Daddy on Demand / Déjà You: Daddy on Demand / Déjà You. Lynda Sandoval

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СКАЧАТЬ If they tell that you they’re hungry, feed them.” Cassie added, “I would love not to look like a boy going and coming. Please tell me yours aren’t a boob job?”

      Sabrina gasped. “Why, no!” She couldn’t imagine what her family’s reaction would be if she did such a thing. “With a B-cup, I’m considered the flat-chested one in my family.”

      “You’re from Wisconsin? Your family is Scandinavian?”

      “On my mother’s side. My father’s people are English.”

      “Ever curious to see the old family haunts?”

      “If it wasn’t so cold. I hate being cold.”

      “I’m with you there. So where am I going? The mountains of Afghanistan—during the winter, no less.”

      “Make a snowman, Mommy, and send us the picture,” Addison said returning to the kitchen.

      “I will, my glass-half-full girl.”

      Sliding Sabrina a wry look, Cassie started pouring the children’s drinks. “What will you have, Sabrina? I do have beer or wine if you’d prefer.”

      “Oh, no, thanks. That and the long drive back to Dallas will put me to sleep.”

      “I’ll have a glass of that wine,” Collin told his sister returning with the tray of grilled food.

      “You’re driving,” Cassie sang, gently reminding him.

      “Actually, we’re staying the night at a hotel just down the road,” he sang back.

      Cassie glanced at Sabrina’s startled face. “Would have been nice if you had told her that.” Then she concentrated on getting the rest of the food onto the kitchen table.

      As Collin poured himself the wine, Addison studied him with furrowed brow and pursed lips. “I don’t get it,” she began.

      “Well, if you don’t, love, I’m sure the experts at NASA haven’t got a clue. Tell me what the problem is.”

      “What do we call you when we live by you, Unca Colon? You can’t be Daddy Colon?”

      Collin had taken a sip of the chardonnay and launched himself for the paper towels. Cassie and Sabrina covered their mouths and had to turn away.

      Seeing no adult corrected her sister, serious Gena took over. “He can’t be our Daddy, Gena. He’s our Uncle Daddy.”

      It was dark by the time Sabrina and Collin left the base. After a picnic-style lunch, and a tour of the base, they went through photo albums and then snacked. Afterward, she helped Cassie give the girls their baths, learned how they liked their hair dried, listened to prayers and tucked them in. She was exhausted and told Collin that she didn’t know how Cassie did all she did and fulfilled her military responsibility.

      “I’m more impressed than ever with her,” Sabrina said as Collin navigated the crowded Saturday-night streets of San Antonio as expertly as he drove in Dallas. “She wasn’t kidding when she said she burns calories like a grand prix racing car did fuel.”

      “What pleased me is that you two got along famously,” Collin said.

      “Thanks, but who wouldn’t? She’s smart and funny, and radiates charisma.” She almost added, “Like someone else I know,” but she wasn’t about to swell his head more than it already was. His nieces clearly adored him and had taken full advantage of his presence to ask for repeated piggyback rides and sleight-of-hand tricks with his pocket change that always became theirs. “How’s your back?” she asked him instead.

      “As soon as we check in, I plan to nurse it with a single malt. I did the math and I almost toted around the equivalent of a side of beef today.”

      Sabrina glanced at the next hotel they drove by. That made three quite nice, executive-type inns. “Where exactly are we going to stay?” she had to ask.

      “The Hilton on the River Walk. I made reservations the evening after I spoke with Cassie about coming down. Please don’t scold. Blame it on my need for creature comforts.”

      “Wouldn’t think of it, but that’s way over my budget,” she told him. “Why don’t you drop me at the place we just passed and pick me up in the morning?”

      “Not on your life. I have your room reserved, as well. Business expense. Besides, I want you to join me for dinner. I need real food, not toddler munchies.”

      “Please don’t ask me to do the bag-lady-at-the-steak-house act again.”

      Collin scoffed at her protest. “You look terrific. If you insist, we’ll stop in the hotel lobby store and pick you up a glitzy pair of earrings.”

      “You’re kind to think that’s all it would take. Surely you know people in the city? You know half of Texas. Wouldn’t you rather touch base with them?”

      “You’re just fishing to see if I have an old flame lurking in this area code.”

      “I am giving you an out if you were only being polite.”

      “Look, we are about to spend the next four months inundated with baby talk, kiddie videos and mushy cereal. I would consider it a gift and pleasure if you’d properly dine with me.”

      With her resistance to him melting faster than ice cream in a microwave, Sabrina replied, “Well, I know I couldn’t sleep yet if I tried…and I am somewhat hungry.”

      Collin nodded and murmured, “Thank you. Pick you up at 7:00.”

      In less than an hour, Collin escorted Sabrina to the blissfully dark hotel restaurant. He still wore the black T-shirt he’d had on earlier, but added a matching sports jacket that he’d brought along in his usual “expect the unexpected” way. With delight and even amusement, he discovered that Sabrina not only didn’t need help from his plastic, but she’d been delightfully creative. Responding to his soft knock, she emerged from her room wearing the same tunic sweater, but now it was worn over sexy black leggings that she’d picked up in a shop in the lobby. She’d cinched her trim waist with a black leather belt and had slipped into sparkly slides, things also picked up there. There were no glittery earrings, just the delicate hoops that seemed to be a staple with her; however, the added mascara and lip gloss had her looking absolutely glamorous and sexier than ever.

      “My, you’ll spawn several thoughts among diners this evening, but none of them will have anything to do with bag ladies.”

      “Thank you…I think.” She self-consciously ducked her head, and tucked her hair behind her right ear. “Isn’t the decor nice? That hunter green on the walls is cool and soothing.”

      “I honestly hadn’t noticed.”

      Sabrina continued noting the decor until they reached the restaurant where they were greeted warmly by the maître d’.

      “We have your table ready, Mr. Masters.”

      As they approached it, a handsomely dark waiter eagerly pulled out a chair for Sabrina, who demurely thanked him. Collin was seated by the maître d’. He СКАЧАТЬ