Daddy Undercover (Crescent Cove 9)

“I know you will.”

Kayla clapped her hands. “It’s time for presents!”

“About time,” my grandmother murmured. “These old bones need my recliner and a little toke before my nap.”

“Don’t tell Brooks.”

She winked. “He wouldn’t arrest me.”

“Don’t be so sure about that. Christian just gave me a speeding ticket Thursday.”

“Even wearing that hooker shirt?” She tsked. “In my day, that was an easy out.”

“Ita, you’re terrible. It was not a hooker shirt.”

She cupped her very generous boobs. “I was proud to wear those shirts in my day. Cleavage is the best weapon a woman has, nena.”

I glanced down at mine. “Not quite as impressive as yours.”

She patted my hand again. “Sure were on Thanksgiving.”

I put my head down on the table.

“Now help me over to a good seat. I want to see all the goods.”

I laughed and helped her up.

Life with my family would never be boring. Actually, no part of my life was boring these days. And I wasn’t mad about it.

Even if I didn’t know how long it would be until the other shoe dropped with a thud.

Nineteen

“Who’s a good girl? Are you my good girl?”

My brother was on the floor of his office with Sadie, the love of his life. She was trying to crawl into his lap and possibly under his skin.

I took another picture of my daughter on my phone then snapped my fingers.

Sadie’s head popped up and she immediately came over to me—once she checked on Sami. She noticed I didn’t have a treat for her and almost audibly sighed. The way she made sure the baby was okay before anything else melted me as it always did.

I took another quick photo and sent it to Gina.

Sadie leaped back onto Mason. He laughed and ruffled her ears. “I missed you too.” He nodded at me. “So, you’re totally whipped, huh?”

I grinned at Gina’s typical smartass response. “Hmm?” I asked vaguely.

Mason got up and gave the dog one last rubdown. “I’m assuming that’s Gina.”

I slipped my phone into my pocket. “Yeah, just checking in.”

“Mmm-hmm.” He slipped into the small water closet in his office and washed his hands. “So, are you going to give me the lowdown on this little surprise?”

I fixed the blanket I’d tossed over her portable seat. “Well, she’s still a surprise to me too.”

He came out drying his hands. “To say the least. You could have—I don’t know—given us a head’s up before dropping the bomb at the Ramos Thanksgiving thing.”

Sami squirmed and started making her pre-fussing noises. In preparation for baby tending duties, Sadie came over and leaned on my leg. I scratched her nose and leaned in to take Sami out of the seat. I turned her facing out the way she liked it best and she instantly relaxed. She loved being able to watch everything. Her big blue eyes were wide, and she was making gurgling noises. I was pretty sure only half of them were drool-induced.