Page 58 of Dirty Deeds

Her gaze snaps back to me.

“I do,” she replies. “It’s just for the last few years that dream has felt so out of reach.”

“And now?”

“And now I’m sitting on a child’s swing set, staring at a yard full of toys with a man who is everything I could’ve hoped for and I’m afraid to believe in the dream again.” She licks her lips. “I can see it, you know? Watching you with Anna, putting this thing together, I can see you as a dad. I can see you coming home from work, a bunch of kids running to you, and as tired as you are, you give them all your attention. You build the toys. You play the games. You help with bath time and you’re there to give goodnight kisses.”

My chest goes tight, and I force a swallow.

“You’re one of the good ones.”

Releasing her hand, I climb off the swing. I crouch down in front of her and place my hands on her thighs. Our eyes lock, and I spot the tears shining in hers.

“You don’t have to be afraid to believe in the dream.” I give her thighs a squeeze, then I lean forward and capture her lips with mine. She wraps her arms around my neck and returns the kiss. When we pull apart, I thumb away a tear that escapes the corner of her eye. “Permission to retract my original answer?”

“What?”

“I want five kids.”

Because four babies wouldn’t be enough if she’s the one giving them to me.

* * *

I was breakingdown her defenses, restoring her faith in men, and making her believe that not all relationships were shit little by little and I was doing it while killing her anxiety at the same time.

She didn’t check the sideview mirror every two minutes to see if we were being followed when we left Nico and Carrie’s and when I suggested we still take the trip to Brooklyn for spumoni ices, she didn’t put up a fight.

I tip the server, grab our ices and turn to find Danica sitting at one of the wooden tables with her phone pressed against her ear. She ends the call just as I reach the table.

“That was a private investigator that works for your lawyer,” she reveals, taking the ice I offer her.

Taking a seat across from her, I ask, “Is everything okay?”

I haven’t had a chance to call Finley about that yet. With it being the weekend and all, I planned to do it first thing Monday morning, but it seems like these people never rest.

“Yes, he asked if I could drop by the office and sign the affidavit tomorrow.” She takes a lick of her ice. “I said yes. I’ll probably go early, I have some work I’ve been neglecting, so I plan on dedicating the afternoon to getting some stuff crossed off my to-do list. Then I have a webinar at four, but I was thinking, if you’re not too tired after work, maybe you could come by. I can cook us dinner. Although I should probably warn you my culinary skills are pretty basic. You’re not going to get any homemade pasta out of me.” She winks, taking another lick of her ice.

“If I’m too tired…” I shake my head. “Woman, I could be exhausted, and I’d never turn down an invitation to spend time with you. It’d be the highlight of my day and give me something to look forward to. And you don’t have to cook, I’ll grab us something on my way over.”

She lowers her hand with the ice and cocks her head to the side.

“Are you real?”

I laugh, take a swipe of my ice. “You have a packed day. You don’t need to be cooking for me. Do you like sushi?”

“I love it.”

“Good. There’s a place not far from the jobsite that makes the best specialty rolls. I can stop after work. Do you mind if I shower at your house?”

She just stares at me, the ice dripping all over her fingers.

“Danica?”

“I’m sorry,” she says, shaking her head. “I think I just fell in love with you.”

Her cheeks flame as she diverts her attention to the mess the ice is making.

Her words are meant as a joke, but they fuel a desire I didn’t know existed inside of me. I want Danica to love me. I want her to fall so deeply in love that she forgets every man that came before me.

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