“Oh… yeah, sure. If they’re too much of a handful for one person—”
“No, no,” he interrupted. “It’s nothing like that. Like I said,they were great. It’s just….” That enduring smile turned a little shy. “I’d like to get a chance to know you a little better.”
“Oh…ohhh,” I responded, realization finally dawning. “I… that’s really sweet….” I wasn’t used to that kind of attention. I’d spent the past three years so wrapped up in Liddy that I somehow turned that part of myself off. Dating wasn’t even on my radar. Sure, I needed to get laid, but that was totally different.
“If you’re not interested—”
“No!” I exclaimed a little too loudly. “I am. I just didn’t realize you were… you know.”
“Interested?” he chuckled.
A small, embarrassed grin tilted my lips. “Exactly. Sorry, I’m a little rusty at this. I haven’t dated in a long time.”
“Well, just so we’re clear, I’m interested, but I thought it would be safer to get to know each other on neutral ground before asking you on an official date.”
I nodded, feeling my cheeks start to burn a bit. “That sounds really nice.”
“Great. Then I’ll call you and set something up.”
I was flattered at having a man’s interest, and was so absorbed in my conversation with Steve that I’d totally forgotten about Garrett hiding in my bedroom until Liddy called out, “Mommy! My teddy’s in your room. Can I get it?”
Oh shit. “Just a second, baby.” I turned back to Steve, the flutter of butterflies in my stomach now extinguished by the need to get him and his daughter gone before they discovered Garrett. “I’ll look forward to your call. And thanks again for taking them today.”
“Of course. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Yep. Have a good day.”
He called his daughter and they headed toward the stairs. I breathed a relieved sigh as I closed the door behind them. Justas I threw the lock, I heard the creak of my bedroom door opening.
“Hey, monkey. Guess what,” I said to Liddy, who was playing with her Lego set on the living room floor.
“What?” she asked, looking up with big, inquisitive eyes.
“Someone’s here to see you.” I grinned at the sound of motorcycle boots moving toward us because I knew how thrilled my little girl would be to see her daddy. No matter the wrong choices, in Liddy’s eyes, Garrett walked on water. I might not have felt the same, but I still managed to get enjoyment out of seeing my daughter so happy.
Her excited squeal blasted through the room, and a second later she jumped up from the floor like a shot, shouting, “Daddyyyyyy!” at the top of her lungs.
She launched her little body at the big man, and I watched as he caught her effortlessly. Something about the sight of the matching joy on both their faces, and Garrett’s easy nature with my daughter, made my skin tingle and start to feel hot. It was uncomfortable, as if it had suddenly grown too tight.
“Hey, munchkin. I’ve missed you like crazy. How you doin’?”
“I miss you too!” she cried. “I don’t like when yous gone. It makes me sad.”
Ah hell. She looked like she was about to cry, which made Garrett’s jaw grow tense. “Then it’s good I’m sticking around for a long time, huh?” he said in a soft, gentle voice I’d only ever heard him use with Liddy.
“You are? Promise?”
“Swear,” he stated firmly.
Liddy’s arms shot up in the air and she screamed “Yay!” at a glass-shattering decibel.
“And I’ve got even better news,” he continued.Oh no.Nonononono!He wouldn’t….“You and your momma are gonna move into my house, so we’ll see each other a whole lot more!”
She screeched with excitement again while, in my head, I yelled every curse word I could think of.
I went from warm and tingly to murderous in two-point-five seconds. “Honey, why don’t you go get all your new toys so you can show your daddy?” I suggested so I could have a second alone with Garrett in order to claw his eyes out.
Liddy ran to her room to gather all the toys she’d gotten recently. As soon as she was out of hearing range, I smacked Garrett in the arm and hissed furiously, “What the hell were you thinking, telling her that?”
