Page 12 of Single Dad Dilemma

“Good choice. These are my favorite.” I reach into the case with tissue paper, pick it up, and hand it over.

She takes it happily and, without wasting any time, takes a big bite. Chocolate smooshes all over her face on both sides of her mouth, and I can’t hold back my giggle.

Carson joins in, but when I look at him, he’s tearing his eyes from me again, directing them back to Margo. I wonder why he keeps doing that? Is he simply checking me out? Does he maybe want to ask me something but keeps changing his mind?

“So what are my two favorite people up to today?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest, suddenly feeling nervous about the way he keeps looking at me.

“Daddy says he has to work in the garage today, so I have to sit in there all day.” She rolls her eyes.

I smile and look up at Carson. He shrugs. “I have to get some work done and you can’t be in the house all alone.”

She sighs. “Can’t Violet come over? She can sit with me and we can play.”

My eyes suddenly meet his. “Oh, uh…well, Violet has to work, right?” he asks, pulling his brows together.

“Well, I mean, Jane is here and she can handle everything. If you want me to, I can.”

“No, I couldn’t ask you to do that,” he says, brushing it off.

But Margo has other ideas. “Come on, Dad. She said she could,” she nearly begs.

I smile. “Really, it’s no problem. I’d love to play with you today, Margo.” I bend down to her level now.

“Yay!!”

I laugh and stand back up. “Really, it’ll be fun,” I tell Carson.

He shrugs. “Alright. If that’s what you both want.”

“It is,” Margo says matter-of-factly.

“I guess we’ll see you there when you can get away.”

I nod, waving them goodbye as he takes her hand and leads her out to the truck.

I spin around and rush to the kitchen where Jane is preparing to bring out another tray of donuts.

“Jane, I have to go,” I tell her, rushing to get my purse.

“What? Why?” she asks, pausing and setting the tray down.

“Carson and Margo were just in here. I’m going to go to their place and babysit Margo for the day. Can you handle things around here?”

“Oh, yeah. Go.” She shoos me off.

I push the swinging door open, but she calls after me and I spin around to face her.

She smiles wide and seductively. “Go get him.”

I roll my eyes. “Ugh, seriously. You’re a child,” I say, but mentally, I’m in total agreement.

I climb behind the wheel of my car and decide to swing by my place to get on something more comfortable that isn’t covered in icing and flour. In my room, I change at least ten times. Everything I try on is all wrong. I want to look good for Carson, of course, but I also have to look casual. I end up settling on a pair of tight skinny jeans, my white converse, and faded gray T-shirt that has a Ford logo on it. It doesn’t slip by me that he drives a Ford truck. I let my hair down, and it falls down my back in long, dark waves from being tied up all day. Then I slap on a coat of mascara and some lip gloss. I add a little perfume and hit the door.

I’m pulling up in their drive thirty minutes later.

Margo comes running out of the garage. “Violet!” she yells as she throws her arms wide open. She runs into me, wrapping her arms tightly around my hips in a hug. Moments later, Carson is walking out with a smile of his own.

“Alright, Margo. Don’t crush her.” He comes to a stop directly in front of me.

---