“Not a chance.” I poked his side, a rush of heat making me clench. Naughty ideas? That sounded amazing, but this weight he carried around since becoming a solo parent had only grown in size. I couldn’t fathom the stress he had, having an adorable person depend on you for everything, but not talking about it would make it worse. “Hey,” I said softly.
“Hm?”
“You really helped me with this interview. I appreciate it so much. But if you and I are going to… explore whatever this is, I want it to be reciprocal. Let me help you, and if I can’t, I can listen. You don’t need to carry all this yourself.” I ran a hand over his shoulder and arm, squeezing his wrist. He was so warm and thick. Mm.
He groaned and pinched his nose. “I don’t trust people easily, let alone with my girl, so the thought of finding someone to help watch her causes me so much stress, it paralyzes me. The three I’ve interviewed were all busts. Too immature, not CPR trained, was on her phone the entire time. I want someone who pushes Gwen but keeps her in line and is kind. I’m supposed to travel with my assistant coaches in the next few weeks for some showcases down south, and now I’m not sure I can go.”
“Okay.” I ran my finger up and down on the table, tracing an invisible alphabet to do something with my adrenaline. “Are you open to ideas here? Or just wanting to be grumpy?”
“I’m not grumpy.” His gaze flashed to me. “I’m disgruntled. There is a difference, Char.”
I snorted. “You’re cute, and you’re wrong.”
“I like it when you sass me. It’s always been one of my favorite things about you.” He grinned and leaned forward. His lips brushed against mine before he said, “I also like the fact that I can kiss you now.”
“Yeah, big fan of that.” I gripped his chin and kissed him back. It was soft, quick, and gentle, like we’d been doing this for years. My skin prickled with awareness, and heat spread to my thighs, but I pushed his chest with my other hand. “Could you take Gwen with you when you go away? Hire someone to travel with you where she’d be near you. It’s only for one year, right? I think there are nannies who do that.”
“Huh.” He worked his jaw left and right, his eyebrows a hard line. “I’d feel better about it if she was closer to me. I didn’t… how do you find one?”
“There is this thing called Google. We go there and type in—”
“Such a smart-ass.” He laughed, the deep, reassuring sound rumbling in his chest. “I could see how this neighbor’s daughter works out for the short term, the random late nights in town. Then take my time for the traveling nanny. I could ask—”
“Wait!” I smacked my forehead. “My best teacher friendused to nanny and knows a few still working. Worst case, she knows the company and can set up a call for you.”
“That’d be… damn.” Hayden’s face turned serious, his eyes burning into me. “Thank you. That’s a great idea, and I’d be really appreciative.”
“I didn’t even get to the best part yet either. This is where I really look like a hero too.” I clicked my tongue, drawing it out. “I made a spreadsheet for after the holidays, where my parents, Christian and Penny, and I all watch her. We love that girl, Hayden, so it’s not a chore, nor is it a burden. We can handle January for you, so that gives you four weeks to find the right person before the season starts in February. I already asked them, and it’s scheduled.”
“How…” he started, then stopped and swallowed. He seemed torn up instead of the joy I had anticipated.
A lead weight formed in my gut, the sensation of sinking pulling me down. He hated the idea. I shouldn’t have done it. He was the father, not me. I overstepped! I panicked. “I-I shouldn’t—”
“Charlotte. Let’s go to your room.” He nudged me to leave my side of the booth, and I jumped out of there so fast.
His tone was off, and he wouldn’t look at me. My insides were an absolute mess, clenching and twisting. I might’ve overstepped, but I thought he needed help. Would he want to break this off, whatever it was?
He grabbed my laptop and the papers, and jutted his chin toward the hallway. “Walk to your room, please.”
He’d saidplease. That was a good sign. His body language was stiff and awkward though. Tense shoulders and his jaw flexing every few seconds. The walk to myroom took only a minute, and my hands trembled when I unlocked the door. This unsettled, spiraling sensation was horrible. “I can—”
The second the door clicked shut, Hayden set my laptop and papers on the dresser, and he hoisted me up onto the bathroom counter.
“Fuck.” He groaned into my neck and then slid his hands up the back of my shirt. He dug his fingers into my skin as he whispered, “You’re amazing.”
“Amazing?” My mind spun. I thought he was upset with me. “What’s… you were mad.”
“No.” He kissed right beneath my ear and hummed against me, the deep growl sending a bolt of lightning between my thighs. “Overcome with want. I can’t tell you how much your gesture meant to me. It’s too… I want to show you. If you’ll let me.”
He pulled back, his gray eyes heating as he stared at me. He moved his hands to the front of my shirt, dancing along my rib cage as I shuddered. “Please.”
I nodded.
His relief was immediate. He lifted the hem of my sweater, taking his time removing it as he held eye contact. There was something so hot about the confidence emanating from him as he stared at me. He wasn’t afraid of connecting, and that was a huge turn-on.
He set the sweater to the side, his hands running up and down my body as he teased my nipples with his thumbs.
“Oh,” I moaned. I arched my back, the sensation from just his fingers overheating me.
