The Single Dad: Girl’s Sexual Awakening

He unlocked the screen and handed it to me, and I went into his Contacts and added my information.

Rather than setting a date, this felt like the option that put the least amount of pressure on him.

Still, the thought of him calling sent that tingle afire, and the thought of him not calling made my heart start to ache.

I set his phone down and wrapped my arms around his neck, holding him against me. My nose went into his hair, smelling, my mind memorizing.

Just in case.

And once a few beats passed, I respected his wishes and whispered, “Let’s go.”

He gave me a quick kiss, his eyes holding mine as our mouths parted, and we climbed out of bed. He went into his closet, and I tossed his button-down on the bench in front of his bed and worked the tight dress up my body.

When he walked out, he was in a pair of gray sweatpants, a T-shirt, a baseball hat, and sneakers.

If he moved just right, the sweatpants showed the outline of his crown.

I almost felt guilty for looking.

But I couldn’t help myself.

Good God.

He was so incredibly sexy.

“Are you ready …” He shook his head as his voice died out, his eyes consuming me. “Damn it, it fucking pains me to ask you that.”

I grabbed my coffee from the nightstand and gulped down a few sips. “Ready.”

On the way out, I slipped on my heels and picked up my clutch from the floor and then followed him into the living room.

“Morning, Hannah,” he said as we passed the counter where she was still sitting. “Was Eve good last night?”

“A little whiny when it was time to go to bed. She wanted to play, take another bath, have a popcorn fight in your bed-you know, all the excuses.” There was a container sitting on one of her books, and she handed it to me. “Aside from that, she was perfect.”

Inside the Tupperware was cookies. Ones that looked homemade.

That would explain what I’d smelled last night in Ford’s kitchen.

“Have one,” Hannah urged.

I grabbed two and moaned behind my hand as I chewed. “Wow. This is excellent.”

“Take another. I made three dozen, so there’s plenty.”

“Two is more than enough. Thank you.” As I tried to taste the ingredient that she’d used to make the dough extra rich and fluffy, I held the container toward Ford.

He shook his head, and he said to Hannah, “I’m going to take Sydney home. I should be back before Eve wakes up, and then you can bounce.”

“Works for me,” Hannah replied.

I handed the Tupperware back to Hannah, and as Ford and I were walking past the fridge, I heard, “Daaaddy!”

“Fuck,” Ford whispered, freezing mid-step.

We turned at the same time, seeing his daughter bouncing down the steps that wrapped around the living room.

“Daaaddy, is it pancake time?”

He glanced at me, and I instantly saw the worry on his face.

I didn’t know what to do.

Where to go.

What to even say.

But as I looked toward the staircase, there was a flash of pink descending so fast, curls like loose springs on top of her head, that I knew it was too late to try and hide.

The second she hit the bottom landing, she came running for her father.

My heart clenched as he picked her up in his arms, hugging her against him.

“Good morning, my baby girl.” He rubbed circles across her back, her body so tiny against Ford’s tall, muscular frame. “How did you sleep?”

“I woke up with the giraffe in my face.” She rubbed her fists over her eyes. “He was hungry and thought I was leaves. Silly giraffe.”

“Well, I woke up with your feet in my face,” Hannah said. “Were your toes hungry for my nose?”

Everly snorted, which made everyone in the kitchen laugh.

I had no reason to be biased, but she was one of the cutest kids I had ever seen. She had bright, giant, round blue eyes, a hooked nose, puffy lips, and little freckles that sat high on her cheeks. Her hair was golden brown and all curls.

“I’m glad you slept well, baby. I missed you last night.”

I’d melted when I saw the Best Dad Ever mug. That was nothing compared to this. Watching the two of them together-their love and interaction, the way they gazed at each other-was the most beautiful sight.

Everly played with the keys in her father’s hand. “Where are you going, Daddy?” When she finished speaking, she turned in his arms, facing me. “Who are you?”

I didn’t want to say the wrong thing. I didn’t even want to address his daughter unless Ford was comfortable with it, especially because he’d told me he sheltered her from the women he dated, and even though I wasn’t in that category, this gray area was just as complicated.

My gut told me to stay silent, so I looked at Ford and then at Hannah, hoping one of them answered her.

“That’s my friend,” Hannah said. “She came over to have some cookies with me.”

Ford shifted his stance, holding Everly toward me so she didn’t have to turn around. “Everly, this is Hannah’s friend Sydney. Can you introduce yourself to Miss Sydney?”

Still holding one of the cookies, I switched the dessert to my other hand, extending my dominant one to his daughter. “Hi.”

“Hi, Miss Sydney. I’m Everly Dalton. Daddy calls me Eve. You can call me Eve or Everly.”

I smiled. “It’s very nice to meet you, Everly.” Her hand was so warm against mine. “You can call me Syd, if that’s easier. That’s what my friends call me sometimes.”

She had a dimple on her right cheek when she grinned. “Really? That’s sooo pretty.”

“Thank you. I think your name is very pretty too. Do you know what else we have in common?”

Her eyes went wide. “What?”

“We both love the color pink.”

“You dooo? Is it your fave, like mine?”