Page 45 of Reclaim

15

Emerson

“Have you watchedTwilight?” Dakota asks me. It’s the first time she and I have been together since the day at Goulburn, and her inquisition game is strong. Astute and intelligent, she seems to be able to adjust to every situation with ease.

Only managing to see each other on the weekends, it’s been a week since I saw Jagger last. Texting and talking all week long makes up for the time apart somewhat, but I miss his touch and fantasize about what it would be like to truly be with him.

“The question is, who hasn’t watchedTwilight?”

Jagger walks into the kitchen, and Dakota points in his direction. We both laugh at our private joke, Jagger looking at us like we’ve lost our minds.

“Team Edward or Team Jacob?” she probes.

“Definitely Team Jacob?”

“Really? Edward is so sparkly.” Relieved that we have things in common, spending time with Dakota becomes uncomplicated.

“I don’t know. I just can’t help myself. I always root for the underdog.” So much truth in such a simple statement--my whole adult life has been defined by that particular choice.

Coming up behind me, Jagger snakes his arms around my stomach. “The underdog, huh? Is that how I got the girl?”

“What girl?” I ask, playing dumb.

He spins the rotating stool. “You’re my girl, right?” Sitting here in front of his daughter, his words bleed vulnerability.

“I don’t know; Dakota, am I his girl?” Surprised by my decision to include her, his smile is something I wish was more permanent and less of an accessory.

“Will you watch all five Twilight movies with her?” She calls over my shoulder.

“There’s five of them?” His eyes dart between the two of us, trying to work out our scheming. “Of course,” he chuffs, finally catching on. “Better yet, I’ll watch it with both my girls.”

“Oh Dad, I don’t really think you know what you signed up for.” She heads for the living room and fiddles with the remote controls. “You also have to watch all eight Harry Potter’s and then, only then, will Emerson be your girl.”

Raising my eyebrows in amusement, I smirk at Dakota’s sassiness. “I think the queen has spoken.”

“Does it count if I read the books?”

I’m sure Dakota and I look like two cartoon characters with their mouths hanging open in surprise. “You read Harry Potter?”

He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “I had a lot of time to kill.”

“Oh my God, that is the coolest thing ever,” Dakota squeals.

“Isn’t it?” If there was any doubt I was undeniably attracted to the six foot four wall of muscle that Jagger is, his admission to reading Harry Potter my have just set my body on fire.

“I know that look,” he teases. He struts closer, lowering his voice so Dakota doesn’t hear. “I didn’t know guys reading did that for you.”

Slipping my hands inside his back pockets, I pull him toward me. “Not guys. Just one.”

His eyes flick between Dakota and me. “I’ll have to remember that for later,” he whispers. He captures my lips in one swift movement, giving me the smallest preview of what’s to come. He breaks the kiss, his smirk sinful. “Sorry, I’ve got a date with the whole Twilight collection. I’m trying get the girl.”

* * *

“I don’t thinkhe passed the test.” Dakota looks down at her dad, spread out on the couch, asleep, and snoring loudly. “You can’t get the girl if you fall asleep.”

“He looks so peaceful though, and finding out about Harry Potter definitely makes up for the sleeping,” I point out, defending his efforts.

“Can you believe he read Harry Potter?” Her face lights up with pride. “My dad, enjoying the same things as me, is pretty cool.”

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