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“Next time, put on some shoes and a coat.”
“Listen to your mother, Del.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she said, slipping inside.
“Mind your attitude.”
She looked back at me. “I don’t even know what that means.”
I let out a breath and met Mac’s amused gaze. “Good night.”
“Night, Natalie. Sweet dreams.” He turned and walked away as I closed the door.
“What were you thinking running out there like that?” She’d run into his arms like she’d expected him to catch her, which he had, but still. What made her so confident in Mac? Or was that the eternal optimism of young kids?
Delaney shrugged. “I just wanted to say good-bye before he left.”
“What did he say to you?”
“That I should listen to you, and he’d see me soon.”
Warmth spread from my chest to every inch of my body. Mac was getting to me. “He’s right. Now, let’s get you tucked in.”
I followed her to her tiny bedroom, and we settled onto the bed to read a book. I barely registered the meaning of the words because I couldn’t get the picture of Delaney running to him out of my head.
It was some kind of crazy trust exercise to believe he’d catch her, and he kept surprising me. He was giving her exactly what she needed: male attention and respect. He said he never made promises he couldn’t keep. I hoped that was true.
I couldn’t handle one more man breaking my little girl’s heart.
CHAPTER10
MAC
Tonight was the daddy-daughter dance, and I was nervous. Sam and Alice had come over with Maggie while I was getting ready. They were a good distraction. Escorting Delaney to the dance was a big deal, a privilege I didn’t take lightly.
Sam kept trying to tell me to remember that, but I couldn’t forget it, even without his constant reminders. Delaney needed someone in her life, and I didn’t mind being the man she could count on. I didn’t know what it meant for Natalie and me, but I would be there for Delaney, regardless. I never went back on my word. I knew all too well how it felt when someone let you down.
Alice came into the bedroom to help me with my tie.
“No jumping on the bed, Maggie,” Alice said, her attention on my tie.
“But Mac says it’s okay,” she said without missing a jump.
Alice paused and raised one brow at me.
I cleared my throat, knowing I was in trouble. “I didn’t know it was a hard no.”
Alice returned to her task with jerky hands. “Let me spell it out for you, Mac. Jumping on a bed is always a no. She could fall and hurt her head.”
“Maggie, you heard your mother.” I paused because I’d called Alice her mother when she wasn’t, but neither Alice nor Maggie said anything. Maggie’s actual mother, Felicia, didn’t visit often, and maybe Maggie saw Alice as her mother. I already did.
Maggie jumped from the bed to the floor and raced out of the room to her father, who gave in more easily than Alice.
“That was nice to hear,” Alice murmured as she finished the knot and stepped back to admire her work.
I moved to the mirror, satisfied with the results. “Thank you for the help. Maggie doesn’t mind? It just slipped out.”
“Not at all. She’s already asked if she can call me that.”
