“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.”
“Whatever you’re making smells delicious,” Sydney called out to Craig.
“Wait until you taste it,” he responded.
I ignored the way he was looking at her and returned to the fridge for more beer. When I joined them at the table, I asked Sydney, “Would you like one?” and I held up the bottle.
“No, thank you, not while I’m hanging with your girl.”
She’d given the right answer.
Maybe she wasn’t plagued with the same thoughts as me.
Maybe this was easier on her.
Maybe she had cleared me from her head when she chose Everly.
Can I do that?
Can I make it happen right now?
“All right, Eve, here’s your giant plate of spaghetti, just like you asked for.” Craig set the pasta in front of her along with a small salad and piece of bread.
“Mmm. Yay!” She already had her fork in her hand and dived it into the noodles, freezing mid-twirl. “Oops, I forgot.” She looked at Sydney and added, “I’m ’posed to wait till everyone has food. It’s polite.”
“You’re right; it is the polite thing to do. That’s so mature of you, Everly.”
Eve smiled, waving her head so the ponytail bounced. “When Daddy takes me to fancy restaurants, there’re so many forks, and I don’t know which one to use, but I know to wait. Daddy says that’s the important part.”
Sydney glanced at me, and my dick pounded through the jeans I’d changed into when I ditched my suit. “Your daddy gives you good advice.”
Daddy.
That fucking word.
From Sydney’s mouth.
Jesus.
I looked away from her and started to guzzle.
“Here you go, Sydney,” Craig said, delivering her plate next. “Enjoy.”
“I appreciate it. Thank you.”
“Craig makes the bestest s’getti ever. Like, eveeer.”
“Oh yeah?” Sydney leaned closer to her plate, her eyes closing as she inhaled. “My mouth is watering.” When her lids opened, she pointed at Eve’s salad. “I’m proud of you for eating vegetables. Which is your favorite one?”
“Cukes! But only if Chef Craig takes off the peel. That part is ewww. Daddy made me try it though. He makes me try everything. That’s the rule.”
Craig placed my dinner in front of me and said, “I find creative ways for Everly to eat her veggies. There’s some she hates pretty hard, but we’re making headway, aren’t we, Eve?”
“Yep.” My daughter looked around the table, making sure everyone was served, and instantly dug in. “Those long green things. I haaate those.”
“Asparagus,” Craig told Sydney.
“Ahhh,” Sydney said. “Those.”
“Can I get you guys anything else?” Craig asked.
As the sounds of eating filled the silence, I said, “I think we’re good. Thank you, Craig.”
Except we weren’t good.
My dick was hard, and this meal was the last thing I wanted to be eating right now.
What I wanted …
What I craved …
What I needed …
Was Sydney’s pussy.