Big Bad Dad by Christie Ridgway

Author:Christie Ridgway [Christie Ridgway]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781459267282
Publisher: Harlequin

Carly made her way to the kitchen, carrying a steaming platter of scrambled eggs.

“Sorry it’s nothing fancy,” Ray said, following her with a basket of warm biscuits and a pitcher of milk.

“Oh, this is just fine.” Carly studiously kept her eyes away from Mack, now seating Kimmy in her chair. It didn’t matter what the menu was. Trouble had already been served.

She stepped carefully over Corndog’s tail, which just emerged from beneath the table, and set the eggs on a wooden trivet.

The only way to recoup from the disastrous dance was to make it through dinner without drawing too close to the family—without dislodging Mack’s belief in her disinterest in kids and canines.

A purring beast inspected the inside of Carly’s ankles and she let out an uncalculated little shriek.

“Grits.” Mack called to the cat that had suddenly surprised her.

Kids, canines and felines.

“Grits,” Mack said again.

The cat left off weaving between her legs to trot through the open door that led to a laundry room.

Carly whistled in admiration. “A trained cat?”

“Dumb luck,” Ray corrected cheerfully. “Grits just happened to decide on a detour by his food bowl.”

Mack smiled wryly. “It’s the only kind of luck I’ve encountered lately, Dad.”

The food platters passed quickly around the small table. Mack sat at one head while Kimmy played hostess at the other. Carly, seated on Mack’s right, kept her eyes on her plate. Small servings and quick bites and she’d be safely away in no time.

“It’s Kimmy that Mistress Fortune smiles on in this family,” Ray said.

“Does that mean I beat you, Granddad?”

Carly stifled her laugh.

“That’s what it means, bug,” Mack answered. “You’ve been winning at Old Maid again?”

“And Go Fish, too,” Kimmy said excitedly, her fork lifting to point in Carly’s direction. “The other today, I mean yesterday—”

Carly hastily swallowed. “Speaking of yesterday—” she didn’t dare let Kimmy spill about their round of cards “—exactly what is the date? Now that we’re no longer in the offices, I have a hard time keeping track of time.” Her foot jiggled nervously, encountering the warmth of Corndog’s fur. Without thinking, she began stroking the dog with her bare toes.

“It’s because it’s almost summer,” Ray said. “The days are so long they seem to go on forever.”

“Maybe that’s it,” Carly agreed. Beneath the table, Corndog shifted, and Carly stretched her foot to continue petting him.

“What, the hours in the office aren’t just flying by?” One of Mack’s eyebrows quirked in a challenge.

“There’s an understatement.” Beneath the table, her foot moved nervously, but she kept her voice cool. Almost teasing. “Not that the company isn’t top-notch, but it’s pretty hard to concentrate with sunshine and a swimming pool just a long dive away.”

“I didn’t take you for the easily distracted type,” Mack commented. He held her gaze with his eyes.

She tried ducking away from the connection. “Work usually keeps me focused. But this time—”

“That’s the problem with you two,” Ray interjected. “Too much talk about work and not enough play. Bring your swimsuit over tomorrow and go for a dip when you feel like it, Carly.

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