Page 10

No, couldn’t be. She was in Dallas…

“Daddy, Daddy.” Goldie tugged at my hand. “It’s the pretty lady who came to our house and said she liked my princess dress.”

My lids fell closed for half a second. Shit.

“What are you—” the question died on my tongue when I turned around to a woman crouched down by my daughter.

Sunshine bounced off the top of glossy black hair, making the strands nearly look blue. I fisted my hand at my side, fighting off the itch to reach out and see how soft they were.

I’d know that voice—that body—anywhere.

Graciella.

“Bunny ear one, bunny ear two, something about around a pole and in a hole…” She snorted. “There, all tied. Don’t want you to trip.” Graciella bopped Goldie on the nose, earning a giggle normally reserved for me.

She turned her smile on me, and my breath lodged in my throat.

“Wow. Looks like your smiling skills haven’t improved at all.” She tilted her head, damn cocky glint in her deep brown eyes.

Nothing about my body seemed to work. Not my mouth, my brain, my sense of self-preservation.

I stood there and stared like an idiot.

“This is a treat, Daddy,” Goldie said, with a chunk of churro stuffed in her cheek. “Dad said that ice cream was a treat, but it’s not. That’s a drink.”

“Because you can’t bite it.”

Graciella’s answer shocked the hell out of me. How was she not even a bit fazed by my kid’s weird logic?

“See, Daddy?”

Graciella scoffed. “How did he not know that?” She wiped the sugar and cinnamon off Goldie’s mouth, and my brain kicked back online.

“Golds, where did you even get that?” I reached for it, and Graciella smacked my hand, pulling Goldie a little closer. Both shot daggers my way.

“Never get between a girl and her food.”

My traitorous kid nodded in agreement, tearing off another chunk, a little pile of churro dust collecting on her shirt.

“Unbelievable.” I ran a hand down my face. “You two met one time, and she takes your side.”

Graciella smirked. “That’s because I’m likable.”

I fought to keep the corner of my mouth anchored down, but it betrayed me, too.

“Would you look at that? He does smile…kinda.” She stood, smoothing her hands over the curve of her hips. A flash of gold caught my attention, and I swallowed the lump in my throat the dainty gold chain circling her waist caused.

“He can smile better.” Goldie cut through the visions of wrapping a finger around that bit of chain. “Show her Daddy, smile like you do for me.”

My tongue ran over my bottom lip. Did I risk disappointing my daughter, or worse, risk letting this infuriatingly magnetic woman see me smile?

The sparkle in Graciella’s eye irritated me. Her being here irritated me.

The way my thoughts wandered to her irritated me.

“Good, I’m glad I caught you.” Thatcher clapped my back, saving me from choosing.

“Hey, Golds, you having fun?” Jimenez asked, coming up on my other side and holding out a hand to her.