Chapter 2 Daddy? Fat Chance!

• Kelsie
• I in no way want to work with Felix but I know I don’t have a choice. If I want to work on this case, then he’s my partner. It isn’t exactly ideal, but the fact that I’m officially out in the field makes it so I have to try very hard to hide my excitement.
• He opens the door for me to exit Kade’s office. When we’re alone in the hall he smirks and turns to me. “Guess you’re my partner now, Moreno.”
• I resist the urge to roll my eyes. “Yep. I suggest you study, Miller.” I motion toward the folder tucked under his arm. I don’t give him a chance to respond because I’m already walking away back to my desk with a stupid smile on my face. I did it. Granted, I have to work with Mr. Tall, dark and cocky, but I can deal with him. I’m finally off desk duty and it feels damn good.
• This time next week, I’ll be in Texas. I can’t wait to finally get working on this case. Those girls deserve justice and I’m going to do everything in my power to bring whoever is hurting them down. Mark my words, Pleasant Grove will be safe again when I’m through with it.
• “Moreno! Wait!”
• I shut my eyes. Maybe if I ignore him he’ll go away. But I hear his heavy footsteps behind me and I know that’s far too much to ask for so I turn around. “What? Don’t you have some studying to do?”
• A muscle in his jaw ticks. “Watch your tone, young lady.” His voice is deep and commanding.
• I don’t want to elaborate on how his words send a shiver down my spine or how there’s an unwelcome tightening in my core as I see the intense look in his eyes or even how his large frame practically swallows me. Young lady. As thrilling as it sounds it angers me. How dare he look down on me? What a bastard!
• My nostrils flare. “You can’t talk to me that way and I was serious about studying.”
• He stares down at me for a moment before answering. “Yes I can. I’m your father.”
• I curse the way my face flames in embarrassment. Whenever I get too worked up, my pale skin flushes so easily. “No, you’re not.” I look behind him for a moment, thankful we are currently alone in the hallway, but I know that’s subject to change at any possible time. Any one of these office doors could open on us bickering so I shake my head and turn to walk away. Felix grabs my wrist and pulls me back so I’m standing in front of him. His palm feels like a branding iron on my flushed skin. His shoulders are so wide and I stare down to study his impressive forearms and... have his hands always been this large? You know what they say about large hands...
• No.
• Not going there.
• “This is serious. We need to seamlessly blend in. You’ve never been undercover so take it from me, it’s imperative that we stay in character. I’m your father and you’re my little girl. So that means, no, you can’t speak to me that way, and especially not in public.” There’s a ghost of a smirk on his lips as he explains his logic and I hate to admit that it makes sense.
• “Trust me. When the time comes, I’ll play the part, don’t worry Felix.”
• “Dad.”
• “What?”
• “You should get used to calling me dad.”
• Felix is only six years older than me and I already have a father so everything about this is weird. I can’t imagine how this is going to work but then I think of those girls and fuck it, I can call him my dad, I can pretend. “Fine. When we are actually in Texas, I will call you Dad. Okay?”
• He stares at me for a moment before nodding and letting go of my wrist. When his heat leaves my skin I feel a strange sense of loss. “Okay.” I’m just about to walk away again when he smiles like the cat who ate the canary.
• I frown. “Oh no. What is it this time?”
• He stares down at me. “Or maybe you could call me Daddy?”
• Face. Meet fire. Fire. Meet face. “Uh.. no.”
• If it was possible, his grin widens and he laughs. “You should definitely call me Daddy. In fact, I demand it.”
• “Not happening Felix.”
• “Daddy.”
• My poor face is on fire. I can feel the heat simmering on my skin. “Will you knock it off! I’m not calling you Daddy. I’ll stick to Dad or Pa or Pops.”
• He’s adamant and shakes his head. “Are you disobeying me?” His voice drops to a low growl and I shiver.
• His voice is so deep and dominant and it sends liquid heat pooling in my core. Dammit. What’s wrong with me? I put my foot down. No way am I calling him Daddy. “Yes. Yes I am. And I’m going to continue to disobey you because you aren’t my father.”
• Before he can say anything else, I walk away and this time, he doesn’t follow me.
• Which I thank the heavens for because I’m still trying to shake the jelly out of my legs as I walk back down the hall towards my desk.