Kian (Undercover Billionaire, #1)(53)

He felt pressure in his eyes at the love and trust his daughter was showing him. It was the best gift he’d ever been given. When he looked across the way, he saw Evan looking from him to Lily and back, his eyes rounding in surprise. Kian didn’t even want to hide it.

“She’s my daughter,” he said, pride filling his voice.

Evan seemed speechless for the first time in his life. He opened his mouth, shut it, then opened it again. He knew there were a million questions, but Kian wasn’t sure how to answer them.

“Okay, then,” Evan said, and Kian’s respect for the man grew even greater. Just like that, his friend accepted Lily as his daughter. He didn’t try to pry, didn’t need to ask questions. Maybe it truly would be that simple with everyone. Kian hoped so. He just knew he loved Lily, and because he loved her, anyone who knew him would love his little girl as well.

Roxie walked back in, looking tired and slightly stressed.

“What’s wrong?” Kian asked.

She moved close to him and brushed back some hair from Lily’s forehead. “She’s had an exciting day,” she said softly. Her stress seemed to dissipate as she laid her hands on Lily. The little girl certainly was good for taking away any ill feeling.

“What’s the matter? Do you need to talk about anything?” Kian asked.

She looked at him, and he saw the conflict in her eyes. She was deciding if she wanted to share with him or not. He wanted to drag it out of her, but instead he softly rubbed his daughter’s back and tried to keep his face neutral. He was just a friend there to listen if she needed it. She didn’t have to see how much his heart was racing.

Finally, she sighed. “It was the detective. They have nothing new on the case with my sister. I would just really like some answers so I’m not constantly looking over my shoulder,” she admitted.

“I know it might be difficult for you to talk about your sister with me, and I can’t say enough how sorry I am about what happened, but just know you can share anything with me,” he told her.

Moisture sprang to life in her eyes, and she looked away for a moment as she sniffed, then gave him a slight smile. “Thanks, Kian. I appreciate it. There’s really nothing to tell right now,” she said.

“Okay,” he said. Though he wanted to know the entire conversation she’d had with the detective, he decided not to push her right then. The more she learned to trust him, the more she would open up. He reminded himself it was a marathon, and he wasn’t in a hurry. It might feel like he needed to be, but they were building this relationship slowly so there’d be a solid foundation.

“I should get Lily home so I can get her settled for the night. This day has been pretty exciting, and she’s going to have a difficult time sleeping,” she told him.

The thought of letting Lily go caused an ache unlike anything he’d ever felt before, and Kian wanted to cling more tightly to his daughter than ever before, but he knew that would only cause Roxie to close up. If he wanted this to go smoothly, he couldn’t just think of himself. He had to think of Lily, and of Roxie, too.

“Want some help?” he asked. He might not push her, but he’d keep offering his services.

She looked at him for an unguarded moment, and he held his breath, hoping she would accept his offer. He’d love to be there for their nighttime routine. Hell, for that matter, he wouldn’t mind tucking his daughter in to bed, and then tucking Roxie in as well. He could certainly help her have an excellent night’s rest.

She shook her head, though, and he felt utter disappointment. He hadn’t really thought she’d let him come by, but he’d been hopeful all the same. This patience stuff truly was a load of crap.

“I’m pretty worn out. I think I just want to make a cup of hot tea and read until I go to sleep,” she said.

“What are you reading?” he asked as he walked with her back to her car.

Her cheeks flushed, and he was incredibly curious now. He couldn’t remember ever reading something that would embarrass him. Okay, maybe the copies of Hustler he’d read, solely for the articles, of course. If his mom had ever walked in while he’d been immersed in one of those magazines, he’d have been truly mortified.

“Oh, you wouldn’t recognize it,” she said, looking away. Now he had to know!

“Come on, you tell me what you’re reading, and I’ll tell you what’s on my Kindle,” he said in his persuasive doctor’s voice. It always got his patients to open up to him.

Her blush wasn’t going away. “It’s just mindless entertainment,” she grumbled.

Kian placed Lily in her seat, and she didn’t stir at all, but her tiny fingers gripped his shirt and tugged a little bit more on his heart. He brushed Roxie’s hands away and buckled his daughter in. He’d watched Roxie, and now he had it down. He only fumbled a little bit.

“It’s called, um, In the Heir by Ruth Cardello,” she murmured.

He carefully pried Lily’s fingers from his shirt, and she grumbled before shifting her hand to her mouth and sucking her thumb. He had a hard time turning away from his daughter, but he was incredibly curious about Roxie’s reaction to a book.

“What has you blushing?” he asked. He shut Lily’s door and trapped Roxie against the side of the car, not allowing her to escape. He wasn’t touching her yet, but now that it was just the two of them with no one else around and Lily asleep in her seat, Kian was getting a lot of ideas that had nothing to do with kids—well, maybe making kids, but that was for later.