Page 18 of Detective Daddy Next Door

Thinking this might be a ruse to get me deeper into the house, I decline and tell him the living room is okay for me to say whatever I need to say.

He raises the little girl off his lap. "Alright. Garcelle, please take her. We're just about done with her homework."

The little girl jumps down from his arms and goes with the woman, whose name I know now to be Garcelle. When they've disappeared down the hallway, Myles gets up. He has on a black sleeveless undershirt that shows off his ripped arms. I know I've seen him naked before, but this sight stirs something in me. Something I can't explain. I don't exactly hate his guts right now. But I don't exactly like him, so I don't know why my body is betraying me.

He moves to the sofa in the middle of the room and points to the other one opposite it. I don't want to sit, but my legs are weak, so I take the seat across from him.

"So, what did you arrive at?"

I sigh and keep my eyes down. "Yes."

"Yes, what?"

I grit my teeth and look up. "What else?"

"I want you to say it, so it's clear I'm not forcing you. So yes what?"

I'd thought just a few minutes ago that I didn't hate his guts, but I’m certain now that I do. I double-hate his guts. He knows what I mean by yes, but he wants me to spell it out.

I grit my teeth again. “Yes, I'll be your girlfriend."

He smirks. "My fake girlfriend," he corrects.

"You—" I start, but I don't complete the sentence for fear that he might withdraw the immunity deal.

I get up. "Goodnight," I say, and start for the door.

"Good night, honey."

I stop halfway but continue walking after just a second, pursing my lips until I'm outside. Once I’m out I take a deep breath and pat myself on the back for keeping it professional.

It's Micha's birthday on Thursday. It’ll be the perfect way to introduce Myles. I've been to Micha's house four times in all the six years I've spent with the firm, but I've been thinking of ways to get closer to her. And what better way than to offer to help with the party she'll be hosting on Thursday night?

"The decorators will be coming in the morning. I want everything ready before 6 p.m.," she says.

I'm sitting across from her, having come into her office under the guise of asking her to check out a file I'm working on. "I could come help out with some things in the morning."

"What about work?”

"Oh, I'll be here to do my work, but I can still come over to help. I really want to help."

She smiles, her rosy cheeks getting redder. "Alright. As long as you get your work done, I'm fine with it." I'm not sure what exactly I'll be helping with because there’ll be professionals to handle everything, but I’m sure I'll find something to do. Anything to get closer to Micha. Anything to help move the investigation forward and put this all behind me.

Chapter 8

Myles

“Daddy,Iwanttocome," Ellie says as she watches me get dressed.

I finish knotting my tie and turn from the mirror to face her. She's swinging her legs. I walk toward her on the bed where she's seated. "It's a very far place."

"Is it very far like Narnia?"

I know Narnia is fictional, but I indulge her. "It is farther than Narnia."

She widens her eyes. "Then why are you going?"

"Because I have to. That's one thing adults do."

---