Page 24 of Fallen Ink

“Hey there.” He wrapped one arm around her shoulder, the other around Violet’s, and squeezed. “Missed you brats.”

Violet pinched his side, and he winced. Her fingers were damn strong, and she’d had years of practice when it came to pinching him so the parents wouldn’t notice. That’s what siblings did, after all. And since they were in his arms, he gave each a gentle headlock, eliciting screeches from both of his sisters and a stern look from his mother.

He quickly let his siblings go, but not before giving them another squeeze. They were all well into their adult years, yet there was nothing more satisfying than playing around with Sienna and Violet like they had when they were kids. He wasn’t ever the jerk big brother who picked on his sisters, rather he played back just as hard as they did to him, and their relationship worked. He’d hated when they’d gone off to college in Denver, and though it was only a little over an hour away, it had felt like farther since he didn’t get to see them daily like he used to.

He followed the girls into the house and watched as his parents doted on his kid. They hadn’t been happy with his ex when they realized what she’d done, but the fact that they had unfettered access to their grandchild now had largely made up for their ire.

“You’re growing up so fast,” Jeff, his father, said to Daisy, his laugh deep. “One minute, you can fit in the palm of my hand; the next, you’re as tall as I am.”

Daisy bounced from foot to foot, her grin from ear to ear. “I’m not that big, Grandpa. I still have lots of growed to do.”

“Growing,” Mace corrected and crossed his eyes at both of his sisters when their lips quirked. He didn’t get to act like a dad around them often. Until recently, he hadn’t had the time with Daisy that he wanted, so his family would just have to deal with this not-so-new side of him now. After all, he was getting used to his role in Daisy’s life.

“Growing,” Daisy repeated, beaming at Mace before turning back to her grandpa. “I’m a big girl now, though. Big, big, big.”

Mace was lucky that she wasn’t looking at him then because he was pretty sure his face had gone pale at the thought of how many years had already passed in her life. She still had years to go before she was making those new milestones as a teenager and beyond, but the fact that he might now be the sole person dealing with it all was beyond overwhelming. He had no idea what Jeaniene’s next step was when it came to her job, or what would happen when she got back to the country in a few months, but he knew that, no matter what, he wouldn’t let Daisy go without a fight. He’d been unable to do what was right the first time because he’d been out of his depth, and Jeaniene had been the one with all the power. But after what she’d done this time, his lawyer had assured him things would be different. He’d have to roll with whatever came when everything fell around him, but he wouldn’t let his and Daisy’s relationship go back to how it had been before this.

His mom, Dani, came up then and hugged each of them close. “There’s my babies.” He leaned down so she could kiss his cheek, and she patted his face. “Your beard is getting so long. I’m always afraid it’s going to scratch me when I kiss your cheek, but it’s so soft.” She patted him again before glaring at his sisters, who rolled their eyes at him.

“He has a beard care routine,” Sienna said with a grin. “All the lumbersexuals do.”

“What’s a lumbersex?” Daisy asked, and Mace glared at his sister, who had the grace to wince.

Mace reached down and picked up Daisy, setting her on his hip. She was almost too big to do this now, but he’d take her wanting him to hold her as long as he could.

“It’s lumbersexual, and that’s a made-up word from people who don’t understand beards.” He shot a look at his other sister when she went to say something, probably countering his point with real facts, but he wasn’t in the mood.

Daisy put her tiny hands on his face and gave him a solemn look that went straight to his heart. “I love your beard, Daddy. So if you don’t want to be a lumbersex, don’t be.”

This time, neither Sienna nor Violet could keep their laughter at bay, and both of his parents joined in. He gave them all a mock scowl before blowing a raspberry on Daisy’s neck. His little girl squealed before wiggling out of his arms.

“Don’t use that word, okay, Daisy-cakes? It’s a grown-up word.”

“Okay. Like shit and damn, right? Mommy said those are bad words, but Aunt Adrienne said that once I’m the biggest girl, I can use them if they help my meaning. Or something like that.”

“Daisy,” he said sharply, and she looked down at her feet.

“Sorry.”

He was going to have to strangle his best friend. And bite her. Yeah, biting would be good. And then he promptly shoved those thoughts from his mind since he didn’t want to have a hard-on in front of his entire family.

“When you’re a grown-up like me, you can use those words. How’s that?”

She nodded, and Mace pointedly ignored the curious looks his sisters gave him at the mention of Adrienne. Neither of them had ever believed that he and Addi hadn’t slept together before now, and since he was actually semi-seeing her currently, he knew he had to walk a fine line to keep that secret at bay.

“And now that that’s taken care of,” his mother cut in, “let’s finish taking off our coats and go into the living room. I made those mushrooms you all like.”

Daisy bounced on the balls of her feet, and Mace bent down to take off her little hat, scarf, and jacket. She’d been standing in the foyer with her outdoor stuff on for far too long as it was, and he didn’t want her to get overheated. A cold front had rolled in overnight, and he had a feeling the winter was going to be a long one. His sisters took off their jackets, and he did the same, hanging his on the rack that had been on the same wall ever since he was a little kid and had his mother taking off his jacket for him. He loved the fact that no matter what changed in his life, this house and his parents were a constant. The idea that his parents were getting up there in years since they’d waited a bit to have him, and even longer to have Sienna and Violet, was always in the back of his mind, but he did his best to ignore it. He wanted this time with his family, and he would be forever grateful that they were able to spend as much time as they did with Daisy.

Now, if only Sienna and Violet would settle down and have kids, then maybe his parents would get off his back about him being a single father. Of course, the idea of either of his perfect sisters finding a man for themselves made his big-brother radar ping, but he knew it was ridiculous. He wanted them to be happy, but he’d definitely play the overprotective brother when it was needed. That was what he was there for.

“The mushrooms with the cheese?” Sienna asked. “Those are my favorites.” She reached out, and Daisy grasped her hand before the two of them skipped into the living room behind his parents.

Mace just shook his head, a smile playing on his face.

“I thought Sienna was the cool and composed one,” Violet said, openly laughing. “Look at her skip in those shoes.”

Mace had noticed the stilettos and couldn’t help but look down at Violet’s similar footwear. “You can’t skip in yours?”

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