Page 33 of Impressing Brett

I jog toward my SUV, toss Lacy’s things in the back seat, and glance at the time. I’ll easily make it back before her movie ends. Win.

Chapter 9

Lacy

* * *

It’s hard to focus on the movie while Daddy is gone.

Daddy.

It’s even harder to wrap my head around that concept. Without him in the house, I begin to doubt that any of the last twenty hours happened.

I’m fidgeting the entire time, and I jump up and run to the kitchen as soon as the garage door goes up. I’m nearly bouncing on my feet in the kitchen as he enters.

I’m relieved to see he has a suitcase and my computer bag. That’s a good sign, right?

As soon as he sets them down and removes his jacket, he takes me in his arms. “Did I make it before the movie ended?”

I grin. “Yes. How was my apartment?”

“Unscathed. Sanders said the upper floors had little or no smoke damage. Most of the fire was confined to the first few floors.”

“Oh, that’s good for me. I feel bad for the people who live closer to the bottom. Do they know what caused it?”

He hesitates before cupping my face. “Yes. Arson.”

I gasp. “Really? Why would someone start a fire in an apartment building?”

“They were professionals. They probably wanted to chase the residents out so they could rob a specific apartment.”

“Wow. That’s brazen. I guess it wouldn’t be mine. I don’t own anything.”

“Nope. It wasn’t yours. Nothing looked out of place.”

I gasp.

He frowns. “What’s wrong?”

“If nothing looked out of place, then someone must have come in after I left,” I tell him, trying hard to look stunned.

He frowns. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not that tidy. They must have cleaned up,” I tease.

He tips his head back and laughs. “What a funny Little girl you are.” He tickles me.

“Daddy,” I shout, trying to get out of his grasp.

He doesn’t stop though. He holds me against him with one hand and tickles me with the other until I’m panting and tears run down my cheeks.

“Meanie,” I say as soon as he’s finally done.

“Naughty girl. You deserved that.” He releases me, grabs my suitcase, and nods toward the stairs. “Let’s go hang your clothes up.”

I skip along behind him, feeling lighter now that he’s back.

“I grabbed all the plaid skirts and the striped blouses. That’s what you wanted, right?”

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