Page 15 of A Hunter Turned
“Are you sure?”
Vigorous nodding was his answer and his grin could no longer be suppressed. Moving back to the table, he transferred her juice into the glass and then carefully placed it in his daughter’s eager hands, not letting go until he was sure she had a solid hold.
Archer watched as she carefully took a sip. “Do you feel fancy now?”
Another nod, followed by another sip before she placed the glass gently on the table. Satisfied that shattered glass and cut fingers weren’t in his daughter’s immediate future, he settled himself back in his chair to resume eating, pointing his fork at his daughter’s as yet untouched breakfast. “Eat up, princess.”
Two bites made it to her mouth before she asked, “Can I go see Miss Wilson after breakfast?”
The food he’d just swallowed stuck in his throat and he coughed. He’d already had word from Jeremiah that Kane had left pack lands in the early hours of the morning just as Archer had ordered. He’d learned as well that the Born had left alone, the rest of his team staying behind. The relief he’d felt at learning that Jamie was still here had been immediate, and after the lecture he’d given himself the night before, completely frustrating. So much for thinking he was making some progress where the vampire, and the unwanted feelings she stirred inside him, were concerned.
It was also past time to explain some things to his daughter. The thought still made him uncomfortable, and the food in his belly churned in protest. Regardless, he pushed through it, and setting his cutlery down, turned to face his daughter and turned her chair so that he was sure he had her full attention.
“Listen, princess, there’s something I need to tell you about Miss Wilson and her friends.”
Those big gray eyes stared up at him trustingly and Archer’s stomach cramped up hard. How would she react? He felt a prickling heat creep up his neck and he rolled his shoulders in an attempt to ease some tension. Maybe he should ease into it…
“Miss Wilson sleeps during the day.”
Cady’s face scrunched adorably as she thought about that. “Why? Because she got hurt and she still needs to rest?”
That prickly heat intensified. “Well, yes there is that,” he said slowly, and then taking a deep breath, decided to rip off the band-aid with a blurted, “but also because Miss Wilson is a vampire.”
He braced himself for his daughter’s fear, was prepared for screams, or maybe denial. Instead, her lips puckered while her eyes moved up and to the left like she was considering things before she nodded. “Okay. Can we go see her tonight then?”
That was it? Disbelief held him immobile for a good minute before he leaned closer and carefully asked, “Do you understand what I just told you?”
“Mmhm,” was accompanied by a nod.
“And you still want to go see her?”
“She’s nice. I like her.”
Hesitantly, Archer pressed, “Even though she’s a vampire?”
And in a moment of wisdom that made him wonder if his daughter was forty instead of four, she told him, “What someone is doesn’t matter. It’s all in how they treat you. Some people are nice and some people are not nice. She’s nice.”
Pulling Cady from her chair into his lap, Archer hugged her until she squirmed. Kissing her on top of her head, he asked, “How did you get so smart?”
Tugging his beard playfully, she returned, “You, Daddy.”
With a chest so full of pride, he thought it might burst, he rumpled the hair on his daughter’s head before placing her back in her chair and turning it back toward the table so she could finish her breakfast. He took a moment to breathe, dropped his head, and gazed through misty eyes at the floor, half expecting to find his heart in a puddle at his feet. His girl would never cease to amaze him.
Chapter Eleven
Jamie stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror with eek face fully deployed. She had managed to get rid of the remaining blackened skin that had formed a mask outline, but in doing so, had only made her lack of eyebrows more apparent. So, in a moment of inspiration, she’d gone for her make-up bag to pencil in some brows. The first one she’d drawn hadn’t been so bad. The other side, however, was a hot mess – crooked, smudged, and far too dark. Thus, the eek face. But before she could scrub it off and try again, she heard running footsteps accompanied by her name being called in an excited child’s voice Jamie recognized as belonging to Cadence Langley.
Assuming the child had slipped the leash once more, Jamie stepped out of the bathroom to greet the girl with a grin of amusement only to discover that Cady wasn’t, in fact, alone. Shit. The last person she wanted to bear witness to her looking so ridiculous was Archer Langley. The heat of embarrassment exploded over her face and she wondered if one could actually die of mortification. Jamie wanted to duck back into the bathroom, but little Cady had already launched herself at Jamie and latched onto her waist as she proclaimed excitedly, “I like the glasses. They were my mommy’s.”
Doing her best to put her embarrassment aside and ignore Archer’s presence, Jamie’s bandaged hands skated over Cady’s little back – a back currently adorned with glittery pink fairy wings. “I like the glasses too,” Jamie said softly. “Thank you for letting me borrow them. And I love your wings. Do you think I can get some in my size?”
Pulling back, Cady looked up at Jamie with a wide grin. “We can make some together.”
“I’d like that.”
Her face growing serious, though touched with a hint of mischief, the little girl glanced quickly over her shoulder toward her father before crooking a finger at Jamie. Bending down so that she could hear whatever secret the child wished to impart, she was surprised when she heard, “Daddy said you’re a vampire. Can I see your teeth?”
Little fingers were heading for Jamie’s mouth when she heard Archer growl, “Cady. Manners.”
