One Baby Daddy (Dating by Numbers #3)(43)

Playing with the button on his suit jacket, I ask, “You’ve had issues with your competitiveness?”

“Big time. Last season, I went through ten mouth guards because I was grinding down on them so hard. I don’t like losing, Adalyn.”

“That explains your Boggle fit.” I pull him closer to the car. He ducks and grips the edge of the doorway.

“It wasn’t a Boggle fit, it was . . . a small tantrum.”

I turn toward him and unbutton his suit jacket. His tapered waist showcased by the tailored white shirt he has tucked into his waistline. Running my fingers along the buttons, I say, “That was a tantrum? I would hate to see what it’s like when you have a fit.”

“It isn’t pretty.”

“Do you always have to win?” I undo one of the buttons on his shirt and play with the opening, my fingernail grazing his bare skin.

“Yes.”

Tipping my chin up, he searches my eyes right before placing a gentle, yet sultry kiss on my lips. A loud sigh pops out of my mouth when he pulls away. Smiling, pleased with himself, he says, “When is the next time you have off?”

“I have a four-day shift starting Thursday. And then Monday and Tuesday I have off. Why?”

“Come to New York City with me. I have a photo shoot with a sponsor Monday morning and want to take you with me. We can still do touristy stuff, get a hot dog from a street vendor, go on a tour bus ride, and silly crap like that. We can leave Sunday night after you get off work. The sponsor is flying me down. What do you say?”

“Can we go see a Broadway show?”

“Anything you want, baby.” That grin, hell, I’ll say yes to pretty much anything if it causes him to grin like that, with so much joy and excitement. It’s the grin Ariel mentioned earlier. The one with the little crinkle in the corner of his eyes. He has a perpetual smile, really. It’s just who he is. But I know and love the grin.

And to hear him call me baby so casually?

He has me wrapped around his finger. Without a doubt, he’s starting to slowly capture my heart, one deep breath, and one gentle kiss at a time.

Chapter Twelve

HAYDEN

“You’re kidding me, right?” Adalyn asks, spinning around in the hotel suite. “This is huge and you can see all of Central Park.” Growing serious, she finds me and says, “This is beautiful, Hayden.”

I shrug. “I asked for a nice room, so I’m glad we were able to get one.”

“Oh look at you, hands in your pockets, looking all cool as if this is nothing.” She comes up to me and grabs my cheeks. “This is not nothing, Hayden. This is special for me, so if I forget to say it, thank you.”

A burst of pride surges through me. I follow and believe in my dad’s mantra, but my fame is paying off a little right now. Because that look on Adalyn’s gorgeous face, a look that screams utter happiness, fuck what I wouldn’t do to keep that look there. I would do anything to make her this happy.

“You’re welcome.” I pull her into a hug, kissing the top of her head. “And because you were able to get out of work earlier—”

“We can thank Logan for taking the last few hours of my shift.”

I’m not thanking Logan for anything. Fuck that guy. “I got us tickets to see Hamilton.”

Adalyn’s eyes widen and she sucks in a deep breath.

“Before you go screaming, they aren’t super great seats, and we have about an hour to get ready and get to the theater before it starts, so you better hurry.”

“You got tickets to Hamilton? Oh my GOD!” Running in place, hands above her head, Adalyn celebrates.

Chuckling, I playfully smack her on the ass and say, “Go on, go get dressed.”

Launching herself into my arms, she places a sloppy wet kiss on my lips and then skips into the bathroom, her bag trailing behind her while saying, “We’re going to see Hamilton!”

I take out my phone and check my messages. Five missed calls from my publicist, James. I know he’s freaking out about the shoot tomorrow since I’ve yet to confirm the details with him. Giving the guy a break, I call him back.

“Christ, Hayden,” he answers on the first call.

“Yeah, sorry about not calling you back right away.”

“You’re giving me an ulcer, you realize that? I have to drink Pepto Bismal straight from the bottle because of you.”

“Eh, just keeping you on your toes.”

“No need, I’m doing fine on my toes myself. For the love of God, respond when I ask you to.”

Chuckling, I look out the window, observing the clear blue skies, full green trees, and the skyline of the most enchanting city I’ve ever visited. “Well, I’m responding now. Got the details, I’ll be ready for the car at seven tomorrow morning.”

“And did you see they don’t want you to shave? They want a good five o’clock shadow on your jaw.”

“That won’t be an issue.”

“And have you been working out? I hope you haven’t been eating any salt, because I can’t have you bloated.”

Jesus Christ, heaven forbid I look bloated.

“James, don’t ask that question again.”

“So I’m going to take that as not bloated.”

“Move on.” By now, he should know I take my workouts and eating seriously. And before you go harping on the cakes I’ve been eating lately, I ran extra the mornings after.