The Single Dad (The Dalton Family #3)(50)

I backed up, adding distance between us, and leaned against the nearest wall, searching for a reply.

My daughter. The topic I needed to keep my mind solely focused on.

“When I travel,” I said, “I’d like you to stay in the main house, so you won’t be far from Everly.”

“Absolutely. I’ll shack up in the guest room. But something tells me Everly is going to try to persuade me to stay in her room.” She smiled. “She tried tonight.”

“You’re right about that. She did the same to Hannah. She also convinced her to have a popcorn fight in my bed. Let’s steer away from the latter.”

A new thought entered.

Of Sydney’s dark hair fanned across my pillow.

Her laughter filling the quietness in my room.

Her body, in low-cut shorts and a tank top, spread across my California king.

My dick was fucking throbbing.

“Don’t worry; I don’t plan on us spending any time in your room.”

I glanced down at my feet, trying to fill my mind with something other than Sydney. But every time I reached a new fork in my brain, the path always led me straight back to her.

What made it worse was when my stare lifted and our eyes fixed.

My hands wanted to reach for her.

My arms wanted to wrap around her.

My lips wanted to press against hers.

But I couldn’t.

I couldn’t ruin this.

Everly needed her.

And I needed space, or something was going to happen—something I would regret.

“It’s late,” I whispered.

She nodded. “Let’s go to bed.”

Why did that feel like an invitation for us to go to bed together?

And why did my body immediately fail me the moment her words resonated?

I forced myself to turn away from her and leave the apartment, heading back down the stairs, across the garage, and into the main part of the house. Once I was in the kitchen, I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and chugged down half.

“I’m going to crash on the couch,” she said from behind me.

I shut the door to the fridge and faced her. “The guest room would be much more comfortable.”

And farther from my bedroom.

Much farther.

She was holding the edge of the island, her hair framing her cheeks, her eyes filled with a seductive glare.

My fucking God.

“No, it’s okay. It’ll only be a few hours anyway. I’m going to get up extra early, run home, shower, change, and come right back, so I’ll be here before you leave for work.”

“I’m working from home tomorrow.” I screwed on the cap to the water, squeezing the bottle between my hands. “That gives you an extra hour since my first meeting isn’t until eight.”

Her head tilted to the side as she analyzed me. “I didn’t know that was ever an option.” She laughed. “I just mean, I had no idea you worked from home.”

That smile, that sound.

They hit my chest.

So fucking hard.

“I do on occasion, but I try not to make a habit of it. As you can imagine, it’s hard to get a lot done here.”

“I’ll keep Everly busy, so you don’t have to worry about her bothering you.” She took a step back and another, her hands falling at her sides until she grabbed the blanket from the back of the chair. “I’ll see you in the morning, Ford.”

She went over to the couch and found a spot between two oversize pillows. Her head nuzzled into one, her feet resting across the other, and the blanket covered her to where I could only see her hair.

Go to fucking bed, Ford.

I listened to the voice inside me and went over to where the switches were located, turning off the lights. The only ones I kept on were the pendants in the kitchen. I dimmed those, so if she got up, the glow would be enough that she wouldn’t run into anything.

When I reached the hallway to my bedroom, I didn’t say good night to her. I didn’t even pause. I just instantly closed the door behind me, my back resting against the wood the moment it was shut.

I filled my lungs and released a long, deep exhale.

When I tried to move, to walk down the hallway toward my bed, my feet wouldn’t lift. My hands wouldn’t release the door.

So, I slid down the flatness until my ass hit the hardwood beneath me.

And that was where I stayed.





Twelve





Sydney





I sat on the side of Everly’s bed, watching her stir until those big, beautiful eyes opened wide, a smile coming across her adorable face. “How’d you sleep, Miss Everly?”

“Syd!” She rubbed her eyes and pouted. “I woke up in the night, and you were gone.”

“I wanted to talk to your dad when he got home, so I went downstairs and”—I tickled her tummy—“fell asleep on the couch by accident.” I switched from tickles to rubs, my palm moving around in a slow circle. “And guess what. Your dad ate three cupcakes. Three! Can you believe it?”

“He’s a cupcake monster. Like a cookie monster, but with cupcakes.”

“Yes, he is.” I pushed her hair back, away from her face, the braid loosening overnight. Without the little wisps covering her cheeks, her freckles popped against her pale skin. “Has anyone ever told you that you have the prettiest freckles in the whole wide world?”