Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 60081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
But my mischievous sex brain doesn’t care that we’ve decided flirting is off the table, let alone anything more. No, the Mischievous Sex BrainTM is trouble, and it’s flat-out delighted when he comes in the door at six with heat in his eyes that’s all for me.
“Daddy!” Sarah Beth cries out as she rushes to meet him.
He sweeps her up for a hug, but over her shoulder his eyes are locked on mine as he says, “Hey there, cutie. I missed you today.”
And I missed you, cutie, I say silently, while my rational side rolls its eyes and throws up its hands, giving up on making the rest of me behave. At least for tonight.
Tonight, we’re having our second date, after all—Sarah Beth staunchly refused tacos and will be heading to her aunt’s for dinner—and I intend to enjoy every off-the-clock minute with this incredible man.
“Just let me change and we’ll head out,” Drew says, loosening his tie. “I’m starving.”
“Me, too,” Sarah Beth says. “And not for gross tacos.” She sticks her tongue out with a gagging sound. “I just hope you two don’t get sick after. It’s a fact that tacos make people very sick.”
I grin. “You have a lot of facts in your back pocket today, Miss S. She also told me it’s a fact that it’s against the law to make four-year-olds take naps if they don’t want to.”
She grins. “That’s true. I heard it somewheres.”
Drew laughs and ruffles her hair. “Well, I think this four-year-old should keep her nap for a little longer. She’s in a much better mood at night when she’s had her nap. And she gets to stay up until nine at her aunt’s house as a special treat.”
“I do?” Sarah Beth jumps into the air at Drew’s nod. “Yippee! I’ll get to play three games of Candy Land with Cousin Chase and Jenga and basement bowling. I’m going to get Ajax. He loves basement bowling.”
She dashes for the stairs, and I start for the door, but Drew stops me with a gentle hand on my elbow on my way by. “You’re leaving? I thought maybe we could drive over together and drop Sarah on the way.”
“I’d love to,” I say, my skin burning simply from the feel of his fingers warm on my inner arm. “But I’m still wearing the same clothes from yesterday. I’d like to refresh myself. Put on something worthy of a big night out at The Dirty Taco.”
He grins and my heart flips. “I can’t wait to see what that outfit looks like. The others are getting there around six-thirty and I told them you’d be joining us. Just look for the table full of people in glasses. I may be a few minutes late if my sister and her husband want to chat.”
“No worries,” I say, grabbing my coat from the closet. “I may be a little later, too. I’m going to grab a quick shower. Sarah Beth and I played pretty hard in the park today. I pulled her around on the sled while pretending to be Sharona the snow dog.”
He laughs, but there’s still a spark in his gaze as he says, “I would have paid money to see that. Why Sharona?”
“We heard My Sharona by The Knack in the car. She loved it. I downloaded it so we could blast it while we made lunch.”
“Sounds like a great day,” he says.
“It was,” I agree. “I loved working at the daycare but there’s something really nice about getting to spend time with one special little person. Especially when the little person is Sarah Beth.” As much as I want to get home and shower, I have to take a beat to gush. “She’s really amazing, Drew. So smart and funny and creative and kind. You won the kiddo lottery with that one.”
“Agreed,” he says. “I think I won the nanny lottery, too. She’s so much happier with you here. I am, too.”
Feeling like I’ve swallowed the sun—and also a little sad because my greedy heart wants even more than this friendly, mutual appreciation society we’ve got going on—I smile. “Thanks, Drew. That’s amazing to hear. I’m so glad it’s working out for everyone. See you soon!”
He smiles, making his dimple pop beneath his neatly trimmed beard. “Yeah. I’m excited for you to meet the people I work with. They’re all really friendly. And they’ll be able to give you advice about things like breakfast restaurants and things people do without kids. Things that aren’t in my wheelhouse.”
I arch a brow. “And finally tell me the story of Bad Dog? You never did get around to sharing that the other night, you know.”
“No,” he murmurs, holding my gaze with an intensity that makes my blood fizzy. “I didn’t. You’ll have to get Ashley to tell it. She’s a better storyteller than I am. She’s my boss’s assistant and knows everything there is to know about Bad Dog, the history of the region, and real estate law.”