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THE SINGLE DAD 30
But those words were more honest than anything I’d said so far.Ford Dalton screamed power.And remembering just how much power he’d given me on the back of Gabby’s couch and again on her wooden table was making my entire body blush.A topic I’d much rather ponder than the lies.When I finally glanced up, there was hunger in his stare.A hunger I recognized. I’d seen the same look while we were at the bar and again when we were eating dinner.“I’m shocked as hell right now.”“Me too,” I whispered.“I just assumed you worked in the education field. I realize now that I never asked.”I reached inside my bag and pulled out my résumé, setting it on his desk. “I’m not sure if you’ve already seen this.”“I haven’t.”“Then, take a look. My background is all on there, detailed. The last four years, I was employed by the Turner family as an au pair for their three children. I homeschooled them, baked for them. Raised them, if I’m being honest.”“An au pair,” he said as he looked at the sheet.
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My legs tightened, the fluttering instantly sparking between them.The tingling making it hard for me to process the reality of this situation.“What are you saying, Ford?”He was silent as he stared at me. “I don’t see a way around this.”“I’m not sure I understand.”“I can’t have both, Sydney.”Both.And then it hit me.It was either the job or the start of this relationship—or whatever direction we were moving in, together.But I couldn’t have both.I was slowly inhaling, trying to convince my heart to settle, as he asked, “Which do you want more?”I pulled my hair to one side, holding it in my slick hand, my heart increasing instead of calming. “You can’t ask me that. It’s not fair.”“But it’s the only way I’m going to decide.”I released the strands of hair, my head dropping, my hand now holding my forehead. I needed the pressure; my brain felt like it was going to explode.Which do you want more?The one thing I knew, the one thing Ford had emphasized, was that he didn’t bring w
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His brows narrowed. “It would be full transparency if you moved into my home. I’m not perfect, Sydney, but I try my hardest to be everything Everly needs.” His voice turned a little quieter as he added, “She deserves that.”I didn’t want him to know how that admission made me feel.That I could, so easily, wrap my arms around him and bury my face in his chest and tell him he could make any woman’s ovaries combust.But I stayed on course instead and replied, “I’m far from perfect. I’m going to make mistakes—I made mistakes with the Turners. We’re human. All we can do is try our best when it comes to raising children.”“Truth.” He sipped his coffee. “What about your friend Gabby? Would she be all right with you moving out?”I smiled. “More than all right. I’m sure she’s dying to get her office back that I’ve completely hijacked.”He slipped my résumé into a folder and placed it into his drawer. “I’ll give you a call in the morning.”The interview was over.I just hoped it had been enoug
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“How’d she find out you were hiring?” Jenner asked. “I assume that’s why she applied, right?”“No. It’s a coincidence. When she applied, she had no idea it was me.” Still looking at him, I said, “Yours was just graduating. Mine is just starting.”“Notice how he called her mine,” Dominick said.“It means nothing.”“Bullshit,” Dominick shot back. “But we’ll go with it, for shits and giggles.”I sighed, annoyed with my brother. “She needs a job to support her while she’s in school.” I quieted for a moment. “Since she’d be so good for the job, I gave her an ultimatum. My daughter or me.”“That’s very lawyerly of you,” Dominick said.“Listen, it can’t be both. It wouldn’t work. There’s far too much crossover and—no. If things ended between us and Eve lost her and—no, again.”“Which did she pick?” Dom asked.“Everly,” I told them.“Of course she did,” Jenner said. “Because how the hell could she pick you? You don’t run toward relationships; you sprint the fuck away from them. You don’t thin
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Granted, I’d never had a nanny before, but I was positive Hannah did none of those things. Her time with my daughter was all about fun. But that was what Hannah was there for.This—Sydney—was different.Me: You can do whatever you want. My plan is to sit back and observe you two together.Sydney: Perfect. Thank you. See you tonight.There was no question that Eve was going to immediately connect with Sydney. My daughter wasn’t shy. She didn’t lack for personality. She found a way to charm everyone she encountered. And the moment Sydney walked into my house, surprising Everly, I saw my little one in action.She flew off the couch, running straight toward Sydney. “Syd!” She hugged Sydney’s waist. “You came back!” She glanced up at her, smiling. “And you brought presents!”Since I was nearby, Sydney handed me everything she was holding and reached down to pick up Everly.Fuck me.The two of them couldn’t be any more beautiful together, and her having my baby in her arms was certainly a s
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“Let me guess. This bathroom is in … your room?”“Yep!”As the two of them disappeared upstairs, the break from looking at Sydney—even if it was short-lived—was appreciated.I went to the fridge and grabbed a beer, twisting off the top as I said, “Things going well with you, Craig?”He gave the pot a few more stirs and turned toward me. “All is good, my man. Looks like things are moving along nicely with you too. Getting a new nanny in your life?”I nodded. “Hannah is tapping out. She’s got too much on her plate.”Hannah had been such a staple around here, and the two of them knew each other well.“This one seems to be great with Everly, and I’ve got to say, she’s pretty easy on the eyes.”He’d noticed.Fuck, it was impossible not to.“I’m not going to deny that,” I admitted.“She single?”I guzzled the rest of my beer and walked back to the fridge to grab another. “Why? You interested?” I asked from over my shoulder.“Hey, man”—he put his hands in the air—“it’s not a bad thing to kno
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“No, thank you, not while I’m hanging with your girl.”She’d given the right answer.Maybe she wasn’t plagued with the same thoughts as me.Maybe this was easier on her.Maybe she had cleared me from her head when she chose Everly.Can I do that?Can I make it happen right now?“All right, Eve, here’s your giant plate of spaghetti, just like you asked for.” Craig set the pasta in front of her along with a small salad and piece of bread.“Mmm. Yay!” She already had her fork in her hand and dived it into the noodles, freezing mid-twirl. “Oops, I forgot.” She looked at Sydney and added, “I’m ’posed to wait till everyone has food. It’s polite.”“You’re right; it is the polite thing to do. That’s so mature of you, Everly.”Eve smiled, waving her head so the ponytail bounced. “When Daddy takes me to fancy restaurants, there’re so many forks, and I don’t know which one to use, but I know to wait. Daddy says that’s the important part.”Sydney glanced at me, and my dick pounded through the jea
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I knew she was getting tired.We were minutes from bedtime.I continued to hold the cookie up and said, “Is it an elm tree?”She shrugged.“How about a weeping willow tree?”She shook her head. “That’s a silly name.”“Hmm.” I added a small bee, made of fondant, just underneath the sun and said, “A palm tree?”“Yes! Silly me. I forgot what they were called.”“Great job, Everly.” I set the cookie down and collected all the gel icing. “You were so helpful tonight, counting out all the measurements and helping me keep an eye on the timer and decorating these cookies with me. You’ve done the most fantastic job.”Her blue lips opened wide. “Can I have another cookie?”“Last one,” I said even though she’d only eaten half of one. “And then it’s time to brush your teeth and get ready for bed.”Her smile dropped, and she shook her head. “But I’m not tired. I don’t want to go to bed. I want to stay up and hang out with you.”“I know, honey.” I set my hand on her shoulder. “The cookies taste so d
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