Page 57 of Almost Always

He nodded as she took off her sneakers and led the way to the kitchen where Cal was standing on his helping stool as he attempted to stuff the entire bouquet into a mason jar. Seeing him struggle, Daisy was there suggesting what he could do instead. Rafferty appreciated that she didn’t do it for him, but told him what could be done. As the two of them cut off the twine and separated the flowers, he watched in awe at how comfortable they were with each other. When they were done, five mason jars had been filled with flowers and his kitchen was the most colorful it had ever been.

“Thank you, Miss Daisy.”

“You’re most welcome.” She brushed his hair back and Rafferty decided that he no longer needed his heart because she was hell bent on destroying him. “So, what’s for dinner?”

“Dad said we’re cooking together.”

“Did he say what we’re making?”

They turned to him with matching expressions of curiosity. “How do we feel about meatballs?”

“Like Nonna’s meatball bake?”

Daisy’s eyes lit up at the reminder. “Oh, I loved Nonna’s bake.”

“Please, Daddy. Can we make that?” Cal said, eyes big and cute.

“Yeah,Daddy. Please?” she echoed, fluttering her lashes with a naughty smile.

For fuck’s sake.

He growled under his breath, but nodded as his son climbed off his stool and pushed it to the other side. When he was busy looking at the recipe, Rafferty attempted to glare as she sidled up to him with bright eyes.

“You’re trouble,” he whispered.

“You like it.”

“Iloveit.”

She hummed, squeezed his arm and moved away. He tipped his head back and silently begged the Lady upstairs to cut him some slack.Any amount would do, just some.

CHAPTER 18

Never in the nine years that he’d been a father did he think that someone other than his son would call himDaddy. Then Daisy said it in the most seductive voice known to mankind and he was eager to hear it again. He didn’t expect it to have the effect it did, but it made him hard and lightheaded all at once. Which was really bad since he was supposed to be helping make dinner.

Thankfully she kept Cal occupied while they prepped the ingredients so he could put the flowers in different places around the house. He took more than a minute to calm himself down. His pile of pending designs and the first time he discovered his grandmother wore fake teeth were definitely good ways to stop his jeans from getting too tight.

By the time he returned, Daisy was adding all the vegetables into the pan and Cal was bored. He sat on the counter and nibbled on a cooked meatball. Boots was standing at his feet, but didn’t get even a single crumb. His son was very diligent about what he was eating and he wasn’t going to share. He stepped in to help and she moved out of the way, her delectable ass rubbing against his crotch in the process. Rafferty stifled a groan, fighting everything to stay where he was.

When they’d flirted the night before, the light touches and the way they sat, he hadn’t imagined that this was what it would eventually turn into. Now he was still so overwhelmed with his feelings that he didn’t trust himself to be anywhere close to her. Especially with Cal mere feet away. While the food cooked, he gathered bowls and cutlery. Daisy and his son were talking softly, giggles reaching him as he set everything on the counter.

“Dad, can we watch a movie during dinner?”

“Sure,” he said.

“How about Callahan and I choose a movie while Daddy finishes getting dinner ready?”

He narrowed his eyes at her grin, but nodded. The two of them ran off, teasing each other as he added in the pasta and stirred everything together. With the lid on, he lowered the heat so it could continue cooking. He piled all the used dishes into the sink to soak them and hummed as he wiped down the surfaces. As he started washing everything, Cal came running back.

“Miss Daisy says we should watchShrek.”

He chuckled. “Of course she did.”

“She said it’s got dragons and princesses and ogres and a talking donkey?” Cal made a face.

“It will change your life, Cal!” she called from the living room and his son giggled.

“She’s awesome,” he stage-whispered and then rushed back to where she was. Rafferty blew out a breath and closed his eyes. Over the years, he’d met beautiful women and went on a few dates. None of them ever got past that first time though. Partly because he didn’t see them fitting into the life he’d built with Cal, but also because even though he wasdating, he wasn’t looking for a partner. After Zara, he’d been cautious about letting anyone in. He didn’t know if he’d survive a broken heart while helping his son through one as well.

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