Page 11 of Wrong Number, Right Single Dad
I glance up from the kitchen sink to find Jared filling the doorframe. My heart hitches. How does this man possibly look this sexy after spending a weekend running out of fake burning buildings and carrying fake crying babies to safety?
Or, whatever it is firefighters do during training and recertification weekends.
I moisten my suddenly dry lips. “What is what?”
“That.” He jabs his finger.
I follow its direction to the kitchen island where Mr. Gold IV is happily swimming in his tank. And next to him, is a small cage.
“Oh.” I beam at him brightly. “That’s Spike.”
His eyes widen. “Spike?”
“Well, we’re also toying with the name Tater Tot. Hannah wanted to call him Spike after we found him at the pet store. But now, after spending a couple nights with him, we’ve had a change of heart.” I cock my head to the side. “Did you know hedgehogs like tater tots?”
“No, I can’t say I did,” he draws out slowly. “To be honest, I don’t know much about hedgehogs. Everything I have learned has been against my will.”
I chuckle. “I’m sure. Hannah is a fount of information about hedgehogs.”
“There is one thing I have always known about them.”
“And what’s that?”
“That I specifically told Hannah she had to wait till she was older to get one.”
“Yeah, about that.” I wince inwardly. “So when we went to the pet store to,” I crane my neck to make sure no one else is standing in the hallway, “adopt the next Mr. Gold, I needed to distract her.”
“So you promised her a hedgehog.”
“Not exactly. I just took her to see them,” I say, planting my fists on my hips. “They’d just gotten this little guy in. The clerk asked if we wanted to meet him. I didn’t see the harm, and, well…”
“Daddy, Daddy!” Hannah rushes into the kitchen and throws her arms around his waist. She leans back, a bright smile on her face. “Have you met Tater Tot?”
His dark brows knit together. “I thought his name was Spike.”
“We changed it after he ate a whole tater tot.” Her eyes grow wide. “Did you know hedgehogs like tater tots?”
“So I’ve learned. What else have you two been up to?” He glances at me over her head. “Do you have any other surprises for me?”
“Don’t worry, Daddy.” She gives him another squeeze and he stares down at her again with genuine affection.
My own heart seems to clench with her hug. It’s so sweet seeing how much they love each other. It almost makes mewonder what it would have been like to grow up with a father like Jared.
It makes me wonder what it would be like to raise kids with a man like him.
Hannah’s grin takes on a mischievous edge. “It’s not anything you won’t like.”
He darts a worried look my way. “What the he…ck does that mean?”
“It means…. I made you something.” She releases her hold on him. “But I have to finish it first. So no peeking.”
“Oh.” He releases a breath. “You made me something. That’s good. That’s nice.”
“And Delaney is making us both something too.”
The tension is back on his face. It’s all I can do not to laugh. “She is?”
“Yep.” Hannah turns on her heel and races back down the hall. “Remember, Daddy, no peeking.”
