The Single Dad (The Dalton Family #3)(35)

I took a deep breath—something that wasn’t easy to do. “Things are a little complicated now, yes.”

“A little?” He laughed. “I’ve made it clear that I’m overly protective of my daughter and the people I bring into her life. If things don’t work out between us and you’re her nanny, that’s another woman abandoning her, and I won’t stand for that.”

Another woman.

I assumed the first—and only—was her mother.

My stomach hurt for that sweet, precious girl.

And it just added to the questions I already had.

“But there’s another side to this,” he continued. “And that is, you’re perfect for her—everything I want and need in a nanny.” He looked down at his coffee again, this time taking a drink. “You’re young, you’re fit, you’ll be able to keep up with her energy.” He ran his hand over his beard, wiping the sides of his mouth. “You’ll be able to teach her and mold her and give her all the tools she needs to start kindergarten in the fall. And once she starts school, you’ll only enhance what she’s already learning there.” His voice lowered when he said, “She fell for you the moment she met you. She even still asks for you.”

“I fell for her.” That was also the truth. “She appeared so mature for her age with such an old soul.”

“She had no choice. I’ve only ever treated her like an adult.”

“I appreciate that parenting style, to be honest.” She took a breath. “Ford, it would be an honor to take care of your little girl.”

Ford leaned back in his chair, adjusting his tie, like the knot was too tight. “What the fuck am I supposed to do, Sydney?” He paused. “I’m in a position where I need to hire someone immediately. Hannah is at her wit’s end. Tops, I can squeeze a few more weeks out of her.”

“And here comes the but.”

He exhaled loudly. “The but is that I’ve been inside your body. I’ve made you come.” He glanced down my body, making me feel as though I were completely naked, as though he were inside me again. “I’m doing everything I can not to reach across this desk and make you come again.”

My legs tightened, the fluttering instantly sparking between them.

The tingling making it hard for me to process the reality of this situation.

“What are you saying, Ford?”

He was silent as he stared at me. “I don’t see a way around this.”

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“I can’t have both, Sydney.”

Both.

And then it hit me.

It was either the job or the start of this relationship—or whatever direction we were moving in, together.

But I couldn’t have both.

I was slowly inhaling, trying to convince my heart to settle, as he asked, “Which do you want more?”

I pulled my hair to one side, holding it in my slick hand, my heart increasing instead of calming. “You can’t ask me that. It’s not fair.”

“But it’s the only way I’m going to decide.”

I released the strands of hair, my head dropping, my hand now holding my forehead. I needed the pressure; my brain felt like it was going to explode.

Which do you want more?

The one thing I knew, the one thing Ford had emphasized, was that he didn’t bring women into her life. Even in this office, he’d reminded me of that.

Up until this point, things had been going well between us. We’d had an excellent time on our first date. Before he’d left my apartment, there had been talk of seeing each other again.

But I got the sense that relationships weren’t easy for him, that there hadn’t been many since Everly had been born—if there had even been any at all.

Oh God, I liked this man.

My accidental encounter, who constantly found his way into my mind. A set of eyes that, every time I stared into them, I wanted to see more.

To see deeper.

To see … a future with him.

But Ford had his reservations about women, and something told me that was because of what had happened with Everly’s mother.

I didn’t know if he would ever take the next step with me.

If we would get to the place where he allowed me around his daughter.

If he kept those two parts of his life separate, why would it be any different with me?

I’d finally met someone I really liked.

Now, I was here, in this emotional place, forced to make this decision.

All I knew was that if Ford was the person I was supposed to be with, one day, this would all work out.

And maybe I would never be more than Everly’s nanny, but at least I would be spending time doing what I loved with the little person Ford loved the most in this world.

“What’s your answer, Sydney?” He folded his hands together, waiting for my response, his eyes fixed with mine.

“I choose …” I held in my breath, unable to stop my brain from spiraling.

Am I making a mistake?

Am I going about this all wrong?

Will I regret this decision?

Will he see right through me?

He would always put her first, but showing Ford that I would do the same had to mean something.

“Everly,” I finished.