“A present?” Excitement filled her. “Really?”
“Yep.” He tilted his head to one side, a slight smile on his face.
She clapped her hands as she bounced on her feet. “Yay! Oh, but I didn’t get you anything.”
He shook his head. “Not why I bought you it, babe. I bought you a few things. Might not like all of them, though.”
What did that mean?
“I’d like any gift you bought me,” she told him as he slid his hand into the back pocket of her jeans. Normally, she wore yoga pants when she was home doing nothing. But since he seemed to like to rest his hand on her ass, she’d put a pair of jeans on this morning. “I don’t remember the last time anyone bought me anything.”
He glanced down at her and she couldn’t read his face. They reached the living room but instead of sitting on the couch as she’d expected, he sat down on the rug on the floor. So, she sat across from him. He opened the duffel bag and pulled out a large box that was wrapped in pretty unicorn paper.
“Got the paper from Ellie,” he told her in a rough voice. “Ordered it online.”
She held the large box in her hand. Something shifted around inside it. Excitement filled her. “Can I open it?”
“Sure can, sugar.”
She tore at the paper and he let out a surprised bark of laughter that had her stilling and looking at him.
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing. I just. . .I haven’t heard you laugh in a long time. I like it.”
His eyes warmed. “Like hearing you laugh too.”
She pulled the rest of the paper away. And stared down at what she held in her hands.
“You said you liked building blocks; thought you might like this. But if you don’t—”
She launched herself at him again. Only this time, he wasn’t expecting it and he hadn’t braced. So, she caught him off guard and he went flying back. She lay on top of him, pressing kisses over his face until, laughing, he sat up and pulled her onto his lap.
He grinned down at her. “I’m guessing you like it.”
“I love it.” She bounced around. “Can I open it now?”
“In a minute. I’ll even help you build it.”
“You will?” She stared up at him in wonder. “You’ll play with me?”
“Of course, what is a daddy for if he won’t play with his girl?”
Her happiness washed away the last of her doubts about him accepting this. He’d listened to her when she’d told him she liked to relax by building things. He’d gone online and bought her the most kickass Lego set she’d ever seen, a princess castle complete with horses, knights, a moat and best of all. . .dragons. Then he’d gone to Ellie to get unicorn wrapping paper. And now he was going to help her build it.
She reached up and lightly pressed her lips against his. “Thank you, Daddy.” God that felt good to finally call him that. “Best present ever.”
And then he topped that gift by giving her an even better one. His eyes melted into pools of hazel-green and the widest smile filled his face. He hugged her tight. “You’re welcome.”
His voice was slightly husky. But she got it. This moment was special. It was the moment she truly gave him her Little to protect.
“Before you open it, baby girl, let me get the rest of your presents.”
“Don’t think anything could be better than this, Daddy,” she told him solemnly.
He set her back on the floor then reached back into his bag. Next thing he drew out wasn’t wrapped. She stared down at the binky in his hand. It looked far bigger than anything she’d ever seen a baby use.
“I’m not a baby,” she told him instantly.