Page 63 of His Daughter

"Thank you, sweetheart. Very kind of you."

She shoved the next piece into her mouth and kicked her feet.

Mrs. Parrish was at the counter, wiping it down with the lemon solution. She moved around the bouncer, my laptop, and the mug without comment.

Declan walked in. I heard him before I saw him. He was in a charcoal suit, a pale blue shirt, and no tie yet. His hair was still slightly damp, the lock at the front already falling.

He went to the coffee machine and pressed the buttons without asking. He poured two cups and set mine on the counter beside my elbow.

I picked it up and took a sip. It was perfect. "Thank you."

"Mmm…" He leaned against the counter with his own mug and watched me over the rim.

I was also making toast, or I was trying to make toast. The bread was in the toaster. The toast popped. I pulled it out. Both slices were dark brown, edging toward black. Declan looked at the toast. His mouth twitched.

"Please don’t laugh at me," I said.

He pressed his lips together. His shoulders shook lightly.

"I'm handling it." I put the toast on a plate. It was still slightly smoking. I buttered it anyway. I set the plate in front of him. He picked up a slice, took a bite, and chewed.

"Good?"

"Mmhmm."

I placed a hand on my hip and frowned. "You're lying."

He let out a sharp breath. "I would never."

He took another bite. I watched his jaw work through what was essentially flavored charcoal, and I reached across the counter and took the plate back.

"I'll get you something edible when you get home."

"I appreciate that." He set the slice down with visible relief.

Lena shrieked from the bouncer. I wiped my hands on the dish towel and went to her. "Your daughter," I said to Declan, lifting Lena out of the bouncer, "has opinions about breakfast."

He grinned. "She gets that from me."

I settled Lena on my hip. She grabbed my collar. I spooned another piece of banana toward her mouth, and she took it and smeared half of it across my shirt.

Declan was leaning against the counter, watching. His coffee in his hand. His eyes on us, on me, on Lena. "I want to take you out tonight. Just us."

I looked up. Lena grabbed the spoon from my hand and waved it.

"A date," he said. "I want to take you on a date. The night nurse is coming early. Mrs. Parrish will stay late to overlap until she arrives. Lena's covered."

"Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."

"I don't like surprises."

He smiled. "You'll like this one."

I looked at Lena. She banged the spoon on my shoulder. A night out should be nice. "Fine."

Dominique arrived at five. I met her at the elevator with Lena on my hip and the usual rundown already forming.