most inopportune time, I’d quickly agreed. William didn’t technically work for The Lodge, but he
handled all of the educational events, which was what tonight was.
The older man ignored me and continued picking up the toys strewn around the floor. I left him
long enough to get a small tote to carry everything in. I’d deal with sorting it all out later. I’d once
seen a meme that read, trying to clean with kids at home was like trying to nail Jell-o to the wall. It
was amusing at the time, but now I had to assume it was no different with a room full of excited
littles.
At least they get to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
“Here, how about if I carry and you collect?” The guy took the tote out of my hands. I had to
assume he was one of the single Daddies, otherwise he’d be busy playing with his own boy.
And I bet he wouldn’t let his boy leave messes everywhere.
“Thank you, Sir.” Arguing with him about whether he should be helping me do my job was
pointless. And, honestly, I didn’twantto argue with him. Even if only in my mind, I could please him
by following his lead. It was probably the closest I’d ever get—
Nope. Don’t think like that.
“You should be really proud of yourself, Sam.”
I loved the way my name sounded as it crossed his lips. He had a faint hint of an accent I couldn’t
quite place. “It wasn’t only me.”
Yes, it was my senior project that led to the idea, but it had been a team effort to bring it to life.
“Don’t discount what you’ve done,” he scolded me. “I’d be willing to bet it was difficult for you
to approach Jack with the original plans.”
How did he know that?The guy was vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t place his face as someone
who was here on a regular basis.
“You’re easy to read,” he responded.
Yep. I definitely needed to work on keeping that internal monologue in my head where it
belonged.
My nerves zinged when he placed a hand on my elbow, guiding me to the edge of the room. “You
should take a few minutes to breathe. You’ve been running around non-stop since you opened the
playroom.”
“Yeah, because it’s my job.” I shrugged away from him, even though I desperately wanted to stay
