“It’s a place where people can sleep when they’re on vacation,or traveling, or maybe even when they just want to spend a night away from their homes.”
Oliver turns to Ella. “Can we stay at a hotel?”
Ella smooths a hand over Oliver’s hair. “Maybe someday. But hotels cost money, sweetheart. I’ll try and save up for a special night at Leo’s hotel, okay?”
Oliver claps his hands in delight. “Yay! So what do you do at the hotel?”
“Whatever needs doing.”
Ella’s eyes narrow. “You need to be more specific than that, Leo.”
I grin, giving her a wink. I’ve never winked this much in my life, but each time I do, Ella blushes. “I know. I do lots of things. Sometimes I fix appliances, like what I did for your dryer. I work outside, making sure everything works all around the hotel. And I’m in charge of keeping the internet working. You know how you watch videos on Ella’s phone?”
Oliver nods. “I likeBluey.”
I smother a laugh. “I know. Well, that’s on the internet. I keep the internet going at the hotel so everyone can watch whatever they want. EvenBluey.”
“So you’re busy a lot?” Oliver asks.
I nod. “I like to stay busy.”
“What else do you do besides work?”
“I exercise a lot. Hiking, running, lifting weights.” Jesus. My life literally consists of work and exercise. I’m leading such an exciting existence.
Oliver’s face drops. “Oh.”
“What’s that face for?” I ask, taking a big bite of my sandwich.
“I thought maybe you could be my daddy. But you’re too busy.”
Inhaling quickly, part of the sandwich gets lodged in my throat, making me cough harshly. Ella stands, rushing to me, hitting me on the back a few times. Tears fill my eyes as I frantically grab my water, choking some down to clear my throat.
“Are you okay?” Ella asks, her eyes full of worry.
I nod, but I’m honestly not sure. “That’s not what I thought he’d say.”
She rubs my back briefly before returning to her seat. Turning to Oliver, she quietly says, “That’s not how it works, sweetheart.”
“I don’t have a dad, and he doesn’t have a kid, so I thought itcouldwork.” Oliver’s expression is so earnest, so innocent, that it breaks my heart. Poor kid doesn’t have a father, he lost his mother, and he’s here asking me to step in.
“Listen, Oliver,” I state, standing to approach him. Kneeling down, I continue. “What you said is true. I don’t have a kid. And you’re a pretty special kid. I may not be able to fill the daddy role, but I can be your very special friend Leo. I don’t have any friends that are kids, so it would be new for both of us. How does that sound?”
He looks skeptically at me. “Could we have sleepovers? I’m gonna want to sleep in that cool room again.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” I say with a chuckle.
Ilook at the clock, willing it to be further along than the last time I looked. Shit. Three-fifteen. Literally only five minutes have passed since I looked. I can’t will my mind to calm down.
I’ve always been incredibly lucky in the sleep department. It’s like there’s a switch in my brain, and when it’s time to sleep, I simply turn it off. Not tonight, however. Ella is in my house. All I can think about is wondering what she’s wearing. How I’ll probably creepily smell the sheets when she’s gone to see if they have her vanilla scent.
Sighing, I flip so I’m on my stomach, staring at the clock on my nightstand. Only three-sixteen now. Christ almighty. Should I count sheep? SingNinety-Nine Bottles of Beer on the Wall? HumtheJeopardytune for Final Jeopardy? I bet none of it works, because a room across the house holds the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and she may or may not be wearing next to nothing.
Occasionally, Ella would break out lingerie. It would be a sexy nightgown, or a matching bra and panties set. Never anything out of her comfort zone, which I loved about her. I don’t need bondage or things that make no sense. I always wanted her to feel confident. But, in all honesty, what I liked best was when she wore one of my tee shirts to bed. It was, without a doubt, the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.
I have a feeling, though, had that phone call we just had been a video call, it would have been sexier than anything I could ever imagine.
“Shit,” I groan, feeling my dick come to attention. Just the thought of her in my tee shirt, and it’s trying to force its way through the mattress. Rolling over, I palm it through my comforter, willing it to calm down.
