“Do you have any idea what this means to me?”
Davis shrugs. “I can guess.”
Daddy glances at me, his face impossible to read. It almost looks like he’s about to fist pump the air, but he’s also hesitant. He glances back at Davis. “I haven’t told Eve anything yet.”
Davis nods and sips his coffee before setting it back down. “Well, I’ll let you get back to your day. Take your time with that. Look it over. Discuss it with Eve. Do what you need. You know how to find us.”
Us? I’m so confused.
Davis turns toward me, his face switching to full Daddy mode. “Britney would love to have you over again soon.”
I glance at Daddy. “I’d like that, Sir.”
“She threw a bit of a tantrum when I left her with a sitter this morning, so she’s grounded for the week, but maybe next weekend. I’ll set something up with your Daddy.”
I shift my gaze toward Colt, my heart pounding. Will he still be here in my life next weekend?
Colt sees Davis out and then silently comes to me. He lifts me out of my chair and carries me to the couch.
I wrap my legs around him so that we’re chest to chest, which means I’m straddling him when he sits. He brushes my messy hair from my face and tucks it behind my ears. I can tell he’s thinking hard and I don’t want to interrupt him. He’ll say what he wants to say when he’s ready.
“Do you have any idea how much I love you, Evelyn?”
I’m not expecting that to be his opening line, so I suck in a breath. “I love you too, Daddy.”
He smiles. “I know I said there was no way we could stay together after the bad guys were caught because I would need to move to another case and be unable to see you.”
I nod. There’s hope in his words. I hear the hanging “but.”
“I decided that wasn’t going to work for me or for you or for us, so I resigned from the police department.”
I gasp. My eyes go wide. That is not what I expected him to say. “What?”
He nods, grinning.
“But you love your job. You’ll be unhappy.”
He slides his hands down and cups my bottom, my panties the only thing between us. “I love you so much more than that job, baby.”
I furrow my brow, concerned about his decision. “What does Davis have to do with it?”
He beams. “Davis just offered me a job working for his company, Black Blade Protection.”
I process his words slowly. “He did?”
“Well, technically his boss did. You know his boss. Andres Phillips, though no one calls him that at work. He goes by Blade. He’s a member of Surrender.”
I nod. “I know Master Andres.” I did not know what he did for a living or that he was Davis’s boss. And now apparently Daddy’s boss. I wiggle closer. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”
He gives my butt cheeks a squeeze. “Positive. It’s like Fate stepped in. I just sent my resignation a few hours ago while you were sleeping. It’s obviously meant to be. Besides, it’s the same kind of work. Protecting people and solving crimes. I’ll just be working for a private agency instead of a public police force. It’s perfect.”
My smile spreads wide. “You’re going to stay with me?”
“Forever. If you’ll have me.”
I close the distance between us, throwing my arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. I’m filled with relief. I can’t believe how lucky I am.
Daddy’s hands slide under my nightgown and rub my naked back. “How attached are you to this apartment?”
I lean back, meet his gaze, and shrug. “It’s just an apartment. Why? Is yours bigger?”
He chuckles. “God, no. Mine is nothing more than a boring place where I keep my shit and sleep when I’m not on an assignment. I was thinking we should look into ditching both of them and finding a house. Someplace with a private backyard where you can play outside without anyone seeing you.”
I can be happier. “Really?” I bounce on his lap and clap my hands together. “I’d love that. I’ve never gotten a house because I didn’t want to take care of it alone.”
“Well, you won’t be alone anymore, and I’ll take care of it and you.” He taps my nose.
I smash myself against him again. I can’t stop hugging him. “I love you, Daddy.”
“I love you too, baby.”
Epilogue
Three months later…
Evelyn
“And you have to see the backyard too,” I exclaim excitedly as I grab Britney’s hand and pull her from my new playroom.
She giggles as she follows me from the room. “I can’t believe you don’t have a bed in your room.”
I shrug. “I sleep with Daddy.”
“My Daddy makes me sleep alone sometimes. Plus naptime.”
I had put my foot down on that subject when Colt asked me if I wanted a little-girl bed. I do not. I want to sleep in his bed. Our bed. I love the playroom. A place I can go and escape and be fully little without keeping the entire house as my little space, but I’m not sleeping alone.
I drag Britney through the house toward the back door. She hesitates when I reach up to slide the glass door open. Davis and Colt are talking at the kitchen island, and she glances at her Daddy.
He lifts a brow. “Where do you think you’re going, sweetie?”
“Eve wants to show me her backyard.”
“Did you ask my permission?”
“No, Sir.” She hangs her head.
“Do I normally let you go outside alone?”
“No, Sir.”
I clear my throat. “I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I wasn’t thinking.”
Davis shakes his head. “Not your fault, Eve. Britney knows the rules.” He comes to her and tips her chin back.
“May I please go outside with Eve, Daddy?”
“Let’s all go,” Colt says. “I wanted to show Davis the shed anyway.” He rounds the island and opens the door for us, but he takes my hand and pulls me against him after Davis and Britney step onto the patio.
