’s my thumbprint and ouchie.” She actually said ouchie as she waved her thumb in the air.

Naturally, Jessica had given her the iPhone 6 and not a newer model with facial recognition. Although I knew damn well that the passcode worked as well as a thumbprint.

“Danielle Alicia Gideon, you better—”