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THE SINGLE DAD 61
She cleared her throat. “But now, I’m flat, in darkness, buried under the blanket—and much better.” She paused. “Tell me the details. Was there talking or just humping?”“We started with talking, which then led to humping.”“And?”“The guilt was gone. He wants this.” I sucked in a breath. “He wants us.”Gabby sighed. “Thank fuck. I was starting to worry about that man and his ability to see what was right in front of him.”“He saw.” I remembered the words he had said. The way they hit me. The way they made me question. The way they settled every bit of apprehension I’d been feeling. “It just took him time to admit to himself that I’m what he wants. He knew all along, like I knew I wanted him, but coming to terms with that isn’t easy, not when you have a child to protect.”“You’re the queen of understanding, you know that?”The sun was just starting to rise in the sky, a sight that made me smile. “I don’t know about that. I just get the dynamics of family because kids are all I know.”
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“Even though I no longer work for their family, I will be in their lives forever. I love those kids. Nothing will ever change that.” I gazed into his eyes, trying to read them—something I’d never really been able to do with Ford. “Regardless of what happens between us, I will always be here for Everly. I know that’s one of the things that worries you, and I’m telling you, you don’t have to worry.”His eyes closed for the briefest of seconds, like he was processing this news. “What about your job? Do you still want to be her nanny?”“Of course.” I took a breath. “Absolutely.”“You think you’ll be able to do both?” His hand lowered to my neck, tilting my face up a bit more to meet him. “Date me and nanny her?”My stomach fluttered at the thought.That was what I’d wanted since my interview.What I’d thought about every night when I crawled into the other side of Gabby’s bed, trying to tire my mind enough to fall asleep, and now, as I slept above the garage.It was what I thought of ever
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Which happened seconds later.“Uncle D!”He lifted her into the air, kissing her cheek.“It’s my birthday, Uncle D. I’m not a baby no more. No, no, nooo.”He laughed. “Have you told your father that? Because I think he’d disagree.”“Uncle D, Daddy knows I’m this many years old.” She held up her hand.“Is that right?” He paused. “So, if you’re not our baby anymore, then what are you?”Everly smiled and bounced. “A big girl.”“I don’t approve,” Dominick said, kissing her forehead. “I remember when you were so small that you fit in both my hands. Now”—he shook his head—“you’re almost as tall as me.”Everly snorted. “You’re a giant, like Daddy.”“You know what else I am?”Everly’s eyes went wide. “No?”“I’m a tickle monster.”“Auntie Kendall,” Everly screamed as Dominick tickled her, her laughter filling my entire house. “Ahhh! Auntie Kendall, saaave meee.”“Dominick, give me our girl,” Kendall said, holding out her arms. The moment she scooped Everly from Dominick, she added, “I’ve misse
THE SINGLE DAD 64
I hadn’t seen the cake. Sydney wanted it to be a surprise, but she’d asked if she could make it rather than having me order one, like I usually did. Of course, I had agreed. There was nothing sweeter than my girl wanting to bake for my daughter.“I’m going to bring out another wave of appetizers in about five,” Craig said to me.“Sounds good, buddy.”Sydney and I left the kitchen, and as we were coming into the living room, Hannah approached.“There you are,” she said. “I’ve been looking for you.”“We were hiding.” I laughed.“I noticed,” she replied. “Can I talk to you for a second?”“Now?”Hannah nodded.I looked at Sydney and said, “I’ll be right back,” and I followed Hannah outside onto the patio.We stayed close to the sliding door, giving me a view of everything that was happening inside. But I wasn’t looking through the glass. I was focused on my cousin, the concern building on her face as she paced from the pool to the table, where I was standing.“I know Everly’s birthday isn
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I rubbed my temples as a Hannah-headache worked its way through my brain. “How in the hell would you know that?”“Have you listened to anything I’ve said today?”She waited for a response. I didn’t give her one.So, she continued, “I know you. I know how you operate. I know the second something turns slightly serious with a girl, you go all AWOL, and you bail because you don’t want to bring them into Eve’s life.” She turned her head, peeking through the glass. “There’s one way to your heart”—she nodded toward the living room—“and it’s through that little girl right there.” She gazed back at me. “If you had any feelings for Sydney, which I kind of assumed you did, then having her around all the time would only emphasize them. And, eventually, you two would be together … like you are.” She raised her arms in the air, like she was cheering. “Who’s the genius here? Me.”“I don’t even know what the fuck to say right now.”Her arms dropped. “You can tell your little coz how much you love he
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“Do you know why I’m giving this to you?” I asked Everly.She shook her head.“Because we’re going to make our own book, just like this one.” I moved to the end of the couch to get closer to her and pointed at the shot of the Las Vegas Strip, the picture she had just arrived at. “We’re going to fly there, and you’re going to see all the lights and have all the adventures, just like you asked for.”Her mouth opened so wide. “We are?”“How nice,” my mother said. “Everly, your daddy got you such a wonderful gift.”“And we spoil her,” Dominick huffed.I ignored my brother, flipping back a few pages to show her the mountain shots. “And we’re also going there, to Colorado, so you can see those mountains and ride some horses.”“I am?”“You’re going to love the horses,” my father said to her.I lifted her off the ottoman and set her on my lap. “We’re leaving in this many days.” I held two hands in the air, spreading my fingers wide—the same way she had all morning.Her face lit up even more.
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I slid my fingers through her hair, tightening her ponytail, holding back a giggle. “I’ll make sure he stays far away from trouble.”She waved. “Bye, Syd. Bye, Daddy.” She linked hands with the counselor and disappeared inside the room.There had only been a few moments during this trip when we were able to sneak away and have some time alone together. Each of those occasions was after Everly went to bed, and he’d come into my room of the two-bedroom suite he had rented. We didn’t want to take any chances—we were worried that she’d wake up and come in—so we hadn’t done more than just kiss. Now, with an entire day to ourselves, I suspected I was going to get more than just his lips.But before we went anywhere, I needed to make sure of something.I turned toward him, waiting for his eyes to leave the door of the kids’ club, and said, “Are you all right? I know it’s not easy to hand her over to a stranger who’s going to take her hiking and horseback riding and …” I paused, deciding not
THE SINGLE DAD 68
I laughed as I headed for the table and slipped beneath the covers, getting lost in a sea of fluff and softness until I felt his hand. The tables were close, and his fingers had searched under the blanket until they found mine.I glanced across the open space, meeting his grin.My chest swelled, my throat tightening.Some of the moments we spent together were so pure that they didn’t need words.They were raw, honest.Full of emotion.Like when he had walked into the pantry while I was presenting the birthday cake to Everly.When we’d had dinner with his parents the night before we left and he held my hand under the table.When I’d been on a call with Gabby while we were in Vegas and he took the phone from my hand, promising her he would keep me safe. That nothing would ever happen to me.Like now.The knock at the door pulled me out of my thoughts, and I heard Ford say, “Come in.”“Hello,” one of the massage therapists said.They closed the door behind them and washed their hands at
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