Page 44 of Keeping the Single Dad
“No. I want to…I mean, not that I want this to be a thing…It’s definitely not a thing…but, I’d like to see Brodie again.” Her curious gaze flickered to mine. “I didn’t think you’d want me to.”
“I do.” I moved to the door. “My sister has an appointment. I can’t be late. I’ll text you my address.”
Throwing back the duvet, she patted the spot next to her. “Are you sure you have to rush off?”
The smoldering heat in her eyes made me stiffen. Damn it. This woman was divine. What I wouldn’t give to climb back into that bed. Rachel would roast me alive if I was late. I’d already dropped Brodie on her for the wedding. It took every effort, not to get back into the bed.
I kissed the tip of her nose. “I’m sorry. Daddy duties.”
“I understand. I like it when you’re Daddy.” She gave me a seductive smile that turned into a chuckle. “And you never need to apologize for being a good dad to your son.” She smiled warmly and cupped my cheek. “You’re sure about later? You’re happy for me to spend time with Brodie?”
She held her smile in place, but vulnerability lurked in the green depths of her eyes. Did this matter to her? What were we doing here, exactly? This couldn’t end up anywhere good. Lana had joked about fuck buddies, but I’d never done casual. Lana didn’t want to open up or get close, but I couldn’t deny how much I wanted her. It wasn’t just sex. I wanted to be around her—to take care of her. I wanted to put a smile back on her face when that sadness crept around her beautiful eyes.
There were so many reasons to put a stop to this. She was half my age. We were at different stages in our lives. This couldn’t end up anywhere but heartache, but every scrap of time I spent with her left me craving more. It didn’t have to be heavy. That’s not what Lana wanted. It didn’t have to be a big thing with Brodie, either. I couldn’t risk him getting attached and then abandoned, but I was allowed to have friends. Brodie had met my friends. I wouldn’t let him get attached. I couldn’t stop my gaze from roving over her tangle of wild red hair and her bright green eyes. Maybe, I needed something light in my life for once. Someone like Lana.
Chapter 23
Lana
Alex’simmensestonehousedominated the surrounding countryside. Huge and impressive, like its owner. I cursed under my breath as my heeled boots crunched over the sweeping gravel driveway. This place must have cost a fortune. Male Premier League footballers got paid astronomical wages, while the women who played the same game got a fraction. I’d kick up another fuss about it next time I saw Gabe. To give him his due, Gabe paid us better than most of the other women’s teams in the country, but I wouldn’t be happy until we could all afford bloody castles, too.
I had to deposit the bags of presents I’d brought for Brodie on the floor in order to ring the doorbell. A sudden surge of nerves erupted in my chest. I’d met Brodie for five seconds in that playground. He might not like me, and then what? Alex wouldn’t want to see me again if his son didn’t want me around. I tried to shake the nerves away. What did it matter? It wasn’t as if I wanted anything serious with Alex, anyway. This was fun and done. Apart from the fact that I’d let him stay over and now I was here playing happy families. This wasn’t me. What the hell was I doing?
The door swung open. Alex's heated gaze traveled downward over the camel shift dress and court shoes I’d borrowed from Mel’s wardrobe, and when I say borrowed, I mean swiped the last time I’d visited her apartment. Dressing more like Mel had seemed like a good idea at the time. I had no idea how to make a good impression on Brodie but a smart outfit had to be a good start, right?
A smile pulled at Alex’s lips. “You look…different.”
“Different good?”
He stepped aside to let me in. “You always look good.”
I peered past Alex down the hallway. “Where is Brodie?”
“He’s glued to his games console. I’ll have to send a team of stampeding horses to drag him away.”
I passed him the box with the chocolate cake.
He raised an eyebrow. “What’s this?”
‘It’s a chocolate cake...homemade.”
“I hope you didn’t go to any trouble.”
I shrugged. “It was nothing.”
Lies. It had taken all day. This was the third attempt, and it still looked terrible. It had been so bad, I’d been tempted to call Skylar, but I doubted she’d appreciate an international call on her honeymoon just to explain how to encourage a cake to rise higher than a centimeter.
“I also brought Brodie some things.”
I passed Alex the bag of stuff I’d bought from the kids’ section in the supermarket. I’d played it safe and filled the shopping cart with books and games that the assistant had deemed suitable for a seven-year-old.
Alex peered inside the bag.
“What is it? Did I get the wrong stuff?”
“No. Nothing is wrong.” He wore an uncertain expression as he studied my face. “You didn’t have to buy all this. Is everything okay?” He held out his hands to take my coat. “Is this worrying you? If it’s too much, you can come around later once Brodie has gone to bed…”
I slipped off my coat and passed it to Alex. “I want to make a good impression with Brodie. It’s important to me.”
