“Does she need to go to the hospital?” Ink asked. “I can run back and get my truck.”
Duke nodded. “Do that.”
“No! No, I’m fine!” They were totally overreacting. “I didn’t hurt myself.”
“Then why are you crying?” Duke demanded.
“’Cause I got a fright. And I thought I could do it and I couldn’t.” She hung her head. “You were right, I wasn’t ready. I want to go home now.”
She expected him to immediately agree. Even though he’d bought her the bike and told her he would teach her to ride, he had been extremely overprotective about the whole thing.
Over the past few months since the Fox kidnapped her, he’d eased up a bit on his protectiveness. A bit, but not totally. He still didn’t like her out of his sight. And she was generally all right with that. Sometimes, she had to put her foot down. Like during shopping and spa days with Jewel.
Those were Duke-free days.
“Duke,” Ink said in a low voice.
“I know,” he said. “Give us a minute.”
“I’ll wait back down the path,” Ink said. He reached out and tipped up her chin. “You were doing great, Sunny-girl. I know you can do this.”
She turned to Duke as Ink left. “I can’t do this, Daddy.”
“Sure you can,” he said tenderly as he wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. “My little rebel can do anything she puts her mind to. She’s smart and brave and fierce. You got this.”
She bit her lip. “I don’t know.”
He leaned down to kiss her, his forehead banging against the helmet and she giggled. He grinned at her. He tilted her head up and kissed both of her cheeks.
Then he stood and held out his hand. “Come on, little rebel.”
She let out a deep breath and let him tug her up. She had this.
Nerves filled her as she climbed onto the bike. But Duke grasped hold of the seat and pressed his chest against her back.
“I know you can do this, baby girl. Now, let’s go.” He started to run and she peddled and then he let her go and she flew! She wobbled once but pushed through it, peddling towards Ink, giggling as she nearly ran him over, ignoring his yell and Duke’s bellow to slow down.
Finally! This is what she’d been missing out on all these years. She came to a stop several yards away, and turned back to find Duke storming towards her.
Oops. She was in trouble.
Then his frown morphed into a smile and as he reached her, she climbed off the bike so he could pick her up and twirl her through the air. He set her down and undoing her helmet, kissed her.
“You did it, baby!”
“I did it! I did it, Daddy!”
She bounced up and down in excitement.
“I knew you could do it. You can do anything, Sunny.” He tapped her nose. “But you’re in trouble for not listening and going too far and too fast.”
She just grinned. Totally worth it.
Who would have known that getting fired would have led to her finding more happiness than she ever thought possible? Sometimes she had to pinch herself.
Just to make sure it all wasn’t a dream.
Daddy’s Angel