"You don't have to rush back."
"I want to." He stands, starts clearing dishes. "I can’t wait to show you."
My chest tightens. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this man.
"What?" he asks, noticing my expression.
"Nothing. Just... I love you."
His eyes soften. "I love you too." He crosses back to me, tilts my chin up. "Now eat more of your breakfast while I finish getting ready."
"Bossy."
"Always."
Work is busy. We're in full holiday planning mode even though it's only March. We’re scheduling entertainment, coordinating with vendors, reviewing this year's holiday calendar.
I see Justin twice during the day. Once when he's walking through the park with the expansion team, pointing out featureshe wants to replicate in Aspen. He catches my eye, gives the barest nod, keeps walking.
Professional. Appropriate.
The second time is different. I'm in the break room when he appears in the doorway.
"Miss White. A word?"
I follow him to his office, heart hammering. We don't do this often—private moments during work hours—but when we do, it's usually because he's noticed something.
He closes the door, locks it and turns to face me.
"You didn't eat breakfast."
I blink. "Yes I did. You watched me eat it."
"Don’t lie to me. You did not eat breakfast, you ate one bite. I saw you push the rest around your plate." His tone is calm, but there's steel underneath. "Then, I walked by at lunch and saw you doing the same thing. What’s going on baby?"
"I wasn't that hungry?—"
"Holly." He steps closer. "What did we discuss about honesty?"
I sigh. How does he always know? "I just wasn’t in the mood for breakfast today. Like, sometimes when I wake up, I’m not hungry for a few hours, and I really didn’t feel like eating the meal I packed. I need to go to the store, and it wasn’t appetizing."
"Why didn’t you tell me? We could have worked something out. An alarm on your phone for a midmorning protein bar.”
"Because I didn’t want to be a bother. I didn’t want to be too much for you."
He studies me for a long moment. "You know you will never be too much for me right? I signed up for this. For you. As your Daddy. It’s my responsibility, one I enjoy immensely, to take care of you."
"It still worries me a little.”
"Why?"
"Because what if it doesn't work? What if I give you too much work? What if you begin to see me as a chore?"
"Holly." He cups my face. "There will never be a time when you make me feel like you are a chore. Keeping me on my toes, giving me things to do? I love the challenge. It keeps things interesting."
"I think I know that.”
"So, what's really bothering you?"
