The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The First Collection by Frost, J (great novels .txt) 📕

Jiro stands and offers her his arm chivalrously.

Max shakes his head as he watches them go. “I seriously need to come to this club of yours. Everyone gets laid.”

Theo chuckles.

“See what you think of the playgroup on Sunday first,” I say. “No point jumping into the deep end before you’ve learned to paddle.”

“Dom water-wings,” Emily offers sagely.

I tickle her ribs, just to hear her giggle.

“Since I didn’t even bring a swimsuit, and since it looks like you’re going to survive, I’m heading out,” Max says, standing and patting me on the shoulder. “See you Sunday.”

I catch his hand and squeeze. “See you then, mate. Thanks for coming.”

He leans down and wraps his arm around my neck. “I’m calling in reinforcements, buddy. You’re not even safe going to a fucking party.”

“Screw you,” I say, but keep my tone light.

“I mean it. Mac’s out. I’m inviting him to stay on your damn couch until I’m confident you can go out in public without risking another brain injury.”

“Wanker,” I tell him, not at all bothered by his threat.

Mac’s our commanding officer from our days on the Winston S. Churchill. He’s been in Florida since his discharge in June. He said he’d come up to visit before Christmas anyway. If Max wants to tempt him up earlier with threats of my imminent demise, I’m fine with that. I can’t wait to see the bastard.

Max releases his arm around my neck, which was more hug than choke hold, and slaps me on the shoulder before he saunters off. Emily twitches in my lap like she’s going to see him out, but I hold her still. She’s not going anywhere today, except maybe back to bed with me, and Max knows the way out.

“You’re risking having my cock in your ass for the rest of the day, wiggling around like that,” I murmur in her ear.

She shivers. “Okay, Daddy.”

I chuckle. “Is anything I want today okay with you, little girl?”

She turns on my lap so she can look up into my eyes. “Yes, Daddy. Anything you want. As long as you’re okay.”

I trace the sweet curve of her cheek with my fingertips. Kiss the tip of her nose.

“I’m okay, sweetie. I’m sorry you were scared for me. Again.”

She nods and nestles into my chest, her arms sliding around my ribs and squeezing gently. “ILY, Daddy.”

I kiss her forehead and cradle her against me. “ILY, too, my baby.”

Theo clears his throat and I shoot him a frown over the top of Emily’s head. If he really thinks giving him a statement is more important than comforting and reassuring my little girl, he can fuck right off.

“Would you like a deviled egg instead of boiled, Daddy?” Emily asks, nuzzling my neck. “I could make a bunch so anyone who doesn’t want donuts could have one. Austin won’t eat donuts. I don’t want him to feel left out.”

I kiss her on the forehead again. “That’s very thoughtful, little love. Go ahead and make a couple, but don’t feel you need to feed everyone. I’d love a coffee refill, too.”

She tips her head back to give me the owl-eye. “You’ve already had a cup of coffee, Daddy. How about turmeric tea?”

“I just threw up a little in my mouth, baby doll.”

She giggles. When I release her, she hops off my lap.

Theo follows her with his eyes and when he looks back at me, shakes his head. “I’m going to book you for excessive mushiness in front of an officer of the law.”

“I’m in my own home. Expectation of privacy,” I toss back at him. I bet I know the privacy laws better than he does, since I bump up against them in investigations all the time. “Let’s get started, Detective.”

“All right.” He pulls out a digital recorder and a notebook and we get to work.

He takes me through the whole night twice, then asks follow-up questions about the notes I sent him on the investigation. I’ve had two servings of deviled eggs and all I could stomach of a cup of turmeric tea while he’s asked question after question. Dana and Austin have emerged from the basement and, after Austin checks my face, settle in the breakfast nook with eggs and coffee. Once Emily’s finished serving, I draw her back onto my lap in the hopes that will encourage Theo to wrap it up.

He gets the hint. “Check your email a couple of times today in case I need to send you follow-up questions.”

“Always do,” I say.

“You going to see Rick?” he asks.

I set my chin on the top of Emily’s head. “Mmm, not sure.”

“Yes, Daddy,” Emily says softly.

“You think so?” I ask.

“It’s the right thing to do. My daddy always does the right thing.”

I chuckle and give her a squeeze for the blatant manipulation. I might give her a spanking for it later, too.

“Daddy needs some incentive to do the right thing today.”

“A long massage and bacon sandwiches for lunch?” she offers.

“I was thinking more along the lines of a long flogging and my little girl’s ass before lunch, then bacon sandwiches, to build Daddy’s strength back up, before we visit Rick.”

She shivers and squeezes my hands where they’re wrapped around her waist. “Okay, Daddy.”

“Yeah,” I growl in her ear and shift my legs under her ass so she can feel my erection. “I think that’s the plan, baby girl.”

“Things I don’t need to watch,” Theo grouses as he packs up his recorder and notebook. “You mind if I take advantage of whatever Javier’s left of Cappa and DirtyGurl?”

“Be my guest,” I tell him. “You know where the lube and toys are. Do me a favor? Strip the bed when you’re done and dump the sheets in the hamper.”

“No problem. Hey . . .” He lifts his chin at me.

“Yeah?”

“You did good. Shutting down the party last night. You probably saved some lives, not the least of which was your client’s.”

“Do I get a medal?”

Theo chuckles and shakes his head. “Just the gratitude of the NYPD. Make sure