Page 54 of His Treasured Mate

“Nothing,” I said a little too quickly.

“Thomas,” she said in that mom voice that made me crack like I was three getting caught eating a cookie after being told I couldn’t have it.

“I may have had too much to drink last night.”

It was the truth and as far as I was concerned, she didn’t need the details.

“Oh,” she said, and I was grateful when she didn’t press me for more details.

“Daddy, push me,” Lilah yelled.

“Excuse me,” I said as I got up and walked over to the swings.

I helped my girl into the swing and started to push her.

“Higher,” she squealed.

So pushed a little harder.

“Higher, Daddy!”

“Much higher and you’ll shoot straight to the moon and then I would miss you too much.”

She cackled with delight. “To the moon, Daddy.”

“No,” I cried theatrically. “I miss you already. Lilah come back to me.”

I moved to stand in front of her and every time she came close to me, I grabbed her and tickled her. We did this several times until I saw the look of panic on her face.

“Shit.”

I jerked her out of the seat and took off running.

“Bathroom?” I asked everyone who was within earshot.

They pointed me in the right direction, and I ran right into the ladies’ room, causing some screams as women scrambled to exit.

I almost bailed to correct my mistake, but then she whimpered. I pulled down her pants and sat her hovering over the toilet. Relief hit me when I heard a tinkling sound.

“I did it!” she squealed proudly.

“Yes, you did. But let’s get out of here before someone calls the cops on me.”

I washed her up quickly, and we left in a hurry.

“Going somewhere perv?”

I froze and looked up at the cop standing there.

“Shit.”

“Yeah. So I got a few calls that some pervert barged into the women’s room.”

I sighed. “I did, but I’m not a perv. We almost didn’t make it. I just ran into the wrong bathroom. I’m sorry. I’m not from around here.”

He gave me a stern look. “I can’t just let this go. And you took a small child as well. This really doesn’t look good.”

“Come on. This is my daughter, and she’s potty training,” I tried to explain.