Page 24 of Peaches & Pistols

It wasn’t at all necessary for her to spend whatever money she has on steak to feed me, but I don’t want to offend her.

“I should’ve familiarized myself with your kitchen before I started, but I wanted dinner to be ready by the time you got home.”

The way she’s twisting her hands in her lap, I swear she’s going to spiral fracture her delicate fingers. My own hands ball into fists at the sight of her distress, so I shove them in my pockets so as not to scare her.

“Anyway, one mishap led to another and by the time everything was cooked, the steaks were overdone, but the potatoes were underdone, and the salad from the market was a bit wilted, and while I was fussing over plating everything, I bumped into the oven and it made the cake fall, and⁠—”

“Woah, woah. Slow down. First of all, it’s so kind and not at all expected for you to cook us dinner.” Her eyes are wild, waiting for…what, I don’t know.

“Second of all, you’re cooking in a strange kitchen. I’m surprised you found anything at all with where everything’s shoved into the cabinets.” Her shoulders drop a hair from her ears.

“Thirdly, I’m no gourmet chef. You think we’re gonna give a shit about food that ain’t Michelin star? I’ll eat anything happily, and Harper’s a garbage disposal. That kid will eat the gristle off your plate if you let her.” One side of her mouth tilts in a tiny grin, making my chest ache.

“Fourth, fifth, whatever number I’m on, you made a cake? Are you kidding me? You’ll be lucky if we ever let you quit.” Her grin grows to reach both sides of her mouth, plump pink lips stretching into a smile.

“Now, you wanna tell me why the hiccups with making dinner had you cryin’ so hard?” I ask, needing, but not wanting, to know the answer.

She hesitates, chewing the inside of her cheek, but ultimately answer.

“If I’d made these mistakes back home…there would’ve been…consequences.”

The way she says consequences tell me everything I need to know. Any man who dares lay hands on a woman is better off six feet under and I’d be more than happy to do the honors.

“Well, the only consequences you’ll find in this house are me bitchin’ and moanin’ about how tight my jeans are after I clean my plate.” A faint blush flashes across her cheeks, and it isn’t from the crying.

I angle my body toward the door. “Come on. Let’s go eat the delicious meal you cooked and maybe you can explain to me in a way my thick head can retain, what the difference between a horse and a unicorn is.”

Her peal of laughter sends goosebumps racing down my arms.

“And the explanation’s got to be more than ‘it has a horn’, because for as often as I get in trouble over it, there’d better be some good reasons why I’m an idiot dad.”

“You’re not an idiot dad,” Mia says softly, following me out of her bedroom. “Harper might be the luckiest little girl on the planet to have you as her dad.”

“Naw. I’m the lucky one.”

And I am. Despite losing my dad young and the shit that went down with Meredith, I’m really fucking lucky. I’ve got the Andersens and the best found-family a man could ask for. I’d go through what Vanessa put me through a million times over to be Harper’s dad.

Now I’m lucky enough to have this gorgeous young woman and her firecracker little girl living in my house, making my daughter happier than I’ve ever seen her after only a couple short days.

I can’t explain it, but they belong here. I just have to find a way to keep her from running.

9

If you don’t mind,

Harper needs school supplies.

Use my card to get her and Everly whatever they need.

Get them some clothes and shoes too.

It’s Monday morning—my first official day as Harper’s full-time nanny. School starts on Wednesday, giving me two days to get my bearings before tackling elementary school drop-off and pick-up.

I’ve been so nervous to do a good job and take care of Harper, I haven’t had time to obsess over the fact my baby girl is starting kindergarten.

But here this note sits, atop a school supply print-out from the school, and Greyson’s credit card. I’m afraid it’ll burn me if I pick it up.

Greyson was gone by the time we woke up this morning. Everly stirred first, bright eyed and bushy tailed. Before I could stop her, she was knocking on Harper’s door to have her join the sunrise club my daughter is the founding member of.