Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
N ever in the nine years that he’d been a father did he think that someone other than his son would call him Daddy . Then Daisy said it in the most seductive voice known to mankind and he was eager to hear it again. He didn’t expect it to have the effect it did, but it made him hard and lightheaded all at once. Which was really bad since he was supposed to be helping make dinner.
Thankfully she kept Cal occupied while they prepped the ingredients so he could put the flowers in different places around the house. He took more than a minute to calm himself down. His pile of pending designs and the first time he discovered his grandmother wore fake teeth were definitely good ways to stop his jeans from getting too tight.
By the time he returned, Daisy was adding all the vegetables into the pan and Cal was bored. He sat on the counter and nibbled on a cooked meatball. Boots was standing at his feet, but didn’t get even a single crumb. His son was very diligent about what he was eating and he wasn’t going to share. He stepped in to help and she moved out of the way, her delectable ass rubbing against his crotch in the process. Rafferty stifled a groan, fighting everything to stay where he was.
When they’d flirted the night before, the light touches and the way they sat, he hadn’t imagined that this was what it would eventually turn into. Now he was still so overwhelmed with his feelings that he didn’t trust himself to be anywhere close to her. Especially with Cal mere feet away. While the food cooked, he gathered bowls and cutlery. Daisy and his son were talking softly, giggles reaching him as he set everything on the counter.
“Dad, can we watch a movie during dinner?”
“Sure,” he said.
“How about Callahan and I choose a movie while Daddy finishes getting dinner ready?”
He narrowed his eyes at her grin, but nodded. The two of them ran off, teasing each other as he added in the pasta and stirred everything together. With the lid on, he lowered the heat so it could continue cooking. He piled all the used dishes into the sink to soak them and hummed as he wiped down the surfaces. As he started washing everything, Cal came running back.
“Miss Daisy says we should watch Shrek .”
He chuckled. “Of course she did.”
“She said it’s got dragons and princesses and ogres and a talking donkey?” Cal made a face.
“It will change your life, Cal!” she called from the living room and his son giggled.
“She’s awesome,” he stage-whispered and then rushed back to where she was. Rafferty blew out a breath and closed his eyes. Over the years, he’d met beautiful women and went on a few dates. None of them ever got past that first time though. Partly because he didn’t see them fitting into the life he’d built with Cal, but also because even though he was dating , he wasn’t looking for a partner. After Zara, he’d been cautious about letting anyone in. He didn’t know if he’d survive a broken heart while helping his son through one as well.
However, Daisy was the one . The minute he saw her at the ice cream shop, he knew that he’d work his ass off to keep her in his life permanently. He had a second chance and he wasn’t going to fuck it up. It certainly helped that his son liked her, that he’d grown up hearing stories about her. Of course, he knew better than to assume she wanted the same thing. Flirting didn’t mean yes and not even calling him Daddy implied that. The little signs were there, but he was going to let her lead the way. Let her call the shots. If all the Ames men got were more nights like this, he’d take it.
Boots trotted into the kitchen, nose following the scent of the food. Smiling, he scrubbed the top of his dog’s head and checked on dinner. While Nonna would pop it into the oven, the revised recipe he found didn’t require that. He added a mountain of grated cheese into the pan and covered it again as Daisy wandered in with a giddy smile.
“You doing okay, Raff?”
“Just more thinking.”
“What are you thinking about now?” She leaned against the counter beside him. Like she was totally unaware of the effect she had on him.
You. My thoughts are always about you .
“The second time we watched Shrek together.”
“The same time that Poppy joined us and didn’t understand what was going on?”
He chuckled and nodded, setting the last dish on the drying rack. “He explained it to Nonna later and she looked just as puzzled.”
“They were the best,” she whispered and he nodded.
He knew how important his grandparents were to her and how much they had loved her. Until the day she died, his grandmother talked about Daisy fondly. She meant so much to them, just like they meant the world to her.
“I’m so hungry!” Cal groaned loudly as he came into the kitchen.
“Inside voice, please.”
His son huffed and rubbed his stomach. “Is dinner ready?”
“Almost. What does everyone want to drink?”
“Water is fine with me,” Daisy said and Cal shrugged.
“Why don’t you take the waters and cutlery, and I’ll bring the food.”
They grabbed everything and went back to the living room. He gave Boots his dinner, then portioned the bake into bowls. He carried the tray to the couch and smiled at how Cal was tucked into Daisy’s side. He handed them their food, sat down beside his son and started the movie.
It had been a while since he’d seen it, but it felt like old times with Daisy right there. While his son laughed at all the right times, Rafferty was too busy watching the woman on his couch. She seemed content in this moment.
When he invited her over that evening, he only thought as far as a meal and nothing else. He just wanted her close, with the hope of maybe exploring the one thing they’d been trying and failing to do ever since they reconnected. It wasn’t even about the physical aspect, it was so much more than that. Yes, he wanted to kiss her. He wanted to touch and hold her, but if they just sat there on the couch and talked, it would be enough.
She turned and their eyes met. “You’re staring, hotshot.”
Hotshot, I could get used to that.
“Just making sure you’re really here.”
“Maybe you’re imagining me.”
“Damn good imagination if that’s all this is,” he said softly and turned back to the movie and smiled as more memories assaulted him. The first time they watched it together, they’d bought individual buckets of popcorn and inhaled all of it before the movie was even half done. The second time, they’d been on her couch, sharing a bowl, hands bumping and tangling as they laughed through the whole thing.
When Cal started to yawn, Rafferty paused the movie. “Shall we get some dessert and finish this later?”
“Dessert?” Cal asked through another yawn.
“If you can help me take this to the kitchen.”
Shaking himself awake, Cal followed him to the kitchen. With the leftovers tucked into the fridge and Daisy washing the rest of the dishes, he served the fudgey chocolate cake and a scoop of ice cream for each of them. He lifted Cal onto the counter as Daisy grabbed her bowl and the three of them ate their dessert in silence.
Until the alarm on his phone blared loudly.
His heart dropped as he reached for his phone. The silence was even louder now that everybody knew what that sound meant.
“I’ll stay with him,” she said, one hand moving over Cal’s back.
“I’m sorry to cut our evening short.”
She smiled. “We had fun, right?”
His son nodded, moving his spoon around in his bowl. Rafferty sighed and pressed a kiss to Cal’s head. “Be good, okay?”
As usual, he didn’t get a response, but felt his phone buzz again. He checked the notification and winced, because while it wasn’t a serious fire, it was urgent. Daisy’s hand landed on his arm and he nodded, his heart thumping so hard against his ribs it felt like he might hurt himself.
“Walk me out?” he asked and she nodded.
He kissed Cal’s head again and sighed when his son sniffled, but focused on the unsaid promise— I’ll be home soon . Once he grabbed his bag from the mudroom he found her at the front door.
“The universe has been doing everything she can to fuck with us, hasn’t she?”
She laughed, sadness tinged in the sound. “Maybe it’s not our time.”
“Don’t say that.”
“Then come back and prove her wrong.”
He leaned forward and rested his forehead against hers. “Please don’t read the news. I’ll call if anything changes, okay?”
“I’ll try. Just…come back to me.”
“Always,” he whispered, finding comfort in the power of that word.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead, her hands landing on his chest as they stayed like that for a long moment. His phone buzzed again and he made a sound of frustration, which made her laugh. He smiled and stepped off the porch as a truck pulled into the driveway. Then looked back as he reached the vehicle and found Daisy and Cal in the doorway. His entire world, framed by low lights.
The fire was mostly contained by the time they pulled up at the location, but they still needed to put it out and there weren’t enough hands on deck. Another firehouse had arrived as well and even with both trucks, it took them close to two hours for the house to be just embers, ash and smoke. The fire chiefs did their checks while the residents and neighbors were interviewed, so the Allenwood department couldn’t go anywhere. They had to survey the property, make sure that everything had been cleared.
And since the universe was conspiring against him, two annoying things happened.
First, they declared it an arson and everyone on scene had to wait for the investigator to arrive.
Second, Mother Nature didn’t like her planet being messed with, so she blessed them with a torrential downpour. Not just a light drizzle, but an almighty storm that left them all soaked to the bone.
He lost track of time after that. He’d forgotten his watch and his phone was tucked away inside the truck so it wouldn’t get wet. And hoped like hell that Daisy wasn’t glued to her phone.
Finally, the investigator spoke to them as a group and then one at a time, by which point the rain had slowed to a heavy drizzle. As they finished their interviews, everyone helped with clearing the rubble to gather further evidence.
The downpour returned just as the Allenwood truck was cleared to leave and it took them longer than necessary to reach to the firehouse. Even with his turnout gear on, the rain had soaked him right through to his underwear. He changed into his dry clothes and then hitched a ride home.
When they pulled up in front of his house, he saw her sitting on the porch, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders and phone in hand. Clearly doing what he advised her not to. When he slammed the truck door shut after getting out, she was on her feet. Then she was running and he took three big strides before she crashed into him. Her arms wrapped around his neck and his hands slid under her ass as he hoisted her higher against him. Her legs hooked at his waist and he felt her shudder as a sob fell from her lips.
He pulled back to comfort her, to say something that would assure her he was okay. Before he could even formulate his words, her hands were on either side of his face and her mouth was on his. His heart leaped at the feeling and with a gentle squeeze of her buttocks, he kissed her back. Loud groans echoed between them as heads tilted and lips fitted the right way. Her tongue grazed his and he shivered before returning the favor, sliding and tangling with hers as he held her close. Her fingers dragged through his hair, nails brushing his scalp before she tugged on the ends, drawing a hungry growl out of him. His fingers dug into her supple bottom and she rocked forward, rubbing herself against his stomach, setting every inch of him ablaze. It didn’t even matter that it was still raining or that they were soaked, because he was finally getting a chance to repeat one of the most memorable moments of his life with her.
Except, this was better. So much better.
He broke away, sucking in air and water as he stared at her. One hand came up to brush wet strands out of his face, her bright eyes watery as she looked back at him.
“That’s one hell of a welcome home, darlin’.”
The term of endearment surprised him, but it felt so natural sliding off his tongue. Clearly she liked it too, because she was kissing him again. This time softer and sweeter, her mouth gentle against his. He rubbed their lips together, tongue seeking hers as he took careful steps towards the house. As romantic as it was to kiss in the rain like that, they were going to fall sick if they didn’t get dry soon.
“I was fucking terrified,” she said, lips tracing the corner of his mouth. “You can’t ever leave me, Raff.”
“Never leaving you, Hero. I swear.”
“You’re not supposed to make those promises.”
He chuckled and nudged his nose against hers. “I’ll make whatever promises I want, as long as you know that being with you is all I’ve ever wanted.”
“It’s all I’ve ever wanted too.”
“Good,” he said softly, licking the drops of water sliding down her jawline as he stepped onto the porch.
“You can put me down. I can walk, you know?”
“Even if you were on fire and burning me, I wouldn’t dream of putting you down.” He shifted her in his arms so he could open the door.
Her lips latched onto his neck, kissing and sucking her way over his skin as he stepped into the house and carried her farther inside. Thanks to all the rain that had battered him, every step was squeaky and it dragged a disgruntled and confused Boots out of Cal’s room. He didn’t bother to assure the dog everything was okay as he closed and locked the door to the bathroom. He set her on the counter and smiled at how they were now at the perfect height for anything they wanted to do.
As his mouth returned to hers, the kiss turned feral, hands grabbing at each other, tongues moving like they couldn’t get enough. He’d never felt this kind of hunger for anyone before and it shouldn’t have surprised him that it was happening with Daisy. She’d always been the one to set his soul on fire, even when they were friends and he was navigating what it meant to have these feelings for her. Now that he’d admitted some of that, he wasn’t holding back.
Her cold hands against his stomach surprised him and he jolted, breaking the kiss as he stared at where she made contact. He lifted his eyes to hers and in a speed that defied everything, they were ripping each other’s clothes off. He made sure to enjoy every inch of her body that was exposed to him. He dragged his thumb across the New York skyline tattooed below the band of her bra, wondering if he could see what the rest of it looked like. But she dragged off her pants and his attention caught on the flowers inked along her left side.
“Holy fuck, Daze,” he muttered, tilting his head so he could drink in the intricately drawn peonies that spanned the side of her hip.
“Raff…” his name came out on a shaky breath and he looked down to where her hand rested on his chest, right next to the word always he’d inked over his heart. It was the one thing he said when he made her silent promises, even if he hadn’t been able to keep it for a few years.
“Always,” he said as her fingers traced the word, before moving over the doodles of stars and hearts. Like the flowers on his forearm, these had been done by teenage Daisy.
She smiled, admiring the New York inspired postage stamps along his left pectoral. He’d gotten a friend to design them, focusing on four things that were special to them—Coney Island, ice cream, Central Park and a brownstone. “These are incredible.”
“Just like you,” he mumbled, hands moving over her body. She was breathtaking in a simple bra that hugged her breasts and pink lace that covered the space between her legs. He wanted to rip everything off and his hands moved to her waistband before she stopped him with a slight shake of her head.
He nodded, hands settling on her thighs. “I’ve waited a good portion of my life to be with you. I’ll wait as long as you need me to.”
A small smile graced her lips. “Not too long, I promise.”
“Forever, if that’s what you need.”
“But you still need to shower.”
He sniffed himself and said, “The smoke not doing it for you?”
“Not today, no.”
“Oh, but it does work for you.”
“I guess you’ll have to wait and find out.” She wiggled her eyebrows and nudged him backwards. With his eyes still on her, he stripped out of everything except his underwear and let her stare at him.
“Yeah, okay. That works for me.”
She whistled and hopped off the counter. With a towel in hand, she walked out of the bathroom. He exhaled loudly and punched a fist into the air before stepping into the shower to scrub off the fire and smoke.