Page 177 of Steel

“Hey, baby,” Heather chirps, and I grit my teeth as a shudder rolls over me. “Where’s our girl? Can I talk to her?”

There’s something in her tone that puts me on alert, but her voice sounds clear, and I can hear the frantic energy of the rehab center in the background, so I brush it off.

“She’s at home with the sitter. I’m at work.”

“But I want to talk to her,” she whines.

“I’ll do what I can to get you through to her when I get home,” I promise.

Heather sighs. “Okay. I just really want to talk to her.”

“Know you do. You sound good,” I tell her. “She’ll be happy about that.”

There’s murmuring on her end, and it sounds way too intimate for where she’s at, but it’s not my business as long as she’s clean.

“I got to go,” she says. “Pritchard said I can call Lyric back in two hours. Will that be enough time?”

“Yeah, finishin’ up here now.”

After saying goodbye, I call the customer and let them know they’re ready then lock up the shop.

My girls are waiting for me on the porch when I ride up the driveway. Didn’t want to start shit with Heather, which is why I told her Lyric was with a babysitter. Just didn’t clarify who it was.

Lyric bounces on her feet as Bailee holds her shoulder steady to keep her from running off before I’m stopped.

As soon as I flick off the engine, Lyric’s tiny legs eat up the ground as she jumps from the porch and races toward me. I climb from my bike and steady myself as she barrels into me.

I chuckle and lift her, settling her on my hip. Not much longer and she’ll be too grown for this kind of shit. “Miss me, Princess?”

“A lot, Dad. Me and Bee had fun today though.”

“That’s good,” I reply, walking toward the beautiful woman watching us with a warm, patient smile.

I reach her, pull her into my other side, and drop a kiss to her upturned lips, causing Lyric to giggle. “Man could get used to this.”

“Used to what?” Bailee murmurs.

“Comin’ home to his two beautiful girls waitin’ so pretty for him on the porch.”

Bailee smiles, running her fingers over my face. “I’ve got supper waiting on the table.”

I lean down and nip at her lip. “Words to a man’s heart. Feed me.”

Lyric snickers, shoving off to get down, and I loosen my hold. She starts to walk inside, but I grab her hand, halting her progress.

“Your mom called me at work. Goin’ to call back in about another hour.”

“Okay,” she says quietly, her smile fading.

“Hey. Know you don’t have to talk to her if you don’t want to.”

Lyric nods. “I want to.” She nibbles on her lip. “Did she sound good, Daddy?”

“Yeah, Princess, sounded good.”

That makes her smile again. “‘Kay. Let’s go eat.”

Once she’s inside, I pull Bailee in front of me, dropping my hands to her ass and brushing my lips against her forehead. “Have a good day with our girl?”

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