Free Nobody's Perfect by Kallypso Masters Page B

on his doorstep. They'd co-existed, but Savi avoided being alone with him—not easy to do in this tiny apartment with the three of them practically on top of each other.
    But he couldn't believe how much he had enjoyed having them both here. Mine . Family was the most important thing of all to him. If Savi thought he'd turn his back on his daughter, well, she had a lot more to learn about him.
    Damián limped into the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. His stump ached this morning. It had looked redder than Santa's suit when he'd been in the bathroom, but he'd be damned if he'd remove the prosthesis and show Savi what he'd become. Of course, if he ever did get anywhere with her, he'd have to reveal he was a cripple. He'd look pretty damned stupid if he refused to remove his pants in bed, and he couldn't get them off without first taking off the prosthesis.
    "You should have Marc or Dr. McKenzie take a look at that foot."
    Damián spilled coffee grounds on the countertop and turned to find Savi standing in the doorway.
    "Nothing they can do." Determined to veer this conversation off in another direction ASAP, he went back to loading the coffeemaker. Marc should be here soon, but he hoped she wouldn't mention the foot to him. He hadn't told Marc she didn't know about the amputation yet.
    Savi reached for a paper towel and began cleaning up the mess. Too bad she couldn't clean up the mess in both of their lives at the moment.
    "Thank you for making this day so special for Mari."
    Damián measured the grounds again. "No big deal."
    "Yes it was. You helped keep the magic of Christmas alive for her another year. I just want you to know I appreciate it."
    He turned back to her, noticing that her eye's bruising had faded to yellowish green. Almost healed. Anger that someone would hurt her seethed beneath the surface, but he regained control and picked up the conversation. "She's my daughter, too. That's what daddies do."
    A flash of pain crossed her eyes, but she masked it and went to the cupboard to pull out two mugs. "How did you know about the Josefina books?"
    "Teresa loved her at that age, too."
    "Mari is fascinated by Hispanic history. She was always asking me about her heritage." Savi smiled, but her eyes remained so fucking sad. "Maybe you can fill me in on your family's background, so I can share that with her."
    The coffeemaker hissed and gurgled to life. He reached for the coffee pot and filled her mug, as he told her a little about his grandparents who had immigrated from Mexico back in the Thirties. He'd never thought he'd carry on the Orlando name with children of his own. Sometime soon, he wanted to talk with Savi about having Marisol's name changed legally. He was proud to claim what was his.
    No chance Savi would ever take his name.
    "Have you thought about enrolling Marisol in the Catholic school here?"
    "I can't afford it."
    "The public schools are good, too, but she's so smart, she may even get a scholarship. Why don't we look into it after New Year's?"
    If anyone had told him a few weeks ago that he'd be discussing where to send his daughter to school, he'd have told them they were seriously fucked up or smoking some funky weed.
    "In case I haven't said it, I'm glad you're both here, Savi, even under the circumstances." In the short time they'd been here, they'd made his apartment into a home, rather than simply the place where he crashed after work. "I wish you could stay forever."
    Savi's hand began to shake so badly, she sloshed coffee onto her chest. He grabbed the mug from her with one hand and placed it on the counter as he pulled her scalding-hot shirt away from her chest with the other. He reached for a paper towel, but waited for the liquid to cool before he let the fabric touch her skin again.
    "Did it burn you?"
    "Did what burn?"
    The fucking hot coffee, that's what . "The coffee you spilled on your shirt."
    She looked down at his hands and Damián let go of her T-shirt. He dabbed at her chest to dry