All Chapters of THE SINGLE DAD: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

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.”

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

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

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

But the more I tried to direct him, the more he resisted.Ford was the kind of man who was always in control.He didn’t take direction.He gave orders instead.And that was exactly what his eyes told me as he breathed across my nipple.There was no touching.Just air.With feral, intense eyes, he asked, “Do you want more?”“Yes.”“How badly?”“Please,” I pleaded, the need like a blast that required urgent attention. “Ford … now.”He blew again, this time only a hairbreadth away from my nipple.His tongue extended, but before it touched me, he pulled back.“You’re going to get everything you want,” he told me. “But you’re going to have to beg.”NineteenFordI wanted her to beg.Maybe it was the fact that I hadn’t tasted her since we’d left LA, not risking the chance of Everly walking into Sydney’s bedroom and seeing us.Maybe it was because we were in a public setting and the thrill of that turned me the fuck on.Maybe I just wanted to hear how badly she wanted me.But as I had her p