Page 64 of Daddy's Heart

Ryder raised his brow. “Your tummy ache last night.”

She looked at her plate and nodded.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because you wouldn’t let me have the ice-cream if you knew,” she pointed out softly, still trying to keep their conversation from their hosts.

“Of course I wouldn’t. If it makes you sick, you shouldn’t eat it.” He picked up her plate and pushed her slice onto his plate.

“I can whip you up a sandwich if you’d like instead,” Kelly offered.

Sam waved her hands. “No, no. The salad is perfect. More than enough. I swear.”

“There’s feta in the salad,” Kendrick pointed out.

“I pushed it off.” Sam pointed to the white clumps of cheese lining the edge of the plate.

“You should have told me,” Ryder said firmly.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Can we talk about it later?” She shifted her gaze to show him other people were there.

“Oh, we will,” he promised. Another lesson in not keeping secrets was in order. A sterner lesson.

She piled on more salad. “Kelly, how are you feeling? Ryder told me you’re pregnant.” She turned the topic.

Kelly was all too willing to help her out of the hole she’d dug herself into—an area she had plenty of experience in from what he knew of her.

Once they were finished eating, Ryder and Kendrick picked up the plates and took them to the kitchen while the girls continued talking.

“She’s sweet,” Kendrick noted when they were in the kitchen.

“Yeah,” Ryder huffed. “All sugar and spice.”

Kendrick laughed. “Don’t even pretend you aren’t into her.”

Ryder grinned. “I won’t. It’s good having her around.”

“Good? Man, it’s been a long time since you took a little girl. And she’s definitely your girl.”

“She’s just staying at my place for a while.”

“So, you aren’t together?

“We are…but not like you think…” He scratched his chin. “It’s just casual.”

Kendrick raised his brow. “Casual?” He burst out laughing. “Right.”

“Okay, whatever. Did you find anything out for me?”

“Nothing all that helpful. The best bet would be to get a restraining order, but there’s basis for one right now. Plus, even if we did get one, that doesn’t guarantee he won’t ignore it altogether,” Kendrick explained.

“That’s what I was expecting you to say.” Ryder sighed.

“We can put in a security system at your place for the time being. A trigger alarm that would alert you and the security company if someone enters the apartment.”

“That might be a good idea. I don’t like her sitting in the apartment alone while I’m working. She has an interview tomorrow, then she’s spending the afternoon helping George. But Tuesday, she’s going to be all by herself all day,” Ryder said.

“I can have someone out tomorrow night.”

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