Page 28 of Single Dad Dilemma

He doesn’t reply. He only leans down and brushes his lips against mine. The kiss starts out slow and sweet but quickly becomes heated and rushed. I give myself over to him, enjoying the way his body feels pressed against mine.

“Daddy?” Margo says, and the two of us quickly pull away. “Violet!” She comes running for me.

I pick her up in my arms.

“Why you kissing Daddy?” she asks, brows drawn together in confusion.

“Well, I like your daddy, and we’re going to see if we like being together for a while. Is that okay with you?”

She smiles wide and nods. “Does that mean you’re going to start coming over again?”

I laugh and so does Carson. “Yes, I’ll be over here all of the time. I’ve missed hanging out with you.”

“I miss you too.” She squeezes me into a tight hug.

“Come on, monster. Let’s get back in bed, and you can see Violet tomorrow,” Carson says, taking her from me.

She peeks at me from over his shoulder as he carries her away. Her little hand comes up and waves goodbye. I smile and wave back as I follow them into the house. I sit on the couch, waiting.

Carson is back within moments, and he comes to sit at my side. “Now, where were we?” He places his arm behind me on the couch and turns to face me, but I lean in and capture his lips with mine once again.

His hand comes up to cup my cheek, and he holds me against him, deepening the kiss. The next thing I know, I’m in his arms and being carried to the bedroom where we spend the rest of the night.

I wake earlyin the morning, and Carson gets up to show me to the door since I have to get to work. At the door, he pulls me back. “Promise that you’ll be back tonight. We’ll have dinner together again and talk some more.”

I smile and nod. “See you later.”

Work drags by. I have hopes of seeing him again. I try to think how our future could be. We not only have this extreme attraction, but we fall deeply in love. Margo would become the daughter I’ve always dreamed of. And then we’d have this little baby I’m carrying. I can see us living out a happy life, with all of us playing in the kitchen. I try out every one of new recipes on them. We’d get married, grow old together, watch the kids go off to college, and get our happily ever after. Maybe it’s silly for meto be thinking this way so soon, but I’ve always been a dreamer. It’s what keeps me going even on my worst days, that tomorrow will always be better.

I have an awkward conversation with Jane about why I’m wearing the same clothes two days in a row, but she’s happy, maybe even overly happy, about the turn of events. The moment I’m able to leave the bakery, I do. I go by my house, shower, dress, and get ready for the evening. While I’m home, I throw in a load of clothes to wash and take out the trash. Around five, I find myself unable to wait any longer, and I get in the car to make the drive over.

“Violet! Violet!” Margo says the moment I walk in the door. She comes running at me and throws her arms around my neck the moment I drop down to one knee to catch her. “I’m soooo glad you came back.”

“I told you I would,” I coo in her ear.

“Daddy is making spaghetti for dinner. I love sketti!”

I laugh. “Well, let’s go see if he needs a hand, huh?”

She releases me and takes my hand, pulling me into the kitchen. “Look who’s here!” she announces.

Carson turns around with a laugh. “How was your day?” he asks, leaning in for a kiss.

“Slow,” I confess.

“I’m making spaghetti, but feel free to put your magic touch on the sauce.” He gives me a blinding smile.

The three of us get busy with making dinner and then we all sit around the table, eating our spaghetti, salad, and garlic bread. Margo tells us about her day at daycare, and Carson and I talk about our days. I tell him about the bakery having a sudden rush on blueberry muffins that left me making more in the middle of the day, and he tells me about where he’s at on the boat process. I don’t understand much of it or the terms he uses, but I smile and nod along like I understand it all. He’s alreadyplanning on taking it out on the water soon to try it out, and Margo and I both volunteer to come along.

After dinner, Margo rushes upstairs to get her bath, and I help him clean up the kitchen. Then we crash on the couch to relax while Margo plays in front of us.

“Have you been to the doctor yet?”

I nod. “I’m due in April.”

He nods in acknowledgement. “And what are your plans?”

“What do you mean?” I ask, tilting my head.

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