Page 55 of Pucking Daddy

Zara’s mouth curves slightly.

And I’m starting to realize this dinner is making my idea seem a whole lot less insane.

“Daddy, can we have dessert?” Lily cuts in, interrupting my thoughts.

I glance at Zara.

She lifts a brow. “Don’t look at me. You’re the authority figure.”

I sigh. “Fine. Small portion.”

“Yes!” Lily pumps her fist.

Zara gets up to grab the plates, moving around the kitchen like she’s done this a hundred times before.

***

After dinner, Lily insists on a story. Then another. Then one more because “the dragon isn’t finished yet.”

By the time she finally settles, she’s half-asleep already, her small hand clutching mine.

I brush her hair back gently.

“You good, bug?” I murmur.

“Mhm,” she mumbles.

I press a kiss to her forehead.

“Love you.”

“Love you too.”

I stay there a second longer than necessary.

Then I ease out of the room, pulling the door shut quietly behind me.

Zara is in the living room when I come back.

She’s curled slightly into the corner of the couch, a book in her hands—but she’s not reading.

Her gaze lifts when I step in.

There it is again.

That look she gave me when I came home.

My pulse ticks up.

“Are you ready to talk some more?” I ask carefully.

She nods immediately, setting the book aside.

“Yeah,” she says. “I am.”

I stay standing for a second, then move to sit across from her.

“About my proposition…” I begin.