The Single Dad (The Dalton Brothers 3)

I checked my phone again, deciding to leave it on the table so I didn’t have to keep reaching into my pocket. Once I placed it down, I took a drink and shrugged. “Fine.”

“No issues with her being around all the time?” Jenner continued.

That depended on what he considered as issues.

If he counted a constant fucking hard-on. My head filled with fantasies of every place I wanted to fuck her in my house and not being able to take my eyes off her. Then, yes, I had issues.

“None at all,” I fibbed. “It’s like nothing happened between us. And when you think about it—I mean, really think about it—not much did. Two hookups. That’s nothing.”

But in my mind, the opposite was true.

Each of the hours we’d spent together had left an impression that echoed constantly. That relentless vibration of memories wouldn’t let me forget the taste of her skin, the feel of her body, the wetness that had coated me.

“When is she moving in?” Dominick asked.

I was going there again—deep into the remembering phase.

My dick already hardening.

I shook my head, pulling myself out, and responded, “I haven’t asked her.” I glanced toward my phone. Still nothing. “I have a business trip coming up that I’ve mentioned to her, but we haven’t even discussed those logistics. I need to figure that out and then talk to her about moving in.”

“If she can’t cover the nights you’re gone, you know one of us will,” Dominick said.

“I know.”

The waitress delivered the second round, placing a scotch in front of me.

“Drink it,” Jenner ordered.

There wasn’t much left in my original glass, so I combined the two and handed the empty to the waitress. “I can’t go anywhere with you two assholes. You never listen to a fucking thing I say.”

Dominick chuckled and gripped my shoulder. “That’s why we’re good lawyers, brother. We always win.”

I was just bringing the glass up to my lips when Jenner said, “You’ve got a nanny now. Stop stressing about getting back home. You haven’t come out with us in weeks.”

Before I took another drink, I needed to know if this was all right with Sydney. I didn’t want to just assume she would stay longer.

I lifted the phone into my hands and typed out a message.

Me: Do you mind staying a little later?

Sydney: Ford, have fun. Don’t worry about us. I’m heating up the dinner Craig left, and then we’re going to make cupcakes. Since we made bath bombs yesterday, Eve is pretty excited about testing one out tonight. Take your time. I’ll stay as late as you need me to.

Me: What’s a bath bomb?

Me: Or maybe I don’t want to know?

Me: And, shit, am I screwing up all your plans tonight? I didn’t even ask if you had something going on.

Sydney: Gabby and I were supposed to have a girls’ night. She spent all day cooking for it. :(

Me: Fuck …

Sydney: I’m kidding. I had no plans. Stop worrying. All is good.

Sydney: Also, come home hungry. There will be tons of extra cupcakes.

Me: I appreciate you doing this.

“He’s texting with Sydney,” Dominick said. “There’s no one else, aside from Everly, who can make him smile that hard.”

I glanced up from my phone.

Jenner said, “Is that true? Are you texting with Sydney?”

“Yeah, but—”

“Oh hell, he’s in it hard.”

“Stop it,” I told them. “We were talking about fucking cupcakes, and since Hannah started baking at my house, I’ve developed a sweet tooth. That’s what you saw—an excitement for the dessert, nothing else.”

“But Hannah isn’t the one baking. It’s Sydney.” Dominick paused. “Am I right?”

I nodded.

“And it’s more than just her cupcake you want to eat,” Jenner added.

I flipped him off and returned to my phone.

Me: Just out of curiosity, what flavor?

Sydney: Your favorite, of course.

I laughed.

She knew.

She’d learned during her first week when she made a cake with Everly and she watched me pick around the vanilla cake and only eat the chocolate frosting.

Since there was no reason to reply, I set the phone on the table and gazed up at the guys.

Both were staring at me.

“What?” I asked.

“What?” Dominick mocked, laughing. He raised his hand and called over the waitress, saying to her, “Can you bring two rounds of tequila shots, please?”

“No,” I said before she left our table. “You can bring two rounds for them, and I’ll take a water.”

“Don’t listen to him,” Jenner instructed. “He’ll take the two rounds and a water.” Then, he looked at me the moment she was gone and said, “We’re getting shit-faced tonight.”