And then, as if I haven’t said enough, I hear myself continue, “It would have been nice if you’d met her.” I swallow the lump that’s lodged in my throat. “She would have loved you.”
Daisy continues to watch me, pressing a dress tight to her. “T-thank you,” she says. Then, with infinite care, she sets it down.
Archie jumps up, probably impatient for his walk.
“Easy, Archie,” I say, grateful for the distraction, because suddenly, the room feels too full of something I can’t name.
Daisy nods, still not looking at me, and I walk away, wondering if I said something wrong. Because I thought I noticed a sheen of tears in her eyes. But maybe it was just a reflection.
My days settled into a rhythm.I walked Archie in the morning. Ideas of songs, bits of lyrics, a strand of melody would often float in on the ocean air. If I was lucky, I’d rush back home and immerse myself in the music. On other days, I had meetings with my manager or label, or I’d have appointments with contractors for the house.
Daisy also set up interviews with several prospective families who were interested in adopting Archie. I nixed them all. None were the right fit.
At night, I usually cooked, or we ordered food in. We ate on the patio with a view of the ocean at a table Daisy set. She’d consult with me on the menu, and then every night, she’d create a different theme for the table.
Tonight, though, we’re going out.
I look down at Daisy. “I can’t believe you talked me into going to a karaoke bar.”
“I didn’t talk you into it. You insisted on taking me. Itoldyou I could go with Taylor.”
“I’m not letting Taylor carry you.”That’s my job.
“First, rude. He’s very fit, even if he’s not tall. And second, Taylor wouldn’t need to carry me. And neither do you. My foot’s better. I can hop, even if my crutch got destroyed.” She smiles, as if she’s not at all sad about what happened to her crutch.
I shift her in my arms so I can close the front door and lock it. She burrows her head into my chest, and warmth fills me.
It’s a hot night, I tell myself. Of course I feel warm.
“I still don’t see how Archie could have broken the crutch.”
“Archie may be small, but his teeth are mighty.”
I’m carrying her around because every day, something new happens to her crutch. And every day, we have to get her a new one.
This morning she said Archie damaged one of the crutch legs, weakening it. I refused to let her use it. If it snapped, she could reinjure her ankle, or worse.
I need her back in good shape. For Archie. So she can resume her regular pet-sitting duties. And I can finish what I came here for and go back to my regular life. There’s no other reason that I’m carrying her around like we’re newlyweds about to embark on our honeymoon.
Now I have that picture in my head. Of us. In bed.
I clench my jaw as her ass rubs against me while I stride down the stairs with her and head to the car.
Once again, she’s wearing a skimpy little dress, white with yellow flowers this time. I swear she does it to fuck with my brain because carrying her while she wears these tiny dresses means that my hands are on her ass. My dick, the traitor, is hard, and the only thing separating me from her bare skin feels like silk panties.
Fuck my Godlike restraint.
I’m wondering just how many fights I’ll have to win tonight. Because every guy at the bar is going to want Daisy in her littledress. And she doesn’t have an impressive track record with men.
She picks assholes. I’ve heard her talking shit about the guys she dates with Olivia. She likes commitment-phobic bad boys. Olivia’s words, not mine. They cheat. Or borrow money. Or treat her like crap. Which is not acceptable. At all. There’s no way some douche is going to get near her panties on my watch.
And, until she’s fully on her feet again, I’m the only one allowed to carry her, even if it kills me. And it probably will.
I’m just trying to protect her. Since Chase isn’t here, someone’s got to make sure Daisy doesn’t get into trouble.
And then there’s the matter of the Great Crutch Conspiracy.
“So how’d you manage to lose your crutch three days ago? We had to get a new one.”
