Jaxon sat for one beat, jaw locked, thinking. Picking up his phone, he searched through his contacts before finding the one he needed.
The old enforcer picked up on the first ring. “What.”
“Ravage, I need you at Books-N-Brews, and I need you now. I havea meeting at the Sabre warehouse, but Tazzy’s here working. I need you on Babygirl sitting duty.”
Ravage’s low chuckle rolled through the speaker. “Funny you should call. I was just looking through the want ads for a babygirl-sitting job. I’ll be there in ten.”
Jaxon shoved the phone in his pocket and headed inside. If anything eased his tension, it had always been the familiar scent of coffee and new books at Books and Brews. But not today. Today, nothing could ease the knot in his stomach. Tazzy stood behind the counter, laughing at something else Georgia had said, her dark hair falling over one shoulder.
Not since he’d been released from prison had he seen that kind of joy spill out of her. She looked up when he walked in, and gave him a hundred watt smile that hit him straight in the chest.
He crossed the room in three strides, pulled her around the counter, and away from Georgia, who gave Tazzy a knowing look.
Tazzy kicked up her heel, receiving a hard, passionate kiss from Jaxon, right there in front of the espresso machine, and kissed her hard enough that Georgia pretended to sort the coffee syrups on the work counter. When he let Tazzy go, her cheeks were flushed.
“Morning, Daddy,” she whispered, eyes sparkling. “May I have another?”
Since he was a giver at heart, he did as she asked. When she asked again, he gave her a quick kiss on the tip of her nose.
“Daddy, that’s not what I meant.” She frowned up at him.
“Babygirl, if I keep kissing you, and believe me, that’s what I want to do, I’m not gonna make it to my meeting. Besides, Daddy would really appreciate it if his little Sprite made him a coffee.”
She sighed but did as he asked.
Jaxon had just finished his coffee when Ravage walked in, his big frame filling the doorway, salt-and-pepper beard brushing his chest. He gave Jaxon a single nod and dropped into one of the oversized armchairs near the window like he owned the place.
“What can I get you?” Tazzy asked, putting on a plastic smile.
Ravage’s lips twitched. “Thanks, but I’m not here for coffee.”
He grinned when Tazzy’s fists hit her hips. “Then why are you here? This is, after all, a coffee shop.”
It seemed his girl was learning to assert herself. He couldn’t say that was a bad thing.
“Babygirl-sitting,” Ravage said before Jaxon could answer.
Tazzy looked back and forth between them with clear incredulity. “I do not need a babygirl sitter!” she said with a stomp of her foot.
Jaxon could see the storm brewing in her eyes. Normally, he loved a good storm, but right now, he didn’t have time. He reached over the counter and took her hand. “Rules while I’m gone. No back alley. No leaving this shop without Ravage. No talking to Georgia about anything on that damn bucket list of hers.”
He gave her a look that brooked no back talk. True to form, she did it anyway.
“You can’t be serious. That’s not fair. Just because you’re gone, I can’t go anywhere? And Georgia is my best friend. We always talk about her ideas.”
Ravage smirked from his chair, arms crossed, clearly enjoying the show.
Jaxon didn’t blink. “I am dead serious. Talk about that list, and Ravage will haul you out of here so fast your feet won’t touch the ground. He’ll bring you to me, and that will lead to a discussion I promise you will not enjoy. Understood?”
She huffed but nodded. “Fine. No bucket list talk. Happy?”
He kissed her forehead. “Very. I’ll be back as soon as the meeting is done. Stay where Ravage can see you.”
She rose up on her toes and pressed a quick kiss to his jaw. “I’ll be right here when you get back. Promise.”
Jaxon gave Ravage one last look. The big man dipped his chin in silent understanding of how important his job was. Satisfied, Jaxon headed for the warehouse.
Riding to Sabre gave Jaxon time to think. Tazzy was his Little girl again, but she wasn’t the same person he had been all those years ago. Now she was much more defiant, more of a risk taker, more independent,more everything. Being on your own like that, you got used to answering to nobody. Jaxon knew that better than anyone. Even though she’d accepted him as her Daddy, it was going to take some getting used to on both their parts. A smile eased over his lips. This was going to be very interesting.