Page 13 of Daddy Wolf's Secret Baby

She moaned. “This is going to be incredibly awkward.”

Her mother patted her on the leg. “Probably not as much as you think. Jace is a very lively boy, and my guess is that he will be talking so much and asking questions that no one will have the chance to be awkward.”

“You’re probably right.”

Even though it wasn’t a date for Zahra and Josiah, she took extra special care getting dressed. She had never stopped loving him, and there was no way that she was going anywhere with him unless she looked the best.

Jace grinned at her when he saw her, but he didn’t say anything.

Sometimes, it’s not a good thing to have a son who is so smart.

He read her thoughts. “It’s always a good thing, Mom – unless it’s Christmas time or my birthday and you are trying to keep me from finding out what my presents are.”

“What am I going to do with you?”

“Get me a motorcycle.”

Zahra laughed. “I don’t think so, Buddy. Besides, I thought you wanted a pony.”

“I’ve changed my mind. I’m allowed to do that.”

She shook her head. That was a phrase he had picked up from Emma. One hard lesson she had learned as soon as Jace could talk was that children were parrots, and everyone had to be extra careful with what they said around them.

Josiah arrived. Zahra’s heart thundered in her chest, and her breath caught in her throat. He was wearing blue jeans that fit perfectly and a buttoned-down shirt with the top twounbuttoned. His muscular body was very evident through the shirt, and Zahra wanted so badly to touch him.

She shook her head.Stop it.

“What’s your favorite food?” Josiah asked.

“Pizza. Isn’t that every kid’s favorite food?”

“I don’t know about that, but pizza it is.”

They went to a pizza joint that had been around since her parents were kids. Zahra was pretty sure the same old man owned it, although his daughter ran the place.

After they ordered, Jace started firing off questions. The first part of the evening was more like a job interview. Jace asked a question and Josiah would answer it. Then, Josiah would ask a question and Jace would answer it. They went back and forth for a while, but soon, they lapsed into a normal conversation.

Zahra tried to stay invisible. She was there to make sure Jace was comfortable with his father. Once in a while, Jace or Josiah would bring her into the conversation, but, for the most part, she sat quietly, listening and watching Jace’s body language. He was grinning and bouncing around, which told Zahra that Jace was at ease with him.

After they ate an immense amount of pizza and ice cream, Jace looked at Josiah and tilted his head. “I guess I should call you Dad because that’s who you are.”

Zahra almost laughed at the shocked look on Josiah’s face. He quickly recovered, though.

“I would love it if you wanted to call me Dad, but if you aren’t ready, you can call me Josiah.”

Jace pursed his lips and thought about it for a second. “I don’t really know you that well, but I’ve always known that you are my dad, so that’s what I’ll call you.”

Josiah’s smile stole Zahra’s heart all over again. Father and son fist-bumped each other, with huge grins spread across their faces.

After Josiah dropped them off, Jace smiled at Zahra. His smile was exactly the same as his father’s.

“I really like him. I want to spend more time with him.”

“Of course. Do you want me to be with you next time or do you want to spend some time alone with him?”

Jace tilted his head to one side, as he always did when he was contemplating an important question.

“I want it to be just us.”

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