Page 76 of The Single Dads Club
I roll my eyes so hard, I’m slightly nervous they may never come back down. “You know what I mean, Dak. I’m asking what the story is. You know, was she a girlfriend? Or ... a wife?”
“What’s it matter to you?” His tone is gruff as he folds his arms over his toned chest. “For the past ten years you’ve practically plugged your ears every time I mentioned Lex. Now you suddenly want to know all the dirty details of his life. What gives?”
Okay, so I guess he did notice that.
I straighten and finish drying another glass.Play it cool, Corrigan.“I think it’s reasonable to want to know the origin story of the little girl I’m suddenly responsible for.”
Dak lifts a brow, his lips barely hinting at a smile. “So you took the nannying gig?”
“I guess so.”
“What do you mean, you guess so? Either you accepted it or you didn’t. Which is it?”
“I’m not answering your questions if you aren’t answering mine. Whatever happened to Grier’s mom? Was she, like, a criminal or something? Or did he end up a dad the old-fashioned way—somebody left baby Grier on his stoop in the middle of the night?”
Dak shakes his head. “Two very interesting theories, drama queen, but they’re both wrong. It’s not my story to tell, though. You should just talk to Lex about it.”
I squirm on my bar stool, remembering how I so blatantly asked about Grier’s mother when I first ran into Lexington in the park. A move that bold might not bear repeating. But if I can’t get any answers out of Dak, I might not have a choice.
“Yeah, maybe I will,” I mumble, sliding the now dry pint glasses back across the bar to him. “Thanks.”
“No, thankyou,” he says. “For helping out here and for helping out Lex. He really needs another set of hands, and I know you could always use some extra cash in the summer.”
“Speaking of, what’s the family and friends discount on those cheese fries?” I ask, giving him my best puppy-dog eyes.
Dak chuckles, tossing his dishrag over his shoulder as he shakes his head. “For you? They’re on the house. A favor for a favor.”
Chapter Ten
Lexington
When the doorbell rings, Grier shrieks and runs ahead of me to the front door. I hold back a laugh as she stretches to reach the knob, fails, and turns to pout at me like I purposely put it too high. Have I mentioned that my daughter is pure sass?
“It’s okay, love bug. Daddy’s here to help,” I say as I pull open the door, expecting Corrigan.
Grier stomps her chubby little feet in a rapid display of frustration. “Me wanna do it!”
“Hi. What’s the problem?” Corrigan asks, brows scrunching as she takes in the scene—me trying not to smile and Grier obviously mad.
“She just ... uh ...” I trail off when I actually get a look at her.Holy shit.The sight of Corrigan makes my breath catch in my throat.
Her outfit isn’t anything flashy—a pale blue striped tank top and a pair of cotton drawstring shorts—so no reason for me to be struck dumb. And yet here I am, acting dumb as hell.
I clear my throat and try not to stare so obviously at her cleavage and those long, bare legs. She’sstunningdressed in so little.And ... I realize belatedly, she’s still waiting for me to answer.Smooth, Lex..
“She’s mad she’s too short to answer the door.”
“Oh, I see.” Corrigan smiles at Grier and bends over to talk closer, which doesn’t make it easier to stop my gaze from lowering, but I force my eyes off her tits. “I understand. It’s tough when you want to do something and you can’t, huh?”
For a second, I’m reminded of what Mom said in the ER two days ago, and it sobers me like ice water.
That is, until Grier crosses her arms over her chest and says, “Yeah. Don’t like it.”
Corrigan smiles warmly down at Grier and ruffles her hair.
I shift my weight, moving aside to let Corrigan in past the door. “She’s been really looking forward to seeing you.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet. I’m excited to hang out with her today too.”
