Page 58 of Detective Daddy Next Door

"I can go to school early if I don't go to bed early."

"You can?"

She nods.

I look at her through the mirror and laugh. "What if you start dozing off in school tomorrow? Then they’d have to call Daddy and say, ‘why did you keep her up all night?’ Do you want the school to call Daddy?"

She shakes her head furiously. "No."

I don't have to say anything else. The fear of getting her dad in trouble is enough to make her stop asking to come to dinner with us. Myles isn't home yet, but he sent me a text to get ready. He said he'd be home soon.

Garcelle knocks on the door. "Ma'am. It's time for Ellie's bath."

Ellie jumps off the bed. "Bye, Bria. I might be asleep when you come back."

I turn to the side with my arms outstretched. She runs into them, and we hug. Then she runs to Garcelle. She smiles at me before leaving the room. I'm still smiling when I turn back to the mirror. I'm wearing a beautiful blue satin dress, a slanted one-shoulder dress with tiny sparkling diamond imitations around the edges. It has a band on the waist although it's forming fitting. Whoever designed it thought it out well because it makes my already slim waist look even smaller. I stand up to have another glance at the fit. It's perfect. As I'm about to sit down, the doorbell rings. That should be Myles. I take one more look at myself and push myself up to go get the door, but then I hear Ellie's door open. I hear Garcelle’s slippers smack against the floor. A few minutes later, Myles is opening the bedroom door.

When he sees me, he stops short and motions for me to get up. I do, and he twirls a finger in the air, telling me to turn around so he can get a better look at my dress. I twirl and giggle. It's been a while since I dressed up. It's been a while since we went anywhere together. Come to think of it, this is our first official date. He walks slowly toward me, taking long strides, and soon he's wrapping me in his arms.

"You look absolutely ravishing tonight." He goes to kiss me, but I point at my lipstick. He kisses my neck instead. "You smell good, too. I'll have a quick shower and we'll be out in a few minutes. You know it doesn't take me too long to get dressed."

I nod and slide out of his embrace. "I'll be in the living room."

"Where's Ellie?"

"In her room with Garcelle. She was asking to come with us."

He laughs. "She wants to go everywhere."

I laugh as well. "She's just like you, then."

I shut the door before he catches me. I walk to the kitchen to get some water.

Myles comes out about twenty minutes later looking hot as fuck. I want to tell him we could stay at home because I just want to be ravaged by him, but I also want to be treated to our first dinner.

When we get to the restaurant we're shown to our table. I've been here before. More than once. With my ex. I'm surprised that I don't feel any sort of nostalgia. I don’t feel sad about it, a sign that I'm truly healed. I'm going to experience this place for the first time with Myles. I'm going to create new memories here.

We are on our second course when Myles stops and looks at me lovingly. "Guess what."

"What?"

"Just guess."

"You won a million dollars?"

He laughs out a little too loud, making the couple at the next table glance our way.

"No, I didn't. But I've won more time with you."

"More time with me?"

"Earlier today, when Jon called, I found out that I'll be taking another case in Long Beach."

My eyes are wide. "Does that mean you'll be here until the assignment is over? Why are you just now telling me?"

"I wanted to confirm we'll really be on the case before I told you. I didn’t want to get your hopes up," he says with twinkling eyes.

"For how long?"

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