Page 21 of The Single Dad Dilemma

I make a note to mention it to him in secret. I don’t want to focus on the fact that mine are better, just that she prefers them thinner. Speaking of the devil, as this thought crosses me, I’m surprised when Ridge walks in. It’s earlier than usual.

“Oh, hi,” I say, glancing at the clock and then back to him. Wow, two hours early. “I didn’t know you were getting off early today.”

“Lou goes with her grandparents today. I always get off early so I can come back and pack her bag and see her before they get here,” he says.

“That’s nice.” I remember Ridge telling me that she goes to her grandparents every other weekend to visit, and I even remember him saying this first weekend after I got hired, she would be going there. I just don’t remember this part about coming home early.

“Sorry, I thought I mentioned it,” he says. “What are you fixing there?”

“Apple slices with peanut butter,” I say. “Actually, this one was for me, but if you’d like it, I can go ahead and leave and get out of your hair.”

“No, please, stay and finish your snack. If you want, you can even stay long enough to meet Alma and George.” He smiles that easy smile of his.

“Oh, I don’t want to impose.”

“No imposition at all,” he says. “Alma would love to meet you. She asks me about you at least once a day.”

“She does?”

“Yeah, I think she just has a genuine interest in someone spending time with Lou,” he says.

“Hopefully you tell her good things?” I return the comment with a smile and vaguely wonder if this seems flirtatious.

“Well, there certainly hasn’t been anything bad to tell her.” He leans way across the counter, invading my space even with an object between us.

My cheeks heat when I suddenly remember the fish in Lou’s room that she thankfully hasn’t mentioned yet.

“Hold that thought,” I say reluctantly.

Time to come clean.

ELEVEN

DARCY

Ridge’s eyes widen with concerned curiosity, but he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he presses his shoulders back like he’s bracing for whatever I’m about to say.

“As you know, Lou and I went to the pet store today,” I say, looking over at Lou, who’s purposely avoiding eye contact as she wrestles to get a glob of peanut butter onto her apple slice. Great. Her body language doesn’t exactly instill confidence.

“Yeah…” he says, looking from me to Lou and back to me with a raised eyebrow.

“Perhaps I should just show you,” I say, stepping back from the counter.

“Okay…” He follows behind me as I walk down the hallway and into Lou’s room.

I squeeze my eyes shut and point at the fish tank, my lips pressed tightly into a mangled line. Even though my eyes are closed, I can feel him come to stand next to me. I can literally feel him looking toward where I’m pointing.

I manage one eye open, trying to get a read for his reaction. His face is blank and then, slowly, it morphs into a smile.

“You got fish?” he asks.

“See what had happened was, Lou can be very convincing,” I say.

Ridge laughs deep in his belly, a warm, throaty chuckle exploding from his upturned mouth. I breathe a sigh of relief I’m sure they can hear on the other side of the city.

“You’re not mad?” I ask. “Because if you’re upset in the least, I have a backup plan.”

“You do?”

---