Lynda Sandoval - Daddy on Demand / Déjà You - Daddy on Demand / Déjà You

With that Collin took another sip of wine and got up to bring out plates and silverware. He was aware of her watching him the whole time. “What?” he finally asked.

“I’m just not used to being waited on. Everything smells heavenly. It’s making me realize I’m hungrier than I thought I was.”

“How are you about sushi?”

She responded with a polite smile and no comment.

“I’m the same way. You’d be surprised how often clients request it, or else I’m attending a function where it’s prominent. Ah!” He pulled out two sets of wrapped items. “Chopsticks instead of the silverware?”

“Oh, great!”

Collin couldn’t explain it, but the food and wine tasted better with Sabrina to share it with. “It’s not any of my business, but are you okay with the other employer?”

“It worked out fine.”

“And you notified whomever you had to about your accounts and all?”

“Also talked to Cassidy.”

“And your family.”

“I’ll get to that.”

“Sabrina—”

“They have my cell number. If there’s an emergency, they can get hold of me.”

Collin decided to back off, for now. But he would feel better if her family—brothers included—knew she’d switched jobs. “What about Cassidy?”

She looked startled. “You didn’t talk to her?”

“I ended up in meetings most of the day. We kept missing connections. What’s the latest?”

“I should let her tell you.”

Collin went to make the call shortly after Sabrina excused herself and turned in for the night. That it was only minutes before midnight was testament as to what a great time they’d shared this evening. Just as he retired to his room, his sister’s number showed up on his cell phone’s display.

“Practicing ESP or giving up sleep altogether?” he asked her as his gaze moved to the digital clock on the night table.

“We just came off the field. I’d feed the original Declaration of Independence into a paper shredder for an apple martini right now.”

Instantly sympathetic, Collin asked, “That’s disturbing considering how physically fit you are.”

“Oh, that’s not the problem. As sick as I am of being wet, cold and forbidden to use the legs I was born with, it’s the animal life I’m expected to sample that makes this a torment.”

“Then I’ll skip mentioning that Sabrina doesn’t like sushi any more than we do.”

“Funny man. If you’d stayed in England, I’d have grown up to be an only child. Almost a princess—albeit a Plains Princess.”

Chuckling, Collin replied, “Speaking of fairy tales…Sabrina has the kids’ room looking outstanding. I can’t wait for you to see it. Gena and Addie are about to be submerged into a fantasy world.”

Cassie sighed, the sound of her boots hitting the floor discernable. “You’ll have to send me a photo—first tell me what your calendar looks like. Can you and Sabrina come down this weekend?”

So that’s why Sabrina had been reluctant to share what she and Cass had talked about. “That’s rather short notice.”

“I want both of you to come so the girls get used to the idea of being around you two as a unit, and so you can haul some of their stuff up there. I’ll bring the rest when I drop them off.”

This was happening way too fast for him and the combination of fatigue and stress in her voice worried him, as well, but he tried not to expose any of that. “All right,” and added with as much cheer and irreverence as he could muster, “What can we bring you? Diapers for the long flight overseas?”

“Just your pretty face—and Sabrina.”

“Love you, Captain.”

“See you Saturday, English.”

Sabrina had seen photos of Cassidy Masters, and she’d enjoyed talking to her many times, but she found her even more striking in person.

“It’s so good to finally be face-to-face,” she said as Cass hugged her. She felt like a shrimp to Cassidy’s five-eight, and her figure was willowy, her big blue eyes wide set and intelligent.

“You, too.” Pushing her to arm’s length, Cassie studied her with the eye of an unabashed analyst. “Oh, dear, you look far too tenderhearted for these two mighty mites. Ladies,” she addressed her daughters with a more formal tone, “This is Miss Sabrina, whom I was telling you about.” To Sabrina she added, “They’re better at their numbers than enunciation, as you’ll soon find out. Can you tolerate being called, ‘Miss Brina’?”

“That’s much better than Unca Colon,” Collin drawled standing behind Sabrina.

“Oh, let’s just make it Brina. “ She crouched down to be at eye level with the two little girls. “Let me see…” She remembered who loved her long tresses and who wasn’t a fan of her curls. “You must be Gena,” she said to the child with the enviable mane. “And Addison, that’s a very colorful sweatshirt.” It was bright orange and adorned with handprints in every other Day Glo color.

“I made it myself for Halloween. Do you twick-ow-tweat, or are you too old, like Mommy?”

Trying not to giggle that most of the child’s Rs came out as Ws, she nodded. “Yes, too old. But it’s fun to be the one to hand out treats and see everyone’s costume. What are you going to be, Gena?”

“Either a princess or a bride.”

“It depends on how much time we have to do her hair,” Cassie piped in.

“But if there’s no time, I still get to wear a tara.”

“Tiara. That’s right.” Cassie rolled her eyes at Sabrina. “Come in and please ignore our mess. Between my training and packing for all of us, things are upside down.”

That was hardly the case, Sabrina thought, glancing around the house. Military-base living was modest, but nothing like what her previous apartment was like. And except for the girls’ open suitcases on the coffee table, and a few boxes stacked by the door, the place was clean and the walls bright with fresh paint—white in the living room, yellow in the kitchen, peach in the master bedroom and lavender in the girls’ room.

“I hear you’ve done a fantastic job at Collin’s place,” Cassie said as they entered the girls’ room. “Thank you for working so hard to make them feel special. I know they’re going to love it.”

“I hope so. It was fun to do.”

Addison tugged at her jeans and asked, “Bwina, do you have little girls we can play with?”

“I’m afraid not, sweetie. But I’m looking forward to you teaching me games you like to play. And we’re going to go to fun places like the park and zoo and do lots of surprise things for Mommy.”

“Is Unca Colon gonna have fun with us?”

Sabrina lifted her eyebrows at Collin. She wanted him to handle that question.

“Well, I do have a job so I can pay for that fun, but I hope to join you ladies on weekends at the very least.”

Whether it was for his formal address or the tickle on her belly, Addison laughed. “Wenotladies, we little girls.”

“Wash up time.” Cass directed her daughters toward the bathroom. “We’re going to have lunch in less than fifteen minutes.”

“You needn’t have gone to any trouble,” Collin said as the two diminutive blondes sped out of the room. “I would have gladly taken you all out somewhere for a treat.”

“Believe me, the treat is firing up the grill and not caring if you get mustard or ketchup on your face and hands,” his sister replied. “Besides, I want to spend as much time picturing them as they are, and not having to be on their best behavior because they’re in public.”

“They’re extremely well behaved,” Sabrina assured her.

“Yeah, they’re pretty good, but when they’re overtired, they can find an earsplitting octave that you’ll want to restrict to once every full moon. Go flip those burgers and dogs, Unca Colon. I’m going to pass on more boring tidbits to Sabrina.”