Page 66 of Dark Memories
“Will I have to go live with Mommy?”
The tears pooling in her eyes had slayed him. “Never, not unless you want to someday.” And not even then, but she needed to believe she had a choice. She did love her mother, something he encouraged, but if they spent too much time together, they wore each other out.
“You’d live with me and Delaney, sleep in your same room, see my ugly face every morning.”
“You’re not ugly, Daddy.”
“Well, thank you. So, what do you think? Would you like it if I married Delaney?”
“Yes! I like her a lot.”
So they’d schemed and planned, and a week after his conversation with Delaney, the big night had arrived. He was somewhat surprised that as excited as Kali was, she hadn’t spilled the beans.
“There, out of sight,” he said after hiding the ice bucket holding a champagne bottle behind Kali’s princess teepee. Also in it was a nonalcoholic sparkling cider for Kali, and three champagne glasses were in her bottom drawer, along with the engagement present Kali had picked out.
Kali clapped her hands. “Will she be surprised?”
“She sure will. Do you have the ring, and do you remember what you’re going to say?”
“It’s right here where you told me to hide it.” She reached under a throw pillow and brought out the ring box. “See.”
“Good. Now put it back. Delaney will be here soon, so let’s go downstairs and wait for her.”
His proposal wasn’t going to be a normal one, and he hoped Delaney would love it as much as a romantic candlelit dinner proposal. Although he was a little apprehensive he was doing the right thing by including Kali, he knew Delaney. Even if she was disappointed, she wouldn’t let Kali see it. It was important to him that his daughter felt she was a part of their future. And he did have a candlelight dinner planned for later after Kali was asleep.
“She’s here, Daddy!” Oliver barked, and she picked him up and ran to the door.
Zach grinned. Kali had had her nose pressed against the window for the past ten minutes. “Okay, you got this, princess.” He went into his office, leaving the door open a crack so he could hear. They’d rehearsed her lines the past week until he was saying them in his sleep. He hoped she remembered them.
“Hi, Delaney,” Kali said after she’d let Delaney in. “Daddy’s in his office talking on the phone.”
Zach chuckled when Kali put her hands on her hips and glared his way. His daughter was a little actress.
“Business stuff.” She dramatically sighed. “That’s what he always says. But that’s okay. You can come play with me and Ollie.” Without waiting for an answer, she took Delaney’s hand and pulled her along.
He lingered until they disappeared up the stairs, and then he followed his tiara and princess dress–clad daughter and the woman who didn’t have a clue what awaited her. He gave them three minutes to play—he’d intended five minutes, but decided that was expecting too much of him—before he joined them, slipping through the teepee’s flaps.
“Here you are.” He gave Delaney a quick kiss. “I thought I heard you arrive, but when I finished my call, you weren’t there.” There was barely room for the three of them and Oliver, which suited him just fine, since he had to press his body against Delaney’s, his favorite place to be. “Did Kali steal you away?” He glanced at his daughter, waiting to see if she remembered her next line.
“I did, Daddy. Do you know why?”
“Not sure I do.” Damn, he loved his smart kid.
“Because I need to ask her a question.”
“You do?” He wrapped his arm around Delaney’s shoulders.
“Daddy! Did you forget?”
Somehow he managed not to laugh at the way Delaney swung her head between the two of them. He saw the minute her cop instincts kicked in, watched her eyes narrow. She knew something was up, but hadn’t figured out what yet. She was working on it, though.
Before she could reach her own right or wrong conclusion, he said, “Kali and I have a question.” He glanced at his daughter, giving her a nod.
“Delaney, will you marry us, my daddy and me?” She reached under the throw pillow and brought out the ring box, opening it and showing it to Delaney.
His gaze was locked on Delaney—his heart erratically beating—as he waited for her answer.Please don’t disappoint my daughter. Please don’t disappoint me.
Delaney’s gaze met his for a moment, and he saw the answer in them. Saw her love for him and his daughter. He could breathe again.
