Page 19 of Make You Stay

Now it’s my turn to smile. While I won’t admit it, for fear of sounding like an egotistical ass, I recall a busty blonde hovering in my vicinity during our recent jaunt to the store. “Nice thought, but I doubt that highly.”

“Why do you doubt it?”

“What’s so special about me?” Yes, I’m curious to know how Chloe sees me since I noticed she never mentioned ifsheis one of the women glancing my way.

“You’re a good man. You adore your girls, which means you’d likely treat a woman with the same respect and affection. Hell, you even have a great relationship with your ex-wife. That is rare.”

“Hmm.”

“Like unicorn farting rainbows rare.”

I bark out a laugh, shooting her a narrowed gaze. “That’s likely the strangest compliment I’ve ever received. Wait, was that even a compliment?”

“Yes, Aidan. Keep up.”

Resting the drill on the sawhorse, I cross my arms, eager to stay on this subject. “I like this conversation. Tell me some more good things about me.”

“Ha. No.”

“You brought it up. It’s only fair.”

“What a crock of shit. You just want me to stroke your ego,” Chloe replies as she strolls into the adjacent room.

I’d really like you to stroke something else.

I lean back, catching her dark gaze. “Maybe, but tell me, anyway. I deserve a few accolades after saving you from a conversation liability pit.”

Chloe tosses back her head, that tinkling sound escaping her mouth. God, I love her laugh. “Fine, but I’m not repeating this information, so listen up.”

She clears her throat, and I prepare for yet another pithy comment. It’s par for the course where Chloe is concerned. “Not only are you nice and talented, but you’re also very good-looking. Don’t think I haven’t noticed what’s hiding under that shirt. What woman doesn’t love a hot body, covered in a thin sheen of sweat, playing with power tools?”

Well, that got my attention, along with the blush crawling up Chloe’s cheeks.

“You think I have a hot body?”

“Without a doubt.” With a cheeky wink, she disappears down the hallway as I take several breaths to center myself, running through every reason I need to stick with my current rule.

Only issue?

My rulebook never planned on Chloe.

* * *

Chloe makesme lunch every day, but it isn’t something basic like a ham sandwich on a paper plate. She insists on putting out a spread, and she has proven to be a gourmet in the kitchen. I cook because it’s a necessity, but it was never my strong suit. Just ask my girls their opinion of my cooking—they’ll tell you all about it.

“That was delicious, thank you.” I lean back in the chair, studying Chloe’s face—the high cheekbones, wide eyes framed by dark lashes, full mouth, and smooth skin—and can’t fathom how she’s still single. “Why don’t you have kids? I think you’d be an excellent mother.”

I didn’t mean to be that forthright, but it’s the truth. Many women lack a true maternal instinct, but Chloe isn’t one of them. She’s terrific with my girls, and I know they adore her.

She’s also sexy as fuck and smart as a whip. Basically, every man’s dream.

It makes zero sense why she’s still on the market.

“I always wanted kids. I was scared for a long time, terrified I would do what Betsey did to me. That it was somehow innate in my DNA. Then I met Charlie. He had two boys—two and three. Their mother had left them in much the same way Betsey left me, so I stepped into the mom role.”

Impressive. My opinion of her bumped up a few notches, and trust me, it was already high. “That’s not an easy thing to do, especially not when they’re so young.”

“I didn’t mind. After Betsy deserted me, I suffered from a deep sense of inadequacy. Didn’t believe I should put my needs first. Didn’t feel I deserved to be first since I wasn’t with my own mother, right? Anyway, I broached the topic of having another child, but Charlie had no interest in it.”

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