One Baby Daddy (Dating by Numbers #3)(14)

Hell, I couldn’t imagine going to prom with a sibling, that would be . . . devastating.

“Did you at least get to dance with any other guys while at prom?”

“Yup.” She places a small piece of cake in her mouth. “With Shane hovering a foot away, arms crossed, making sure there was no funny business happening.”

I’m trying really hard, but fuck, a chuckle pops out of me. Her eyes laser in on me, and I hold my hand up to apologize. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to laugh. That must have been a total nightmare for you, but comical for someone to watch on the outside.”

“I can laugh about it now, but at the time, when word spread Shane wasn’t allowing guys any kind of alone time with me, the dance requests slowed down. I ended up kicking my brother in the shin ‘accidentally’ after that when we were dancing. And I might have done it multiple times.”

“Ooo, the shin is a good payback.”

“I figured as much. The next day he had black and blue bruises up and down his legs but showed no remorse for what he did. And of course, my other brothers worshipped him and his cock-blocking ways.”

“Brutal.”

“Do you have any siblings?”

I nod. “Twin brothers. They’re in college right now. They both play hockey but clearly aren’t as good as me.” I smirk.

Picking up on my humor, she says, “Well, is anyone really as good as you?”

“Can’t say that I’ve found anyone.”

She points her clean-licked fork at me. “Confident and cocky, I like that.”

“Nah, it’s all show. Inside I’m just a giant teddy bear looking for someone to spoon me.”

A harsh laugh releases from her mouth. “Oh, that is a good line. Do you get a lot of girls to fall for that?”

“Nope, they pretty much have the same response as you.”

She places her fork in the cake box and leans back on her hands, looking out to the valley below, the sun barely peeking past the tree line. She grows quiet, just observing.

What’s going through that pretty mind of hers? Is she recounting interaction with her patients today? Are they always on her mind? If I were in her position, I think it would be hard to separate my personal life with work. Hell, I have a hard time doing that with hockey. I bring the game into my personal life all the time, letting it affect me, letting it drive me crazy. Does she have the same problem?

“I don’t know how you do it,” I say, breaking the silence. “Taking on patient after patient, treating them and moving on to the next, staying cognizant enough to help heal people.” I shake my head in awe. “It’s admirable.”

“Thank you.” Shifting forward, she moves the cake to the side and snuggles close into my side, draping my arm over her shoulder, her head landing in the crook of my arm.

The fresh scent of her shampoo hits me first, then the faint scent of sugar, followed by the light hum of her content body. It’s a small move, innocent really, but for some reason, it feels like an anvil-sized weight was placed on my heart with every little sigh of content she takes.

It’s comfortable.

It’s easy.

It’s new but also feels right.

Adalyn wrapped up in my arms, pressed close against me, like she was made specifically for me.

She is an unexpected surprise that has me wondering how can I make sure to see this girl as many times as possible before the season starts again, before the crazy re-enters my life.

Because just like the other night at Racer’s, no part of me feels ready to say goodbye. I simply want to stay.

Chapter Five

ADALYN

“So who was that guy the other day?” Samantha asks as she sits down in a squeaky chair next to me. Samantha and I are usually on the same nursing rotation, thankfully. It helps to have a good friend to rely on when the emergency room starts to take its toll.

“Uh, that was Hayden.” I squint looking at the chart I’m entering into the computer, trying to read Dr. Fallon’s handwriting.

“Hayden, huh? Is he someone special?” She leans back in her chair, making the hinges squeak even louder.

“He’s a friend,” I answer, even though I know we might be more than friends. At least that’s where I think we’re headed. That’s what it feels like, especially after the other night.

Once we finished eating the cake, we didn’t spend much more time outside because it was beginning to get cold, and I was totally beat from the day. My yawns hinted at my fatigue. I helped Hayden pack up and offered him his sweatshirt, but he told me to keep it for now. And I did, no argument from me. After a warm hug, Hayden helped me into my car, shut my door, and sent me on my way with a tap to the top of my car. The entire drive home, I pressed my nose to the fabric of his sweatshirt, taking in his scent, remembering what it was like to be held closely to him. Hard body, strong and powerful, yet soft and gentle when he carefully held me, his thumb stroking along my arm leisurely. It was sweet, a moment I wish I was still in right now, instead of listening to the incessant beeping of machines around me.

And when I woke up at five thirty this morning to get ready for my seven-o’clock shift, I was greeted by a text from him that told me to have a good day.

Simple, yet comforting.

Nursing isn’t an easy job, and to see that little text . . . it put a smile on my face before I had to walk through these sterile halls.