The Single Dad (The Dalton Family #3)(39)

Since I was nearby, Sydney handed me everything she was holding and reached down to pick up Everly.

Fuck me.

The two of them couldn’t be any more beautiful together, and her having my baby in her arms was certainly a sight I could get used to.

She was dressed casual in loose-fitting jeans and an off-the-shoulder top—not even the oversize clothes could hide the perfection of her body. She had put her hair in a ponytail and had little makeup on.

She looked stunning.

“I don’t know if I’d call them presents, but I brought lots of stuff,” Sydney said. Although I’d never doubted her strength, she lifted Eve with ease, like she was an infant. “I’ve missed you, Miss Everly.” She hugged my girl and then pulled back, so she could look at her face. “Your dad invited me over to hang with you for a little while. Does that sound cool?”

“Sooo cool.” She brushed her hand back and forth over Sydney’s bare shoulder. “I wanted you to come to my pancake party. Daddy said you were busy. Chef Craig made the pancakes, but mine are better. Next time, I am going to make the pancakes, and you haaave to come.”

Sydney gave me a quick glance, and my dick instantly fucking throbbed. “I’ll do my best to be there.”

Eve held out her pinkie. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

Sydney carried Eve into the kitchen, setting her on a stool, away from where Craig was working. Since I wasn’t far behind, I placed her things right next to her, the closeness giving me a whiff of her coconut scent that I loved so much.

Damn it.

I needed to put distance between us, so I took a seat behind the bar, and now had a perfect view of the girls.

“I made us a little plan for tonight,” Sydney told her.

Eve’s face lit up, her large eyes going wide. “You did?”

Sydney nodded. “You and Dad are going to have dinner—”

“Not to interrupt,” Craig said, his salad chopping coming to a stop, “but I’m preparing dinner for the three of you.”

“You are?” Sydney asked.

She glanced at me as I said, “Did you think we’d eat without you?” I shook my head. “Not going to happen, not at my house.”

“I had a snack before I came. I’m—”

“Going to join us,” I said. “Please, Sydney. Eve and I both would like you to.”

She looked back at my daughter and said, “Well, I guess I’ll be having dinner with you and your dad, and then guess what we’re going to do.”

“What?” my baby asked.

“We’re going to bake some cookies and decorate them.”

Eve gasped. “We are? What kind? And do you have pink frosting? Because pink frosting is the best.”

A few hours after I had invited Sydney over, she’d sent another text, asking if she could make dessert with my daughter—a lesson on measurements would be their focus for the night. She wanted to know if I had rules about her eating sugar, whether I only allowed organic products in my house, if she had any allergies, or if I had concerns about Eve being near an oven—all questions I appreciated being asked.

Except now, I would have all these extra cookies at my house, and every time I reached for one, each bite would make me think of her.

I didn’t need the reminder.

Sydney was already far too deep into my head.

“I think we can whip up some pink frosting,” Sydney replied.

Eve bounced on top of the counter. “Can we have cookies for dessert?”

“Of course we can, and after we bake and eat, it’s going to be bath time and story time and bedtime. How does that sound?”

“Like the best night ever,” Everly sang.

“Perfect.” Sydney reached into her pocket and grabbed what looked to be an elastic, bunching Everly’s hair together on top of her head, tying it high. “But like all good chefs, we have to make sure our hair doesn’t get in the food.” She looked at Craig. “Chef Craig doesn’t have that problem.”

Eve giggled. “Chef Craig is bald, silly.”

Craig ran his hand over his shaved head. “Because the ladies love it like this,” he said quietly, so little Eve wouldn’t hear.

“Since it looks like Chef Craig is almost done with dinner,” Sydney said to Everly, “let’s go wash our hands and get ready to eat. Then, you can show me where everyone sits at the table. Sound good?”

“But I’m clean.” Everly held out her hands to show Sydney, a coy smile on her face. “See?”

“You know what? Mine are all dirty from driving over here,” Sydney said, “so, maybe you can show me where the bathroom is, and we can wash our hands together, just to make sure they’re extra clean.”

“Okay!” She stretched her arms out to Sydney. “Get me down.”

“Everly,” I said, “use your manners when you’re speaking to Sydney.”

“Please help me down,” Everly corrected.

Sydney lifted her off the counter and set her on the floor, and Everly instantly linked their fingers.

“Come on, Syd. I’m going to show you the bestest bathroom in the whole house, where there’s pink everything, even the soap.” She laughed again. “Even the seat on the potty. It’s so cute.”