“We are kidnapping you!” she exclaims with a grin.

“Well, this is a very well executed plan then.”

Grayson looks back at her. “Remember what I said?”

She nods. “No telling her.”

“No telling me what?” I ask.

“Where we are taking you!” Her giggle is adorable and loud as she covers her mouth. “Daddy said it has to be a surprise.”

I turn, dropping my voice to be conspiratorial. “You can tell me, I won’t let him know.”

Her gaze shifts to him. “He can hear everything.”

“Everything?”

“He said it’s a Daddy superpower.”

I can’t stop the smile that grows. “Oh, well, then we have to be super careful around him.”

Melia beams. “That’s what Auntie says too. She says that she has superpowers too.”

“Your family is very special,” I agree.

“Auntie can block Daddy’s hearing.”

I had no idea that our date out was going to be with his daughter, but I couldn’t be happier. She’s the sweetest kid, and I love being around her. The other morning, she woke up to find me on the couch, feigning sleep, and we made pancakes and bacon to wake Grayson up.

It was the most fun I’ve had in a very long time.

When Gray drove me to work, he asked if I would go out with him tomorrow so he could show me something. I assumed that it was another way to get me in bed, but it turns out, he was serious.

“I like her powers,” I tell Amelia.

Grayson snorts. “I am the most powerful because I can take her powers away.”

Amelia looks horrified for a second and then laughs. “You’re silly, Daddy.”

“I am not.”

“Yes you are!”

Seeing him like this still takes my breath away. I always knew he’d be a great father, but actually witnessing it is something else. He loves her with a ferocity that makes my heart grow each time I see them interact.

It’s clear that Amelia thinks he walks on water.

“So,” I say, clapping my hands together, “where are we going?”

Grayson tilts his head my way while giving me a wry smile. “You’ll have to wait and find out.”

We drive thirty minutes outside of Willow Creek Valley before he pulls onto a dirt road that has a no trespassing sign at the front.

“Did you bring me out to the middle of nowhere for a reason? If you break out a shovel, I’m going to hit you with it first.”

He chuckles. “Come on.”

We get out, and Amelia rushes over and takes my hand. “You have to see the lake!”

“A lake?”

“It’s called Melia Lake.” The pride in her voice rings through the air.

I look over at Grayson, who is smiling at us. “Go ahead. I’ll bring the food.”