“High school football?”Hayes didn’t bother hiding his amusement.“You’ve got it bad, don’t you?”
Braden shook his head.“You two are starting to sound like a broken record, you know that?”
They both laughed.
“Delilah’s never been to a football game before.”Braden ran a comb through his hair.
“And?We only went in high school because there was nothing else to do.”Miles scratched his head then elbowed Hayes in the side.“Now you’re going because you want to?”
“It is odd,” Hayes said.“But a man will do all sorts of things when it comes to the woman in his life.”
Since they were so determined to give him a hard time over Maggie, he might as well have some fun with them.“You’re right.That’s the only reason I’m doing this.”He set his comb aside and waited.
He was talking about Delilah but his brothers assumed he was talking about Maggie.Their reactions were better than he’d expected.They were staring at him, open-mouthed—like he’d grown wings or was speaking in tongues or something.It took real effort to stop himself from laughing.
Braden rolled his eyes and pushed between the two of them, enjoying himself.He walked down the hall to his daughter’s room and peered inside.“Delilah, you ready?”
Delilah jumped out from behind the door.“Ready!”
Braden was momentarily speechless.He didn’t know how he was going to break it to her but she was not, in the least bit, ready to leave the house.
“You might want to change, hon.”Miles was standing behind him.
“That won’t work, Delly.”Hayes eyed her outfit in concern.“You look real pretty, Delilah.”
Phoebe had worked at one of the big theme parks in Florida,and as a result, Delilah had almost as many princess outfits as she had everyday clothes.It didn’t bother him for her to wear them out, but she’d chosen to wear a fairy outfit that didn’t cover much and it was expected to drop below forty tonight.
“I do?”She smoothed her tulle skirts.
“Of course, you do.”Braden chose his words with care.“But let’s pick a warmer outfit for tonight, okay?Otherwise, I’m afraid you’ll wind up being cold.”
“I don’ wike the cowd.”She frowned at him.
“I know you don’t like the cold.”He knelt in front of her.“And I don’t want you turning into a snowman.”This was a reference to another one of her favorite princess movies.
“’Kay.”She sighed heavily and walked to her dress-up box.“I wiw change.”
“Why don’t you wear theBravedress?Since Maggie looks like Princess Merida?”That dress was long sleeved, had a long skirt and was made of velvet so she wouldn’t freeze.
“Oh, yes!”Delilah clapped her hands together and started digging through her costumes.“You awe so smart, Daddy.Maggie will wuv it.”
“I know she will.”He helped her tug off the tulle-and-sequins-covered leotard and put on the long velvet dress.“Perfect.”He peered at the flip-flops on her feet.“How about you put on some knee socks and you can wear your boots.”
Delilah wiggled her toes.“No bwue toes.”
“No blue toes.”He waited for her to ask for his help with the knee socks.The last thing he wanted was to stifle his daughter’s independence.He remembered Maggie’s advice and took it to heart.He wanted her growing up confident inher own skin and of her abilities.That sort of thing started here and now—with knee socks.
He pulled the door open to find his brothers were still waiting for them.There was no faking the regret on their faces.It wasn’t their fault, really.They were totally clueless when it came to kids.
“You look great, Delly.”Miles gave her a thumbs-up.
“Mmm-hmm.”Hayes nodded.“I like that color green.”
It meant a lot to see his brothers trying for his little girl.More than they’d ever know.
Delilah’s smile was blinding.“Thank you, Unca Miwes.Thank you, Unca Hayes.”
Braden rarely saw Miles and Hayes rattled but, then again, his brothers had never been face-to-face with anyone half as charming as his little girl.Her smile packed quite a punch—and his brothers weren’t immune to that fact.He chuckled.“I think we’re all ready to go.”
