Page 42 of Fate

ChapterTen

Carson

“Da-dah, da-dah, dah!”An ear-splitting squeal accompanied by a wet smack to the face wakes me instantly. I sit up, hands flying to the squirrely bundle sitting on my chest.

“Sweet baby Jesus!” I gasp and grip on to Cora’s littlebody.

“Da-dah!” Cora head-butts me as I grab her and pull her farther up my bare chest so I can see her better.

“Hey, baby girl. What are you doing in here?” I coo at my little girl. My little girl. It’s all so foreign but becoming more familiar with every passing day. I’ve been a dad for a solid week, and as hard as it’s been, it’s also been the most rewarding and fulfilling experience of my life. The only thing missing is the woman I want by my side while I experienceit.

“She wouldn’t stop saying your name, and she’s been up for two hours already. You slept a lot later than normal, so I figured it would be okay. I hope we didn’t intrude.” Misty’s voice comes from the chair opposite mybed.

I glance over at her, and she’s leaning against the chair in a purple cotton robe with white lace around the edges that falls mid-thigh. The robe is open, giving me a perfect view of her braless breasts and tight matching nightgown. Misty toys with the string that should be tied across her waist. She walks toward the bed slow and panther-like. I hold on to Cora and snuggle her neck, my eyes still on her mother. Once she gets to my bed, she leans her bare thigh against theedge.

“Uh, I was up till three last night, working.” My voice is still morning-thick and gravelly.

Misty fluffs her hair. “Oh, it’s no problem. I made breakfast and kept it warm for you. A big man like you needs to eat.” She runs her fingertips across the mounds of her breasts and smiles softly.

The hairs on the back of my neck start to tingle, but I shake it off. She’s just beingnice.

“Um, okay. That’s nice of you. Thank you.” I lift Cora, hold her against me, and scoot to the edge of the bed. Thank God I didn’t crash naked last night. Since I’ve had guests, I’ve been wearing pajama bottoms. Not the most comfortable, but it seems appropriate, given that I’ve got two women in my house.

“Anything to help. You’ve been so good to Cora and me. I just want to return the favor any way Ican.”

I stand up and cuddle my daughter close. Misty places a hand to my bare chest and gets closer than I expect. I can smell her flowery perfume and clean scent overpowering my baby girl’s sweet smell.

“You know you can count on me for anything you need, right?” Her fingers flutter against my breast bone before she lets them slide down the expanse of my chest to my waist, where she curls a hand around the skin there. “A man has needs. And like before, I’m more than willing to satisfy those needs. In fact, I’d loveto.”

When she licks her lips and her pupils dilate, I shift our daughter in front of her and step back. “That won’t be necessary. I’m never going to take advantage of you, Misty. We’re strangers, I get that. Just because you’re down on your luck doesn’t mean you need to offer anything in return. I take care of what’s mine, and Cora is my daughter. She will have all that the Davis name holds, but you never owe anything in return. You getme?”

I know my facial features turn hard, because I can feel the pressure in my brow intensifying from how hard I’m frowning.

“Um…I, uh, yeah. I get you. Just, I’m here and happy to be here. With you. As a family.”

A family.

Fuck. The one thing I’d always wanted in life, my own family. Now I’ve got it, but it’s with the wrong woman.

“I’ll just go make sure your breakfast is ready to eat,” she says in a rush and turns around, her robe flaring behind her as shegoes.

Cora twists her fingers in my hair andtugs.

“Ouch! Baby girl.” I laugh and she giggles. “What are we going to do about your mommy?”

“Da-dah!” She smacks my face, leans forward, and lays a sloppy openmouthed kiss right on my mouth, and then moves to my chin and sucks onit.

I squint through the tickling and wetness, even though it warms my heart how quickly Cora has taken to me. It’s as though she’s never been without her dad, and vice versa. I can’t wait until Kat gets to spend time with her. She’ll fall instantly in love just like I did. Kat loves her nieces and nephew from Bree and Gillian. “I just know she’s going to love you too, baby girl. And teach you how to sew and make you tons of pretty dresses.”

One problem being I have to tell her first. How the hell am I going to tell her that when we broke it off for good, I fucked a woman and got her pregnant, only to find out two years later I’d fathered a child? Maybe I can just thrust Cora into her arms and let Cora win herover.

“That’s a good idea. You want to meet Daddy’s special friend? She’s the only other woman I love besides you, baby girl. One day you’ll meet my Kathleen, and the two of you will be the best of friends.”

I take Cora over to my closet and set her on the floor to mess up my shoes, currently all lined up. If there is anything I’ve learned about my daughter in a week, it’s if something is in order, she’s going to disrupt that order at the speed of light.

As I pull out a T-shirt, she’s already got two pairs of shoes off the rack and tossed them on the floor. I shake my head and smile at my girl. She may be a handful, but she’smine.

Once I’m dressed, I scoop her up and take her to the patio. When we go into the kitchen, Misty’s already got my breakfast on a serving tray and is heading toward the slider.

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