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Daniel nodded, then went back to his breakfast. “Finish eating. It will take them a few minutes to park and get their things.”
Cassie and Jesse were only staying one night. While tax season was technically over, his firm was still busy trying to file late returns and extensions for clients. He had to be back in the office on Monday morning.
A car door opened and shut. Daniel glanced at Ali. She was eating, but her gaze was on the front door.
He placed a hand over hers. “Relax.”
She nodded.
The sound of another door opening and closing, then he heard his daughter’s voice. He pushed away from the table and stood. “I’m going to let them in.”
“I’ll clean up,” Ali said.
Daniel couldn’t deny he was a little nervous himself. What Jessica had heard kept playing in his thoughts. Being in the lifestyle, he tried not to read too much into it. Jessica could have been mistaken. Maybe something fell or there was a movie on television.
There was also the possibility his daughter and her man enjoyed a little kinky fun. While it was hard to think about his daughter’s sex life, he would be a hypocrite to have a problem with it.
He opened the door as they were walking up the front steps.
“Daddy!” his daughter yelled. She dropped her purse and ran into his arms.
Daniel hugged her close. He hadn’t seen her in person since Christmas.
She took a step back, keeping one hand on him, and motioned her fiancé forward. “Dad, I’d like you to meet Jesse.”
Jesse dropped their bags and held out a hand. “It’s good to meet you, Sir. Cass has told me so much about you.”
His firm handshake and the way he met and held Daniel’s gaze boded well for Jesse. “It’s nice to finally meet you.” Daniel looked at his daughter. “I figured you both would be more comfortable in one of the upstairs bedrooms.”
Cassie went up on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thanks, Dad.”
Daniel chuckled and led them inside. “Go put your things down, and I’ll introduce you to Ali.” They began to move toward the stairs when he stopped them. “Have you had breakfast?”
Jesse was the one to speak up. “We ate before we left.”
“That was over two hours ago.” He met his daughter’s gaze again. “Pancakes?”
Her face split into a smile. “I’ll never turn down your pancakes.”
When Daniel walked into the kitchen, Ali had cleaned up their dishes and was already getting the griddle ready for pancakes. He walked up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed the side of her neck. “I guess you heard.”
“I don’t blame her. Your pancakes are pretty awesome.”
By the time Jesse and Cassie made their appearance, Daniel was pouring batter onto the griddle. He finished what he was doing, wiped his hands on a dish towel, and turned to make the introductions. “Ali, this is my oldest, Cassie, and her fiancé, Jesse.”
“Hi—”
Ali didn’t get out more than that before Cassie was embracing her.
“Oh.”
“Sorry,” Cassie said, releasing her. “I’m just so happy to finally meet you. Dad’s been telling me all about you and I can’t wait to get to know each other.”
Ali smiled. “He’s told me a lot about you, too. I’m glad you were able to come visit us this weekend.”
Daniel flipped the pancakes as Ali and Cassie talked. His daughter made herself comfortable, sitting cross-legged on one of his kitchen chairs as she asked question after question. Jesse hung back, content to let the women talk.
Staking the pancakes on a single plate, Daniel carried them to the table. Then, he went back for the syrup and butter.
