Down Too Deep (Dirty Deeds, #4)(6)

Movement near the back of the restaurant caught my attention. I leaned to the side to watch a little girl—a tiny thing, barely two years old if I were to guess—walk between the booths lining the window and the tables spread out in the middle of the room.

She was seriously adorable. Big blue eyes looking all around her. A head full of blond ringlet curls. With the cutest little summer dress stopping at her knees. She was also barefoot.

Huh. That was a little odd.

“Hi.” I cooed, smiling and waving as she stumbled closer.

Her mouth stretched into a toothy grin.

“Mo Mo, you’re killing me, babe.” Tori set her pen and ticket book on the table and scooped up the little cutie, propping her on her hip. “What did I tell you? You can’t be coming out here.”

“Oh, do you know her?” I asked, grinning at the girl. “Hi! Yeah, I’m talking about you, sweetheart.” I gave her little knee a gentle squeeze, and she giggled.

God. Seriously cute.

“She’s Nate’s,” Tori answered.

I followed her gaze to the manager’s office door, which was open just enough for a tiny body to slip through.

“His parents can’t watch her anymore or something, so he’s been bringing her here with him, and that is not working out, let me tell you,” Tori said. “The other day, she made it all the way into the kitchen before anyone saw her. Thank God Stitch grabbed her before she could put her hand on the grill.”

I gasped. “Oh my God. You’re not kidding.” I pictured the worst happening and felt my stomach tighten and twist.

“I don’t know what he’s doing,” Tori mumbled with sadness shining in her eyes.

I remembered hearing that Nate was widowed, and pain pulsed inside my heart. For him and his daughter. I glanced at the office door again.

“Excuse me? Can we get the check over here?”

“Shoot.” Tori looked behind her and smiled politely at the man who’d spoken. “I’ll be right there, sir.” Then she met my eyes again. “Let me take her back to Nate and get that guy’s check, and then I’ll be back over to take your order, Jenna.”

“Here, I’ll do it.” I reached for the little girl as I slid out of the booth. “I can take her to him.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.” I had an apology to deliver anyway. What better time than now? “What’s her name? Mo?”

“It’s Marley. I just call her Mo.” Tori passed her off to me and gave my forearm a squeeze. “Thanks, Jenna.”

“No problem.” I put my attention on the little peanut I was holding, and the bluest eyes I’d ever seen. “Hi, pretty girl. Hi, Marley.” I spoke softly to her, trailing my fingertips down her arm to her hand. She squeezed my thumb.

“Hi,” she said, her voice husky and soft.

Holy Lord. I could eat this girl up.

“Mama, she’s so cute!” Olivia tickled her feet and Marley giggled.

“She’s breathtaking.” I tucked a bundle of blond curls behind her ear while Marley plucked at the chain I wore around my neck. “I’m going to take her back to her daddy. You two stay here, okay? I’ll just be a couple minutes.”

“Okay,” Olivia answered. Oliver leaned over his drawing and kept coloring.

“Oliver?”

“Yeah, Mom. Got it.”

I made my way to the back of the restaurant.

“Where are your shoes?” I asked Marley as I walked between tables, dropping my head close to hers. Her soft hair tickled my nose. “You need shoes. The floor is dirty.”

“No, no shush. No shush.”

“Mm. Does somebody like the word ‘no’?”

“No, no, no. No!” Her voice grew louder and broke with a giggle.

“You’re cute even when you’re talking back. How’s that possible?” I asked her, shifting Marley to my right side when I reached the manager’s door. I knocked on it even though it was partially open already and peered inside the office.

Toys littered the floor. Blankets. A crib mattress. It looked more like a nursery than a workspace. There was even one of those round gated play yards in the corner of the room with one of the sides unlatched and open.

I guessed that was how Marley had made her great escape.

“Hi. Remember me?”

Nate was seated at his desk, concentrating hard on one of the papers in front of him. He lifted his head when I spoke. Recognition narrowed his gaze. “Men’s room, right?”

“Good memory.”

“You’re hard to forget.”

My back straightened. Whoa. What? Is Tori’s boss hitting on me?

Not that I would object. This guy was crazy attractive. I’d be thrilled if he was hitting on me. I’d be surprised too. I didn’t think I’d made a good first impression that day.

Nate cocked his brow, as if to read my confusion. “I’ve never been asked what I’m doing while I’m in there.”

Ah, right. Now that comment made more sense. “Well, now if it happens again, it won’t be weird,” I joked, smiling.

His gaze lowered to my mouth, held for a breath, then fell away. “Did you need something?” he asked, putting his attention back on the paper.