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THE SINGLE DAD 40
“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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I laughed. “Hell no.” There was only a bite of cupcake left, and I took it down, wishing I had brought my milk. “I used a decorator. The same one who did the main house.”“Ford, it’s stunning.”The colors in here were much different than in my place. The apartment was all white and tan, airy and light. The decorator had chosen the scheme intentionally, knowing I preferred a woman watching my daughter over a man.“I’m glad you like it.”“Love it,” she said, our eyes connecting. “Not like.” Her stare moved to the ceiling, where beams ran across the entire length. “She thought of everything. Important accents that make this small space feel giant and these little touches that soften it.”“Check out in here.” I walked to the bedroom door, turning on the light, and a chandelier over the bed set the whole room aglow.“Wow.”I turned toward her. “Cozy?”“And, quite honestly, a little romantic.” She headed for the en suite, frozen in the doorway. “You put in a tub? Oh my God, look at the size
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She went over to the couch and found a spot between two oversize pillows. Her head nuzzled into one, her feet resting across the other, and the blanket covered her to where I could only see her hair.Go to fucking bed, Ford.I listened to the voice inside me and went over to where the switches were located, turning off the lights. The only ones I kept on were the pendants in the kitchen. I dimmed those, so if she got up, the glow would be enough that she wouldn’t run into anything.When I reached the hallway to my bedroom, I didn’t say good night to her. I didn’t even pause. I just instantly closed the door behind me, my back resting against the wood the moment it was shut.I filled my lungs and released a long, deep exhale.When I tried to move, to walk down the hallway toward my bed, my feet wouldn’t lift. My hands wouldn’t release the door.So, I slid down the flatness until my ass hit the hardwood beneath me.And that was where I stayed.TwelveSydneyI sat on the side of Everly’
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That was love.I took a deep breath and said, “How about I whip up something super yummy?”Ford slowly glanced at me. “Craig didn’t leave anything?”“He did … but are you really in the mood for yogurt?”He shook his head and winced. “No.”I moved over to where they were sitting. The second I reached them, Everly took off my baseball hat, revealing my wet hair underneath, and put it on her head.“What are you guys craving?” I asked.“Pancakes!”I laughed. “Why does that not surprise me?” I winked at her and looked at Ford. “How about you?”He rubbed the side of his head. “Pancakes work for me.”“And how about something greasy, like bacon? And hash browns?”“Yes,” Ford said, “and yes.”“Then, I’ve got an idea.” I stole my hat back from her and held out my arms to Everly. “You come with me, Miss Eve. We have lots of cooking to do, and your dad will head into his office, so he can get some work done. Once we’re finished, we’ll bring him a giant breakfast. How does that sound?”“I canceled
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“Syd! Look!”I glanced away from Ford, my stare returning to Everly as the second pancake landed even better than the first.“You’re doing the best job. Now, can you do the remaining ones too?”“Yep!”I kept my eyes on her, but I could still feel Ford’s on me.I wouldn’t look at him.I couldn’t.I was positive he’d see right through me, and then he’d know exactly how I was feeling. How last night had taken every ounce of restraint I had. How this morning, watching the two of them together, feeling the intensity of his eyes, was more than I could handle.I couldn’t shut off the tingles in my body.I couldn’t stop the desire from pulsing.The need.The want.Both owning me with a strength I couldn’t fight.Maybe he had been born with a switch that made him forget, but the time we’d spent together was still so fresh in my head.And time with him was something I wanted more of.“Come on, little pancake. Be nice,” Everly said as she moved on to the last one, so focused on what she needed t
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I couldn’t eat.I wasn’t even hungry anymore—at least, not for food.“Come with you,” he said, as though he was debating.I sucked in my breath, moving the bacon to the other side, trying to act busy.“But, baby, I have to work today.”“Tell Papa you have a bellyache.”He laughed. “Papa’s not my boss.”I tried to imagine what a morning of hiking with Ford would feel like. The two of us on the trail, Everly several paces ahead. Sweat running down our faces. Sun hitting our eyes.How we’d have to move close together when we passed other hikers on the narrow path.His scent.His hand on my lower back.“Runyon Canyon?” he asked.Since I didn’t hear Everly respond, I nodded.Was he really considering?Was a morning with Ford now a real possibility?Could I call in sick?Fuck.When I’d taken this job, I’d thought it was going to be so straightforward. I would take care of Everly and go to school.There was nothing simpler than that.My feelings for Ford would stay separate. They would dull
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