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THE SINGLE DAD 35
“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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Gabby: How’s it going?Me: I think good. Everly just went to bed. I’m waiting for Ford to come down and talk to me.Gabby: He’s going to offer you the job. Obviously. I mean, you made cookies with his daughter. It doesn’t get cuter than that.Me: Um, hello? There’re a million reasons why he won’t offer me the job, but I do think Everly had a good time, and she was so much fun. Gabs, he’s the best dad. Sigh.Me: Oh shit, I hear him coming down the stairs. Got to go. Wish me luck. XOGabby: You’ve got this. Love your ass. See ya at home.“Sorry,” I said, sliding the phone back into my bag as Ford took a seat in one of the barstools across from me. “That was Gabby. She was just checking on me.”“You don’t have to apologize. You’re allowed to use your phone.” He glanced around the kitchen. “You didn’t have to clean up, Sydney.”I waved my hand, showing him it was nothing. “If I make the mess, I’m certainly going to clean it. That’s part of my job.”“But you weren’t here tonight as an empl
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His words hit me. Whether he’d chosen them on purpose or they were merely a coincidence, I felt the power behind each one.“I’m not going anywhere, Ford.” I swallowed. “You have me.”“Then, my assistant will send over the necessary paperwork. I’m sure you’re familiar with an NDA.”“I’ve signed one before, yes.”He exhaled, a sound that was more like a sigh. “Now, as for moving in, I’ve given that some thought, and I don’t want to rush it. Let’s take our time, see how things go the next week or so. Are you okay with that?”A sense of relief passed through me.One I hadn’t expected.“Yes, of course,” I replied.His hands had been moving but froze. “I want you to get comfortable with Everly, and I want to get used to having you here all the time.”“An important part of the process, I agree.” As he nodded, I asked, “When would you like me to start?”He pulled out his phone, tapping the screen, his eyes going back and forth, like he was reading. “I can draw up the contract and NDA tomorrow
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“Did our brother wake up this morning with amnesia?” Dominick asked Jenner. “Or is the motherfucker suffering from a concussion from getting hit over the head with a two-by-four?” Dominick’s stare left Jenner, and he looked at me. “In case you need the reminder, her name is Sydney. You know, your goddamn nanny.”I laughed again. “That’s exactly it. She’s my nanny. Nothing more.”Jenner leaned his elbows on the table to get closer to me. “Really? That’s all she is—your nanny?”“Yes, my nanny. Who the fuck do you think is watching my kid right now?” I checked my phone, making sure there was nothing from Sydney. I wasn’t sure why I had this nagging anticipation that she was going to text a question or a picture out of the blue, but every few minutes, I found myself reaching inside my pocket. “So, yes, guys, that’s all she is. Someone to take care of Eve, not me.”“No reason she can’t be there for you as well.”I sighed, shaking my head. “We’re not going there again.”Dominick called over
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Me: Do you mind staying a little later?Sydney: Ford, have fun. Don’t worry about us. I’m heating up the dinner Craig left, and then we’re going to make cupcakes. Since we made bath bombs yesterday, Eve is pretty excited about testing one out tonight. Take your time. I’ll stay as late as you need me to.Me: What’s a bath bomb?Me: Or maybe I don’t want to know?Me: And, shit, am I screwing up all your plans tonight? I didn’t even ask if you had something going on.Sydney: Gabby and I were supposed to have a girls’ night. She spent all day cooking for it. :(Me: Fuck …Sydney: I’m kidding. I had no plans. Stop worrying. All is good.Sydney: Also, come home hungry. There will be tons of extra cupcakes.Me: I appreciate you doing this.“He’s texting with Sydney,” Dominick said. “There’s no one else, aside from Everly, who can make him smile that hard.”I glanced up from my phone.Jenner said, “Is that true? Are you texting with Sydney?”“Yeah, but—”“Oh hell, he’s in it hard.”“Stop it,”
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“That’s all I’ll hear about over breakfast tomorrow.” I pulled the wrapper off my second cupcake. “How much fun she had. How her hair turned blue. How she won’t be able to bathe without a bomb ever again.”“Oh boy, have I created a monster?” She took a bite, her tongue swiping across my favorite lip to get the chocolate off.Jesus.She’d asked a question.I was sure of it.But I couldn’t think of anything but her mouth.“Say that again,” I voiced.Her lips went thin as she smiled. “Did I create a monster?”“A baking monster, for sure.” I glanced down, needing the break, and shoved more sweetness into my mouth. “Sydney, this is delicious. Fuck, I’m sure I already said that.”She snorted. “I’m jealous of your buzz right now.”I glanced up, struck by that breathtaking face. “I’m that obvious?”“Maybe not to just anyone, but your voice changes when you drink.” She quieted as she said, “I know that tone by now and how it gets grittier with each glass of red wine—or in tonight’s case, scotc
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