Page 20 of Her Hero Daddy
Not hungry. Just tired.
He frowned down at his phone. He didn’t care if she was hungry or not; she was definitely underweight and needed to eat. Finishing up the sandwiches, he cut hers into triangles and resisted the urge to put them on a plastic princess plate. Carrying both plates up the stairs to the apartment, he knocked lightly and waited. After what felt like an eternity, she slowly opened the door, peering out at him.
She looked paler than she had earlier in the day, and she had dark circles under her eyes that met the bruise on her cheek. Poor thing was exhausted. What he wouldn’t give to get her ready for bed and rock her to sleep.
“I brought dinner. You need to eat something.”
She shook her head. “I’m not hungry.”
Okay. So, she wanted to challenge him. Maybe he should start keeping count now.
“You need to eat, Haylee. It will help you get better, and it will also help you sleep better. Come on, be good for me and eat a little.”
Something flickered in her eyes before she slowly opened the door wider to let him inside. Kane set the plates down on the small table and sat in one of the chairs. Haylee followed and sat down in the other chair, which practically swallowed her tiny body.
“Thank you,” she said quietly, eyeing the sandwiches.
Kane nodded and began eating, hoping she would follow suit. As much as he tried not to, he couldn’t help staring at her knee-length pink pajama shirt that had tiny hearts printed all over it. She looked adorable, and he wondered where Ally’s mind had been when she’d shopped for her friend. Seemed like she might have been in Little space. Haylee’s hair was still damp from taking a shower, hanging loosely around her shoulders in tangles. Thoughts of sitting her down on the floor in front of him and brushing her hair ran through his mind. She deserved to be cared for like a princess.
Haylee nibbled on one of the quarters of her sandwich quietly. When she looked up to meet his eyes, she froze and set the sandwich back on the plate.
“No, baby girl, eat it all. I want you to eat at least three triangles before you go to bed.”
She frowned as she looked down at her plate. “Two triangles.”
Apparently, she wanted to play “let’s make a deal.” Only he didn’t play that.
“Three triangles, final decision. No arguing.”
She stared at him for a moment in disbelief, her mouth hanging open slightly, bringing his attention to her plump pink lips.
“You aren’t the boss,” she finally answered, although it sounded more like a question than a statement.
Kane grinned, picked up one of her triangles of sandwich, and held it up to her mouth.
“Oh, sweet girl, I am the boss. I am in charge here, and don’t you ever forget it. Bite.”
Her bottom lip stuck out in a slight pout before she reached out to take the triangle from his hands. He quickly pulled his hand back and shook his head before moving the sandwich up to her lips again. She obediently opened and took a small bite, keeping her blue eyes locked on him as she did.
“That’s a good girl. Another one.”
She took another bite and several more after that. After he fed her two and a half triangles, she sat back from the table.
“Please can I be done? I’m not used to eating that much. Especially bread. My tummy is so full.”
Kane studied her for a moment before deciding she was being honest and nodded his head, setting the sandwich down on the plate.
“Thank you for eating. Did you nap?”
“I laid down but didn’t fall asleep, so I got up and took a shower and have been texting with Ally ever since.”
“Did you tell Ally how mean I am?”
She smiled. “Actually, I asked her if she’s ever watched you wrestle an alligator.”
He let out a bark of laughter.
“Alligator wrestling? Really?”