Page 95 of Mr. Almost

He strokes my head as I sniffle, my crying coming to a stop.

“It’s not just you. I need to work on things too. We will do it together. It’s a two-way street.”

Pulling back from him, I kiss his lips gently. He reaches up, brushing my tears away.

“Can I get back to work now?” I ask him.

“Of course. I think I’ll go pick up Ari early now that my meeting is canceled. See you later?”

“Of course. See you at home.”

As we walk out of the office together, I can’t help but think about how, for a minute there, I really thought that we were done.

If this is what a healthy relationship looks like, then I’m glad I gave Mason another chance.

MASON

“I need to borrow our daughter for a little bit this evening. I think youshould make plans with Chloe,” I tell Olivia when I get to her place on Friday morning.

I thought I had almost lost her on Tuesday. She was so angry at me, and with good reason. I was being a jealous and possessive asshole. Women only like men like that in books. They don’t want it in real life. She could have given me the boot then and not accepted my apology, but Olivia is far more forgiving than she should be. I’m grateful for it, though. It gave me another shot. When she said I was acting like my mother, it was a wake-up call I needed. She was right. I was making decisions for her instead of with her.

I didn’t miss how she said that the office still gives her bad memories. I’m surprised she even came up to visit me the day she laid her claim. It wasn’t until she said it that I realized that was the only time she has ever visited me in my office. I thought it was because she was professional before, but now I wonder if it’s not because of how she feels about the offices in general.

“Why would that be?” Olivia asks from her spot on the couch.

I’m rolling up my shirt sleeves as I stand at the end of it. I don’t miss the way her eyes take in my forearms. It makes me want to smirk, but I don’t want to draw attention to it. I like her eyes on me. It’s that possessiveness inside of me. Makes me want to beat my chest. I just need to be better about letting her see those bits.

“I’m taking Arianna on a daddy-daughter date,” I inform her.

She quirks her head to the side. “You are? Why are you doing that?”

“I read that fathers who are involved with their daughters’ lives and who start daddy-daughter dates young teach the girls what a gentleman is supposed to be like on a date. It helps set up expectations that can help reduce the chances of her getting into an abusive or toxic relationship.”

She stands, moving toward me, placing her hands on my chest.

“Oh yeah? What else have you been reading?” she asks.

Leaning in, I nip at her chin, making her giggle.

“It also says that fathers who have a good relationship with themother and who show a healthy and loving relationship by kissing and being affectionate show the girl what type of relationship she should strive toward,” I tell her.

She smiles up at me. “Well, I think we have that down. Ari told me yesterday when I picked her up from day care that she likes that we are the only parents that seem to love one another. The other kids all make it sound like their parents hate one another.”

“Well, we are falling in love again. I’m sure that helps.”

“Can’t hurt,” she admits, kissing me.

“What are you guys doing? I’m going to be late,” Ari says from her bedroom door.

“Such a stickler for rules, huh?” Olivia teases, going over to her to pick her up. “Your father has something he wants to ask you, Bug.”

Ari looks at me with a bright smile. “What is it, Daddy?”

Taking her from Olivia, I kiss her forehead. “Would you like to go on a date tonight with me?”

Her eyes widen. “Without Mommy?”

“Yep.”

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