Page 41 of Risky Game

“Purple!” Amelia cried out.

I backed away and went back downstairs.

A few minutes later, I was in the kitchen when Amelia’s thundering steps echoed through the large, vaulted ceiling and preceded her down the stairs and into the kitchen.

She arrived in a swirl of her body, arms flying out as she spun in circles, and a lime green tutu around her waist. Wearing the same leotard from earlier, she looked like two Skittles mashed together as she danced her way across the kitchen floor to me.

“Daddy! You’re home! Did you bring my ice cream?”

I crouched down and scooped her into my arms. “Oh…”

Purple eyes indeed. And bright pink cheeks and light red lips.

Makeup. They’d been putting on makeup, one of Amelia’s favorite things to do with her mom.

My heart hurt at the same time relief rushed through my body. She missed her mom, and Ruby was able to help her. Thank God I wasn’t doing this all on my own.

In contrast to how Vanessa and Amelia would play with makeup, Ruby followed in Amelia’s footsteps, much quieter, much slower. I was looking down at Amelia, so I noticed her feet first. Bare feet with teal-painted toes, I dragged my gaze up to say hello to her, and when I did, choked on my own laugh.

Ruby’s lips were pressed together, eyes enormously round, and her finger was in front of her lips, telling me to be quiet.

My brows rose high on my head.

“Isn’t Miss Ruby beautiful, Daddy? She let me do her makeup and hair!”

“She did a great job, didn’t she?” Ruby asked and spun in a slow circle.

From the front, her ebony hair was perfectly straight, loose and long, but from the back, there was a maze of tangles and attempted twists, all pressed to her scalp with over a dozen, neon-colored hairclips and barrettes.

“It’s, um…”

“I did it myself, Daddy!” Amelia squealed. Her feet kicked at my hips, and she pushed at my shoulders, so I set her on the floor.

“Aren’t we both so pretty?”

Do you think Daddy will think I’m pretty?

Somehow, being pretty was more important to her than being beautiful.

I glanced at Ruby, then at Amelia. “Absolutely, honey. I think you’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen in the whole wide world.”

“And what about Miss Ruby? Did I make her look pretty?”

Ruby’s hand came to her mouth to hide her own laugh.

Couldn’t blame her. Amelia had definitely made her look something. It was more clown-like, but still.

“You did, Amelia,” I said, and I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the surprise sparking in Ruby’s. “Miss Ruby is also very pretty.”

I meant every word.

The blush that rose on Ruby’s cheeks told me she liked it.

Chapter 13

Ruby

He called me pretty.

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