Page 72 of Last on the List
I need to get this jealousy in check and keep my eye on the prize. Cassandra and I are just having fun. My priorities are still Everly and Fletcher Industries. I have no room in my life for anything else. The sooner I bang it out with Cassandra, the better.
I’m shocked when I come out of my bedroom to find Everly seated at the kitchen island with Cassandra. They both have halos of gold around them as the rising sun pours in through the windows. Cassandra is blowing on Everly’s bowl of oatmeal, and the view of the two of them laughing together gives my heart a strange jolt of contentment.
“Morning, Dad!” Everly says when she sees me standing there, watching them like a freak. “I’m up early today.”
“Yes, you are.” I laugh and walk over to press a kiss on the top of her head. She smiles and nuzzles into me before my eyes find Cassandra’s over top of Everly.
“Morning,” she greets, and the flush in her cheeks causes my muscles to tighten.
“Good morning,” I reply, a bit too crisply.
She looks amused as she walks over to the coffeemaker to pour herself a cup. I head over to the refrigerator to grab my protein shake, and when I turn around, I nearly barrel into her.
“Sorry!” she apologizes, holding her hands up and backing away.
“I’m sorry,” I mumble and then quickly turn back into the fridge. “Here.”
I thrust her coffee creamer into her hands, and her fingers brush mine as she takes it from me, causing the silvery feeling to sizzle up my arm. She murmurs, “Thanks,” and bites her lip nervously.
I would like to bite that fucking lip.
Clearing my throat, I bring my protein shake over to the island across from my daughter who I really should be focusing on right now. “What are your plans today?” I ask because it’s a reflex and maybe slightly because it gets a rise out of the nanny every time I ask it.
“Zero plans, Dad.” Everly rolls her eyes and glances at Cassandra like they’re sharing an inside joke about me.
“Not getting bored?” I tilt my head and eye my daughter.
Everly’s brows furrow. “Um…obviously not. Plus, it’s book club week, so Cozy and me have a shar-kootey board to shop for. She’s the cool nanny at my club.”
“Is she?” I turn my eyes to Cassandra, who looks decidedly embarrassed. “Why is that exactly? I mean, other than the obvious?”
“Because she brings the best snacks,” Everly answers and scoops up a big bite of oatmeal. “You should have seen the kids eating the last board we brought. They were savages!”
I laugh and take a sip of my drink. “Well, I don’t want to get in the way. I’ll see you later, kid.”
I walk around the kitchen island to give Everly a kiss on the temple, and when I turn to walk out, the back of my hand brushes the back of Cassandra’s. The urge I have to grip her wrist and plant a goodbye kiss on her lips is a troubling thought that consumes me at the office all day.
“These are going to look so cool, Dakota!” Everly peals as she bags up a soaked and freshly dyed T-shirt into a gallon ziplock baggie. “Thank you for helping me make these for my friends!”
Dakota smiles and zips the baggie closed. “My pleasure, Everly. The Book Sitters Club is a sweet book club name. It belongs on matching T-shirts.”
I smile from the front desk of Dakota’s graphic tee shop as Everly starts on the second T-shirt. “Only thirteen more to go.” I scrunch my nose up, knowing Everly has her work cut out for her.
“I’m good…I got this!” Everly says, turning another squirt bottle of dye upside down to douse the next tee.
“I’ll go grab the other dye bottles in case you run out,” Dakota tells her, pulling her gloves off and making her way to the back of the store.
My phone pings with a notification, so I pull it out and see a message from Max.
Max: New rule. You can no longer step foot in my kitchen.
Me: Say what?
Max: You need to stay on the other side of the kitchen island in the mornings.
Me: How am I supposed to make my coffee?
Max: Make it after I leave or wait until I make it for you. I can’t keep bumping into you in the dark kitchen with your sexy sleepy eyes every morning. It’s becoming a problem.
