Page 29 of Their Forever Daddy

“Find her yet?” A familiar voice came through the phone, causing Edie’s jaw to drop as she finally turned to face her ‘guests’. They couldn’t possibly be talking to that Mitch.

“I did,” Grant answered with another of those meaningful looks in Jesse’s direction. Apparently forgetting how much trouble she was in, Jesse stuck her tongue out at him, which earned her a raised brow as Grant continued his conversation with the mystery caller. “Long story, but she’s safe.”

“Thank god.” The relief in the caller’s voice was palpable, and red tinged Jesse’s cheeks. At least she had the grace to look sheepish. “Is she listening?”

“Yup.”

“Good,” the man on the phone growled. “What the hell were you thinking, Carly? Do you have any idea how worried your Daddy was? What do you have to say for yourself, little girl?”

For a moment, Edie thought he’d gotten Jesse confused with someone. But then it clicked. Of course, Mitch James, action star extraordinaire and one of Jesse’s many Hollywood heartthrobs, would call her by her stage name.

It didn’t make it any less jarring to hear.

“I’m sorry, Mitch. I didn’t mean for everyone to worry.” Regret filled every syllable of Jesse’s obviously heartfelt apology. “It won’t happen again.”

“Oh, I have no doubt your Daddy will make sure of that.” Mitch sighed, and when he spoke again his voice had gentled considerably. “I’m glad to hear you’re safe. I need to get going, my break is about over. Just wanted to check in. Grant, I’ll let our mutuals know they can stop worrying.”

“Thanks, Mitch. Talk to you later.”

“I can’t believe you called my ex!” Jesse cried as Grant shoved the phone back in his pocket. “That is so embarrassing.”

“And I can’t believe you’re surprised that I did whatever it took to make sure you were safe.” Capturing Jesse’s chin in his hand, Grant forced her head back in a move that had Edie’s insides quivering. “You really thought I wouldn’t move heaven and earth to find you, little girl?”

“I wasn’t lost! I left you a note!”

Wincing, Edie turned back to the stove to give them a little privacy. As much as she didn’t want to, she couldn’t help but feel a little bad for Jesse. Even the most laidback Daddy was bound to be a little cross under the circumstances.

And Grant did not strike her as a very laid back anything.

“I suggest you lose that attitude before bedtime, little girl, or else it’s going to be a very long night for you.”

Nope. Not laid back at all.

Doing her best to ignore the drama playing out mere feet away, Edie dropped a slab of butter in the pan, nearly sighing with relief when it immediately sizzled. She let it melt a bit before pouring pancake batter on top.

The routine did more to settle her nerves than the short crying jag upstairs had. By the time she’d dished out three plates of perfect, crispy around the edges pancakes, she was feeling brave enough to sit and eat with them as though they were three perfectly normal friends simply enjoying a meal together. Which they did, eating mostly in silence aside from a few happy sounds of appreciation from Jesse as she devoured her short stack. For a moment, it was actually kind of… nice.

Until Grant opened his mouth.

“So, Edie. What’s it going to take for you to forgive my babygirl?”

Jesse

* * *

“Daddy!” Jesse dropped her voice to a low hiss. “Leave her alone!”

Beside her, Grant didn’t take his eyes off Edie, who was now staring at them like a deer caught in the headlights. But under the table, his hand moved to Jesse’s knee and squeezed. Whether in reassurance or warning, she wasn’t sure, and she couldn’t have said which she would have preferred under the circumstances.

“I don’t see how that’s any of your business.” Edie’s voice was stiff, and the scared deer look quickly faded, revealing the hard-eyed, sharp-jawed woman Jesse had spent the last thirty-some hours with.

“It’s entirely my business when something is hurting my Little girl.” By contrast, Grant’s tone was relaxed. Too relaxed, but Edie would have no way of knowing it was the tone he used when he was about to take down a business rival.

“Your Little girl is a grown ass woman perfectly capable of handling her own business,” Edie shot back with a snarl.

“Yeah!” Crossing her arms and doing her best to look intimidating, Jesse gave a single sharp nod. “What she said!”

“All right.” Still using that too-casual tone, Grant leaned back in his chair and cocked an eyebrow. “Then handle your business, little outlaw.”

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