She laughed as I backed away. “I’m amazing. I know.” With a smirk, she strolled from the room, winking as she disappeared from sight.
Chapter 3
“Open up,” I orderedsoftly, zipping the last bite of infant oatmeal mixed with bananas around in the air, dipping the spoon closer to Zara’s little mouth.
Her lips popped open, and she slurped her breakfast, giving me one of those silly, happy smiles that brightened my whole day.
“You’re too adorable. You know that?”
Her tiny hands smashed down on the highchair tray, crushing a few stray Cheerios that remained. “Dada.”
“I know. He’ll come to see you soon. He always visits once he’s up for the day.”
She seemed happy with that answer, using two of her little fingers to pick up a piece of the cereal and shove it in her mouth. Zara was entertaining to watch, especially when she ate or played with her Little People figures.
Just yesterday, she lined all of them up in a long row that led to the plastic house she’d gotten as an early birthday gift.
Zara would turn a year on Halloween, the same as Bodie’s son Maverick. Patriot and Mimi’s adopted boy Yeva was 14 months, while Grim’s son Creed was 10 ½ months. Yeva was already running, tumbling over and banging into things constantly. Creed took his first steps a couple of weeks ago, and Grim strutted around the club, bragging about his advanced, brilliant son.
Lots of babies around the Crossroads and a handful of kids too. The atmosphere might be rough and wild in the evenings, but during the day, laughter and smiles dominated the faces of the bikers. A motorcycle club uniquely different than any I’d ever known.
After cleaning up Zara and her breakfast mess, I sat down on the floor beside her, giggling as she pushed a rubber ball back and forth between us. Every time it reached her, she clapped. Excitement sparkled in her deep blue eyes, the same shade as her father’s. Her fair complexion and blonde locks came from her mother, but the delicate arch of her nose, the high cheekbones, and the angular jaw were all daddy.
An hour later, Zara’s head began to bob. She kept catching herself whenever her chin lowered, her eyes almost closing shut, and then she’d jolt upright again. The sight was adorable.
“Is my little Zara getting sleepy?”
Daniel’s deep timbre caught us both unaware, and I rushed to my feet, backing away to give him space.
“Dada!”
“Hi, honey. How’s my baby girl?”
She rattled off a string of nonsense as Daniel laughed, kissing her soft little cheek as he scooped her up from the floor. A yawn escaped as her lashes fluttered. One little hand lay against the dark ink on Daniel’s chest above the collar of his shirt as her head rested against his shoulder.
Gently, he began to rock her.