Page 105 of Papa's Bébé


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Matthieu followed Captain around as he showed him the new system.

“It all looks good, my friend.”

Captain shot him a look. He wasn’t certain if that look was about him calling him his friend or that he was insulted that Matthieu had ever thought it might not be good.

Matthieu decided it was prudent not to ask him.

“And the cameras capture images from the street?” He’d asked for that specifically after learning about Maya’s stalker.

Brody was currently compiling a background report on him. But so far there was nothing of interest.

Ryan Straun seemed like an ordinary guy. Worked in investment. He had his own company and he made good money. Paid all his bills on time. Didn’t gamble or drink excessively.

The only red flag in his background check was the fact that he still lived with his mother. That was a big one considering that he was forty-three and had never been married.

But it wasn’t enough to do anything with. So he’d told Brody to dig deeper.

Captain grunted an affirmative and sent him another look. Right, he got it. He was pushing the other man’s patience.

“Thanks. I appreciate all your work and the fact that you stayed until we got home.”

Captain shot a look at the closed bedroom door and his face darkened. Matthieu had told him about how Tank had been abused and didn’t trust humans anymore.

It was easy to see that made Captain mad.

When he left, Matthieu headed into the kitchen. Maya was with her babies. She’d been quiet since they got home. But not tired or sad, more contemplative.

As he was cooking, she walked in.

“Oh, you really don’t have to cook,” she told him.

“Do you cook?”

“Um.” She grimaced. “Not very well. But I can bake. My mom taught me before she . . . before she . . .”

“It was cancer?” he asked gently as he checked on the homemade fries in the oven. Closing the oven door, he turned and leaned against the counter to study her.

It was obvious to him that she still felt the pain of her mother’s death acutely. That was something he understood. He still missed his parents.

“Yes. Skin cancer. She had this mole that she kept meaning to get checked but by the time she did . . . it was too late. The cancer had spread. She fought really hard. I know she did. But it took its toll on her. My mom was amazing. She was beautiful and courageous. I hated seeing her in pain. Weak. Fading away.”

“If she looked anything like you, then I know she was beautiful. And if you are anything like her, then I know she was courageous and smart and kind.”

“That’s . . . that’s one of the nicest things that anyone has ever said to me,” she told him.

“It’s just the truth.” He shrugged and turned away, feeling like he’d said too much. “How are Tank and Big B?”

He knew that she’d been worried about Tank getting upset with Captain being in the house.

“Actually, they’re surprisingly good. I’m going to go outside with the girls and Dougie and Gummy.”

“All right. Just stay where I can see you at all times.” The kitchen was at the back of the house so he could keep an eye on her through the window and the cameras.

Her lips twitched. “Yes, Daddy.”

His words dried on his tongue as she turned with a swish of her hips and left the kitchen.

Did she realize what she’d just done to him? There was no way she knew about that part of him. Was there?