Free Wilde Blue (Wilde Brothers Book 4) by Susan Hayes Page B

Dave asked and Dani choked back a laugh at the expression on his mother’s face when she noticed her oldest son was present. Meg went from surprised to delighted to something far more devious in half a heartbeat.
    “David, what are you still doing here?” she asked, moving inside to hug her son.
    “Dani offered to cook me dinner while I gave her a hand with some…legal matters.”
    “I see,” she said, looking inordinately pleased. She hugged Dave, then turned to Dani and gave her a hug as well, including Casey in the embrace.
    “Thank you for watching her tonight. I’ve found someone to sit for me most nights, but we’re still working out the schedule,” Dani said as they parted.
    “Anytime, dear. She is a joy to have around. I never had a daughter. I’m enjoying the chance to find out what I missed.”
    Brian and Meg left after that, and Casey charged into the house to tackle Dave, throwing her arms around him with a squeal of delight that probably had dogs all over the neighborhood wincing in pain. “I didn’t know you were here, Uncle Dave. If I had, I would have brought you cookies, too!”
    He lifted her high in the air, triggering another ultrasonic squeal as he held her over his head, high enough she could reach the ceiling. “Next time you make cookies, you save me one, okay?”
    She gave him an assessing look. “Does that mean next time I am at Nana Meg’s, you’ll be here with Mom again?”
    Dave opened his mouth, then closed it again before shooting Dani a slightly panicked look.
    “If he was, would that be all right with you, bug?” Dani asked.
    “Does this mean Uncle Dave wants to be my daddy instead of my uncle? Is that why you’re here with Mom?”
    Dave turned red, right up to the tips of his ears, and gave Casey a goofy grin that melted Dani’s heart. “It doesn’t quite work that way, munchkin. You don’t want any old fellow coming along and deciding he wants to be your father. You need to get to know someone and decide if you like them, and they have to decide if they like you. I mean, what if they’re the kind of person who doesn’t share cookies? This is a very important decision.”
    Casey nodded slowly, mulling his words over. “Do you share cookies, Uncle Dave?”
    “As it happens, I do. What do you think about us getting to know each other better? You, me, and your mom. We could start by going out for ice cream tomorrow. I happen to know your mom isn’t working, and it’s Friday, so it’s not a school night.”
    Dani cleared her throat. “Actually, we do have school, sort of. Tomorrow night is a talent show at Casey’s school. She’s going to be in a play.”
    “I am! I’m a flower! A big red one in a garden full of bugs and stuff. It’s great. You want to come see me be a flower? Mom, can he come? Please?”
    Dave stood with Casey in his arms, looking impossibly handsome as he cuddled her little girl and waited for her decision. He didn’t try to charm her, or push his way into their lives. He simply waited with a look of hope in his dazzling eyes.
    “If you would like to come, then you’d be very welcome, but please don’t feel obligated. I know this wasn’t the kind of date you were thinking of.”
    He grinned, suddenly looking ten years younger. “It sounds like fun. And what man in his right mind would turn down a chance to take two lovely ladies out for ice cream and a play?”
    Dani watched her daughter beam with happiness at Dave and said a silent prayer that she wasn’t making another mistake. If he broke her heart, she’d get over it, but if he broke her daughter’s, she’d never forgive herself.

 
    Chapter Six
     
    Dave walked into the school gymnasium with Dani and found himself transported back in time. It wasn’t the school he’d attended, but it was still hauntingly familiar, save for the fact everything was built on a child-sized scale, making him feel a bit like a giant roaming through the land of Lilliput. There were