Page 31 of Outplayed

It looked like Izzy was teaching Violet all about princesses. Ariel was her favourite.

“I see, Izzy.” Violet grinned.

Of course, when I noticed her hair in two pigtails on the top of her head, I started chuckling. “Nice hair, Lettie.”

I didn’t miss the way her body tensed, until Izzy started hugging Violet around her neck saying, “See, I told you Daddy would love it. He loves my hair like that.”

Fuck me.

Violet’s lips twitched. Then she laughed, her hands reaching up to pat Izzy’s arms still around her neck. “I’m glad he likes it.”

“Yay,” Izzy cheered. Then she shouted, as if Violet couldn’t see already, “Look, Daddy has ice cream.”

“How about we forego the hairdos and eat while watching Ariel?”

“Yes,” Izzy chimed in. “Come sit next to me, Miss Violet.” She patted the spot next to her. Violet got up, which gave me a shot at staring at her arse, then sat next to Izzy on the couch waiting.

I handed out bowls, took the last one for myself, and then sat on Violet’s other side. She didn’t tense or glare at me. Instead, while she ate her ice cream, she asked Izzy questions about The Little Mermaid.

She seemed relaxed, even enjoying her night. For the life of me, I couldn’t concentrate on the TV; instead, I watched the show beside me. Violet and Izzy.

“Miss Violet, do you work?”

“I do.” Violet nodded. I reached for her empty bowl and put both Violet’s and mine on the tray with Izzy’s already finished bowl. “I work as a private investigator.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” Violet smiled.

“What does that mean?”

Violet laughed. “It means people come to me if they need help in finding something out, and I help them.”

“Wow. That’s cool. Daddy, I want to do what Miss Violet does.”

Violet blanched. “It’s not exactly safe.” She was worried about my daughter.

Violet was worried about Izzy. Fuck, that felt good.

“That’s okay,” Izzy said. “I can so do it. We can work together when I grow up.”

Violet hummed as she patted Izzy’s hand on her arm and said, “We’ll see how it goes when you’re older.”

“Yay!” Izzy sat back, her eyes went back to the TV, and she started singing off-key to one of the many songs on the show. Meanwhile, Violet looked to me, her eyes wide. I started laughing.

Leaning in, I whispered, “Don’t worry, she’ll change her mind like she does every other day.”

“Okay,” she whispered back, and went back to watching the movie, while I kept my eyes on Violet.

“Daddy,” Izzy called.

“Yes?”

“You have to watch the movie, not Miss Violet.”

Shit. I’d been caught and called out on it.

Violet’s cheeks heated. “Yes, Travis. Watch the movie.” Her lips fought a smile. She didn’t seem annoyed I’d been watching her. I liked that.

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