Free The Power of Love by Serena Akeroyd Page B

don’t think it’s fair for me to have fun by you reading to me but for you not to have fun too.” Luke’s cunning triggered the perfect reaction for their tiny bookworm.
    Lexi’s brow puckered. “But Papa, that is fun for me.”
    “Nope. I remember when I was a little boy. I loved the slide and the swing. And my daddy was like us, Lexi. He went away for long chunks of time, so when he took me it was so much more fun.”
    “But I don’t want to.”
    “But I do want you to, and I think if you could just try, then you’d have a wonderful time. Can’t you do it? For me?” he chivvied.
    She crinkled her nose, then looked at Gia…obviously for help. “Remember what I said earlier, Lexi? About helping?”
    Heaving a long-suffering sigh, Lexi mumbled, “I’d love to go to the park with you, Daddy.”
    All three of them bowed their heads to hide their amusement at her glumness, but Luke was the first one to talk. “I think you should go and get comfy on my bed. I’ll be in in a couple of minutes, sweetheart.”
    She nodded and jumped down from her seat. “Thank you for breakfast, Mommy,” she told her and went over for a kiss and a hug.
    Gia patted her on the back and whispered in her ear, “There’s a good girl. Thank you, Lexi.”
    “We don’t have to stay for long, do we?” came the quick retort. “Papa doesn’t have to know how long I stayed on the swing set, does he?”
    “No, but he’ll know if you don’t try to have fun.”
    Lexi huffed and with a disheartened moue, slinked out of the breakfast room without going to either Josh or Luke for a kiss. As the door closed, Gia slumped back in her seat. “I told you she was getting bad, Josh. But you didn’t believe me.”
    “She’s worse than before I left,” Luke commented, taking a quick slurp of his coffee. “And she wasn’t great then.”
    “We don’t make her go out enough,” Josh murmured, switching his attention back to the paper. “That’s all. And I did believe you. Why do you think I’m going out? We’ll go to the park, and if she tries to play, we’ll go to the store so she can pick out a book.” Astonished that he’d not only listened but was trying to help, Gia gawked at him, but he grunted at her consternation. “She’s used to getting her own way too much. They didn’t let them stay in the classroom during recess at school. Here, she doesn’t have to go outside.”
    “He has a point, Gia.” Luke grabbed another slice of bacon and chomped at the crispy strip. “Maybe we should encourage her to go out more.”
    She sniffed, trying and failing not to be annoyed at their remarks. She thought she was doing a pretty bang-up job of teaching their daughter, as well as maintaining the house, keeping up with her writing, and keeping everything running as smoothly as possible. “I’ll let you talk her into going outside come recess, Luke. Maybe you’ll have more luck than I do.” She got to her feet and began to clear up some of the breakfast dishes. “Do you want anything else or have you finished?”
    Luke reached out and took hold of her wrist as she made to grab hold of a plate. “Don’t be mad. We’re not criticizing, only trying to help.”
    “Yes, well, I can’t do it all by myself. What with Josh at the base and you in your bedroom, I’m doing my best. If you can get her to enjoy the park and other normal stuff, then be my guest.”
    Josh cocked a brow. “You up to the challenge, Luke?”
    “If it means not having to listen to Harry Potter, I’ll give it my best goddamn shot.”
    Josh snickered, and the sound was rare enough to make Gia stare at him in surprise. Of late, laughter hadn’t had a place in their lives. Things were so serious around here. It was no wonder Lexi was stifled. She hadn’t been chuckling and giggling as much either. Whenever she did, Gia had hushed her for fear of disturbing Luke. It wasn’t right to put the brakes on Lexi’s cheerful demeanor, but it wasn’t fair for