Page 14 of Wrong Number, Right Single Dad
“Are you okay?”
Jared clears his throat and moves behind me, no doubt to hide the evidence of what I just felt pressed against me.
“We’re great.” He grins at her. “We’re just finishing the French toast.”
“Uh huh.” She looks at me, eyes narrowed. “Why are you breathing like that?”
“I’m just really excited about this French toast,” I say too brightly. “What have you got there?”
Distracted—for now—she holds up the sheet of paper. “It’s a drawing I made of the Aquarium. Daddy said he’d take me today.”
“That’s really nice of your Daddy,” I say. “And it’s a beautiful picture.”
“I drew you in it too.” She turns to her father. “Daddy, can Delaney come with us? I just know she’ll love it too.”
“Oh, I don’t want to interfere with your time together.”
“You wouldn’t,” she insists. “We want you to come. Right Daddy?”
And then she sticks her bottom lip out, and I know neither of us will be able to say no to her sweet face.
SIX
JARED
We’ve already been to the aquarium at least twenty times. But this trip might be my favorite.
There’s something so fun about watching Hannah bounce from tank to tank. The way she presses her face to the glass, as if being so close will help her take it all in better.
The way she traces little pictures on the glass with her fingers, as if she’s somehow communicating with the marine life swimming on the other side.
There’s also Delaney.
It’s nice having someone to share a grin with over Hannah’s antics.
And though we’ve touched each other in infinitely more intimate ways, there’s something about the brush of her hand against mine.
The way it makes my pulse quicken.
The way it makes me want more.
Like the kiss this morning. It wasn’t supposed to happen. We laid out clear rules from the start. But I can’t forget the way it felt to taste her. To feel her melt into me.
The way we fit so well together.
The way the scent of her coconut body lotion still clings to me hours later.
It makes me want to take her hand. To feel her pulse thrum against mine.
“Daddy!” Hannah races back to take both our hands. “Come look. It’s a sea cucumber!”
“I see it, sweetheart.” I squint at the tank. “It looks squishier than the cucumbers we usually eat.”
Delaney blanches next to me. “Great. I think I’m off eating cucumbers ever again.”
“Oh, come on. They’re not so bad. Just make sure you eat one that isn’t so squishy.”
“Could you please stop talking about squishy cucumbers? You’re going to ruin my appetite.”
