Page 73 of Tempting the Goalie
He leaves out the window and then I get his little slip. He hasn’t called me that since we started to hook up. It means my heart. He is telling me I was always his heart at every stage of our life. He’s asking me for time. He’s asking me to have faith in him. It means I can’t let him down because he’s never let me down.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Isabelle
“Look at you, Daddy. Hot date tonight?” I ask.
Daddy gives me a crooked smile. “In fact, yes, I do have a date, Bean.”
“Whoa, who is she?” I ask. He’s dressed in a white short-sleeve, button-down shirt and gray dress pants. He never looks this spiffy. If he isn’t in his police uniform, he’s in jeans and a T-shirt.
“She’s the new florist in town. She just moved here a few months back from Nova Scotia,” he explains.
“And what were you doing in the flower shop?” I ask.
“Look at you being nosy,” he replies.
“Don’t deflect.” I laugh.
“Someone broke the glass window of her shop one night, and she reported it,” he explains.
“And the director of the police station showed up for a broken window?” I inquire suspiciously.
Daddy laughs. “Everyone was out on more serious calls.”
“Uh-huh.”
“And I heard there was a new pretty single lady in town. Close to my age,” he adds. Daddy was devastated after Mom took off. He dove right in to taking care of his kids and remained dedicated to his job, which is how he ended up director of his station, but he was always hesitant to date again. He would mumble things like, “No woman in her right mind would want a single dad with five kids.” He had dated here and there, but nothing ever came of them. For some reason, this feels different. He’s smiling in a weird way, and he’s really cleaned up.
“So where are you taking her?” I ask.
“No more questions.” He chuckles. “How about I give you the third degree?”
“About what?” I ask him.
“Luc,” he deadpans. “And why he is climbing down our fire escape every night when we have a perfectly usable front door.”
I feel my eyes bug out and my cheeks flush. “He’s been having a hard time,” I explain.
Daddy blinks. “Him and his sister are safer living here.”
“Thanks for helping them, Daddy,” I say to him.
“You know I came from a broken home. My own dad was an addict. If I can help someone in that situation, I will. Besides, I know how important he is to you.”
“I love him, Daddy. I’m just worried he may not want to have kids one day.”
“That boy loves you, Bean. He always has. But I can understand where Luc is coming from. I can’t promise you, but give him time. I think he won’t disappoint.”
“Thanks, Daddy. You better go. We don’t want to leave the florist waiting,” I say to him.
“Her name is Sandy.” He grins.
It’s nice seeing Daddy with a spark in his eyes. I’ve never seen him like this before.
“Maybe grab some of those black-eyed Susan’s from out front and give them to her,” I suggest.
“Good call, Bean.” Daddy winks. He kisses the top of my head. “Take care and don’t overthink it.”
