The Single Dad (The Dalton Family #3)(40)

“Let me guess. This bathroom is in … your room?”

“Yep!”

As the two of them disappeared upstairs, the break from looking at Sydney—even if it was short-lived—was appreciated.

I went to the fridge and grabbed a beer, twisting off the top as I said, “Things going well with you, Craig?”

He gave the pot a few more stirs and turned toward me. “All is good, my man. Looks like things are moving along nicely with you too. Getting a new nanny in your life?”

I nodded. “Hannah is tapping out. She’s got too much on her plate.”

Hannah had been such a staple around here, and the two of them knew each other well.

“This one seems to be great with Everly, and I’ve got to say, she’s pretty easy on the eyes.”

He’d noticed.

Fuck, it was impossible not to.

“I’m not going to deny that,” I admitted.

“She single?”

I guzzled the rest of my beer and walked back to the fridge to grab another. “Why? You interested?” I asked from over my shoulder.

“Hey, man”—he put his hands in the air—“it’s not a bad thing to know since there are two single men in this room.”

I shut the fridge door, tossed the metal top into the trash, and glanced toward the stairs. “I don’t know.”

But one thing I did know was that if Sydney went on a date with Craig, she wouldn’t be working for me anymore.

Fuck, I thought, shaking my head.

What the hell is wrong with me?

I couldn’t control who she dated, nor should I care who she went out with.

But for some reason, at this moment, I did.

“There’s a good chance she’ll be moving in here at some point soon,” I told him, leaning against the counter, “so you’ll be seeing a lot more of Sydney, giving you plenty of time to ask her.”

“Can’t say I hate the thought of her being around here more.” He sliced several roasted vegetables and tossed them into the pot. “There’s nothing hotter than feeding a woman as sexy as Sydney.”

And watching her eat.

Something I’d enjoyed immensely when I took her to dinner.

The way her lips surrounded the fork. How they parted over the rim of her wineglass. Her tongue licking the spoon when we shared dessert.

I needed her out of my head.

I needed to focus on something besides my future employee.

The girl whose pussy had fucking clutched me when she was coming.

I chugged several sips’ worth and said, “What are you making for dinner?” I tried to take a deep breath, but all I could smell was coconut even though she wasn’t in the room. “I know I approved the menu. I’m just drawing a blank.”

He moved back to the stove and grabbed a set of tongs from the drawer. “Eve asked for spaghetti, so I loaded the sauce with vegetables—she won’t even taste them—and I added in some ground turkey and sausage for you. I made a homemade bread that I’ll serve with truffle oil and a Caesar salad.”

“Delicious.”

“If Sydney moves in, I assume I’ll be meal prepping for her as well?” He used the tongs to take out the pasta, twirling the noodles around the center of the plate.

“Yes.”

The thought fucking burned through my brain.

“If you don’t mind, I’m going to check with her regarding any dietary restrictions, her likes, and loves.”

I nodded as he glanced up.

Craig didn’t just prepare our dinners. Every three days, he came over and prepared breakfast and lunch, packaging the meals, labeling and dating them. He also organized the snacks and did all the food shopping.

When Hannah was here, he did the same for her.

And if Sydney was hired, it would be no different.

That was, if I hired her.

If I could wash away these fucking fantasies and remind myself that she wasn’t here for me, that Hannah needed a break, that my daughter needed her, and that Sydney would truly be the best thing for her.

“Tonight is a tryout,” I told him. “If she gets the job, I’ll let you know, and, yes, I’d like you to make sure her favorites are all stocked.”

“By the looks of it, she’s already nailed the Everly side of the interview.”

I said nothing, finishing off the rest of the beer.

“I mean, hell, look at them.” He nodded toward the stairs that the two girls were descending, hand in hand, their laughter drifting into the kitchen. “If that’s not a perfect sight, shit, I don’t know what is.”

He wasn’t wrong.

I could tell Sydney had a protective way about her, keeping Eve on the inside of the stairwell, far from the banister, how she watched my daughter take each step.

I tried to look away, but my eyes followed them the entire way until they were walking into the kitchen.

“Daddy, we’re all clean,” Everly said, holding up her hands. “Seee.”

“Did you show Sydney your bedroom and bathroom? And the explosion of pink you’ve got going on in there?”

“Yep. She even sat on the sparkly toilet seat.” She giggled. “Not to pee, Daddy, just to see how the sparkles tickle your bum. It made Syd laugh. It was sooo funny.” She glanced at the island, where Craig was plating all the dishes. “Oh, dinner’s done. Come on. You haaave to sit next to me.” She grabbed Sydney’s hand and led her over to the table and pointed at the head. “Daddy sits there. I’m here,” she said, holding the chair to the right of mine, “and you’re next to me.”