Page 8 of The Single Dad Dilemma

“I’m a few credits shy of my degree, and the tuition money my granny left me is depleted, so the only way I can go back to school on time is to find a position for the summer that not only covers my normal bills but also pays for tuition. And I don’t know if you’ve seen the job market, but that’s hard to come by. Especially when you tell them you’re leaving in three months.” I huff a breath. Okay, maybe I got a little frazzled there at the end, but I’m just being honest with the man.

The corners of Ridge’s mouth curl up, and the wry grin reaches all the way to his eyes, painting his face something akin to amused.

“I can very much appreciate that brand of honesty,” he says.

“Um, is there a different kind?” I ask, a smile growing over my own lips.

“I didn’t think there was until today.”

He leans over the desk a bit closer to me, looking down to his right. I follow his gaze to see the top of a little girl’s head, her focus on something in her lap. He speaks more quietly than before.

“The woman I interviewed before you told me she fell in love with the father of the child she was nannying. And so the mother-slash-wife fired her,” he says.

He leans back into his chair again, his eyes wide with shock. “Like what is she thinking? It wasn’t a dating profile.”

Hey, that’s what I just told myself.And while I completely agree with him that she massively overshared, I also want to be like, “Okay, but have you ever seen yourself?”

“Hi,” a little voice says. The little girl’s head pops up from behind the desk, only this time her attention is on us and I can see her face.

“Hello,” I say back. She’s a ridiculously cute thing with dark brown hair pulled back into pigtails and the same brown eyes as her father. Her hair is a bit lighter than his, and it makes me think maybe her mother has lighter hair. And speaking of the missus, where is she? And how do I ask that in any sort of appropriate way?

“What’s your name?” she asks.

“My name is Darcy. And you are?”

“I’m Louise. But everyone calls me Lou.”

“Oh, I like Louise. I like Lou, too. It’s very cool.”

“Thanks,” she says. “Have you heard about the pangolins?”

“Um, no, I don’t think so. But if you’d like to teach me, I would love to hear all about them.” I make a mental note to do my research on pangolins if I land this position.

“Would you like a snack?” she asks.

She shifts gears quickly, I’ll give her that.

“No, thank you,” I say. “But I wonder if you happen to have a bottle of water, maybe?”

Lou looks to her dad, who gives her a nod, presumably signaling that she can go get one for me. She exits behind me as she hums a tune I don’t recognize.

“She’s a big fan of nature and animal documentaries,” Ridge says.

There’s a sheepish tone to his voice, but there’s no doubt he’s a proud dad.

“I love that,” I say. “And how amazing to have such complex interests at her age.”

“I wish I could say it’s been great, but it doesn’t come without its challenges,” he says with a sigh.

“What do you mean?” I tilt my head toward him, stricken with curiosity.

“I suppose it’s my turn to be honest with you.” He clasps his hands together on the desk in front of him.

I make a mental note of the ring on his right thumb and another on the middle finger of his left hand and no wedding band in sight.Gah, that shouldn’t matter to you!

“Lou has been kicked out of every daycare in the city,” he says. “Well, all the ones I’m willing to send her to.”

“For what?” I ask.

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