Page 48 of Keeping the Single Dad
“Go upstairs and get dressed, please.”
Brodie threw his hands up at the injustice and shot me a poisonous look, then raced up the stairs.
Rachel’s attempt to keep her voice casual was a poor effort. “Who’s Lana?”
“A friend.”
Rachel peered over my head up the stairs. “She’s here now?”
I twisted to check Brodie was out of earshot and leaned in to Rachel, keeping my voice low. “Lana was reading to Brodie last night, and we all fell asleep. I know what you’re thinking. It’s irresponsible. It’s too soon to have a woman stay over. I shouldn’t be introducing her to Brodie, and even then I don’t know how I would ever do that. He’s been through so much—”
“Stop.” She reached for my hand and squeezed it. Her voice was low and soft. “Don’t do that. You don’t have to explain yourself.”
I dared a glance into my sister’s eyes. “She really is just a friend.”
“Fine, and if she wasn’t…if you met someone and you wanted more than that…that’s fine, too. It’s okay. You don’t have to live like a monk for the rest of your life, just because you have a son. Evelyn wouldn’t have wanted you to be alone forever. She told you that herself. I’ll always have Brodie, if you ever want to go out or you want the house to yourself.”
She glanced up the stairs. “Why don’t I take Brodie today? Give me his swimming shorts and a towel. We’ll get out of your hair.”
No. Two kids would be hard work alone at a waterpark. “I wouldn’t ask you to do that.”
She hitched the carryall high on her shoulder. “It’s fine. Rae is a strong swimmer. I’ll keep an eye on Brodie, don’t worry.” She raised a suggestive eyebrow. “I’d take the offer if I were you. You can have the house to yourself for the rest of the day.”
Tingling excitement lit my chest. Would Lana want to stick around? I didn’t want to crowd her, but the idea of a whole day with her at my mercy made my heart pound.
Rachel shot another curious glance up the stairs and whispered, “What’s she like? This Lana?”
Divine. Delicious. Far too young.
“She’s…nice. She plays for the women’s team.”
“A football player?” A grin flashed over Rachel’s face. “It’s great that you have that in common. Do I get to meet her?”
I swallowed. It was amazing enough that Lana had been so keen to spend time with Brodie, I couldn’t imagine she’d be interested in meeting my sister. “Maybe not yet.”
“Okay.” Rachel clapped her hands together with childish delight. “This is great. I knew the move down here would do you good.”?
A glow warmed my chest at the same time as my stomach dropped. Lana was incredible, but I still couldn’t reconcile how to do this and protect Brodie.
Rachel tapped her watch. “It’s decided. You’re going to have a fun day with your new woman, and I’m going to have a day wrangling two kids at Splash Zone.” Her eyes grew openly amused. “Never say I’m not good to you.”
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Chapter 26
Lana
Brodie’slaughterdriftedupstairsbefore the slam of the front door rang out. I moved to the bathroom, finally safe to hop in the shower. My mind drifted back to when Brodie had wanted me to snuggle next to him to read the story. I’d been reluctant at first. Perhaps it was crossing a line that would make Alex mad, but it had felt natural. It felt wonderful. It reminded me of the times Mum had read to me in bed. Just the two of us in a peaceful little cocoon.
I caught a glance at my reflection and braced my hands on the sink. I couldn’t help but laugh incredulously at the woman that stared back. This wasn’t me. What the hell was this man doing to me? I’d never been this mushy over a guy before. This was how other girls like Miri and Skyler acted. They’d fallen hard. Sure, it was all good for now, but later down the line, when the shit hit the fan, I’d be the friend picking up the pieces. There would always be pieces to pick up. Nobody loved and not let it destroy them.
I wrapped a towel around myself and drifted to Alex’s bedroom in search of a hairdryer. A huge double bed dominated the space. Silver framed family photographs covered the walls. A dark-haired woman in an ivory gown beamed at me from a host of wedding pictures. I brushed a finger over a photo of Alex. He stood in front of an elegant stone chapel. His hair held no trace of gray, and his eyes were bright and youthful with none of the lines that crinkled the corners now.
“What are you doing in here?” The rough edge to Alex’s voice startled me.
My neck warmed with guilt. I turned my back on the wedding photos. “I’m sorry. I was looking for a hairdryer.”
His gaze slid to the photos that crammed the walls. “I don’t have one.”
