Page 70 of Nico
"I'm not getting on the ice. I have two left feet." He muttered.
She stared at him in surprise. "I thought all you rich kids played ice hockey."
"Nope. Everything else but that."
"Well you can learn."
"Too old."
"You're never too old to learn something new. And besides, your daughter will want you to accompany her."
"Can you ice skate?"
"Of course." She waved a hand languidly. "I can do a perfect figure eight."
"Then it's settled. You take her out and I stay on the sidelines and cheer my girls on."
"That's cowardly."
"See." He pointed at her. "You meant that as an insult, but I am okay with it." He hauled her into his arms. "Wear something sexy."
"Pervert." She murmured, but dissolved as soon as he took her lips and sank into the kiss.
Now with Gracie hopping from one foot to the next, she prepared chocolate chip pancakes and to the little girl's delight,made them into little hearts. Pouring on strawberries and syrup, she added scrambled eggs and bacon and called Nico from his studio to come for the meal.
She was also determined that they would start having at least one meal together.
"It's yummy."
"Don't talk with your mouth full sweetheart." Her father leaned forward and dabbed at the syrup and whipped cream at the sides of her mouth. "And yes, you're right, it's yummy." He winked at his wife as she poured some more coffee into his cup.
"Mama Sadie, may I have some more?"
Sadie went still and for a few seconds, she could only stare at the child. Not once had she told the little girl or tried to force her to call her anything other than her given name. To her mind, Gracie already had a mother who loved her, and she had no intention of taking Brigette's place.
"I..." She cleared her throat, but still the lump remained.
Realizing how overwhelmed she was, Nico spoke up. "Why don't you sit darling? I'll get the pancake."
"No." She shook her head, eyes brimming. "I... I just need a minute." She fled into the kitchen and sat around the counter, her heart pounding.
He came in just as she was wiping the tears away. "I was just..."
"I'll get it." Scooping two small pancakes onto a plate, he went into the dining room to hand it to his daughter, before coming back to turn her into his arms.
"She asked me if she could call you that, this morning."
"Did she?" She burrowed against his chest and wept helplessly.
"There now baby." Rubbing his hands up and down her back, he held her against him.
"I hope it's all right with you?"
"What do you think?" She sniffed. Lifting her tear drenched face, she gave him a watery smile. "I really love her."
Tilting her chin up, he kissed her wet cheeks. "I know you do."
Wrapping her arms around his waist, she held on a minute more. "I think we've left her alone long enough."
