Page 71 of Defending her Heart

Her hair is neatly twisted in the fancy braids she loves, no doubt by Kendall.

“It’s my most favoritest princess dress ever.” She wiggles out of my arms and twirls.

I don’t remember the dress hanging in her closet. Even though she has dozens, I’d remember something as extravagant as this one.

Kendall has been taking pictures and puts her phone away. “You’re home earlier than expected. We still have a few more things to set up. Paisley wanted to do a craft project with everyone.”

“And an extravagant ice cream bar, I heard.”

“We added a few more toppings to the list.”

“Weor the birthday girl?” Paisley hasn’t stopped twirling, and I’m getting dizzy watching her. She’s in her own little princess world right now.

“Maybe a little of both. I like extra whipped cream. I’ve been known to be creative with it.” The corner of her mouth lifts.

I glance over at my father. He’s fiddling with the ice cream maker and reading through the manual. I’m sure he’ll read it cover to cover, twice, before starting it up.

I drop my voice, “Is hot fudge on the list?”

“Of course.”

“Good. I’ve been known to be creative too.”

Kendall’s green eyes shimmer with amusement.

“Daddy, watch. Record me on your phone,” my spoiled little birthday girl demands.

Like a dutiful father, I obey. “Did Grammy and Grampy give you an early birthday present?”

“No. It’s from Miss Kendall.”

I snap my eyes at Kendall, who is beaming with pride at my daughter. I’ve purchased enough dresses for Paisley to know this one isn’t an affordable one from Target.

“How did you find time to get all of this? The decorations, setting everything up, and buying Paisley a present?”

“I got her the dress a while ago. I knew her birthday was coming up.”

“How did you know?”

Kendall rolls her eyes. “I have access to all my students’ information.”

“Do you buy dresses for every student on their birthday?”

She steps closer and tips her mouth to my ear and whispers, “No. Just the ones whose father I’m fucking.”

The doorbell rings and she sashays past me to the front of the house to answer it. Like she fucking owns the place. And I’m not mad about it.

Ho-ly. Fuck. I discreetly adjust myself while filming Paisley. Thankfully, she’s in her own little world and isn’t paying attention to me.

Hell, if I wasn’t already in danger of falling for Kendall, this just sealed the deal. Not the fuck talk or the images of whipped cream covering her tits, but that she gave up her Saturday to pull off a last minute party for my daughter. And by the looks of it, she held nothing back.

I worried about dating a woman because I didn’t want anyone around my daughter who wouldn’t love her as much as I do.

And now I’m worried that I found her.

The woman who loves my daughter. The woman my daughter loves.

And the woman I could see myself loving too.

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