The Single Dad (The Dalton Brothers 3)

Ford: Good morning. How’d she do last night?

Me: Aside from kicking me in the face, she did fantastic.

Ford: Wait … I thought you weren’t going to be persuaded to sleep in Eve’s bed? Isn’t that what you said last night on the phone before she went to sleep?

Me: Your kid has expert negotiating skills. I’m talking EXPERT LEVEL.

Ford: Her father is a lawyer, so this shouldn’t surprise you.

Me: The only thing that made up for the fat lip she almost gave me was that I woke up to her asleep on my chest. So freaking cute. I took a pic … if you want to see it.

Ford: Of course I do.

Me: Okay … incoming.

Ford: Look at you two. Her little leg wrapped around you. Sydney, you guys are adorable.

Me: She’s a great cuddler. She definitely kept me warm.

Me: P.S. Today’s agenda: getting your little lady to like asparagus.

Ford: Good luck with that. Craig has tried and tried.

Me: Ford, don’t doubt my skills. I’m not saying Craig isn’t good. He’s superb, but he’s not me. Look what she ate for breakfast …

I sent a second photo, this one of Everly eating an omelet that had mushrooms, onions, and roasted tomatoes inside.

Ford: Are those mushrooms?

Me: She loves them now. She wants them on her homemade pizza that we’re making for dinner.

Ford: All right, you win that round. Damn …

Me: :)

Me: How are your meetings going?

Ford: I’m in Vegas this morning. Check out this view.

A picture came through after his message, showing the skyline of the Strip. The sun was peeking out from the top of the mountains in the distance, the glass of the hotels glistening from the early morning rays.

Me: Absolutely gorgeous. Everly is going to love this one.

Ford: Kiss her for me.

Me: Always.

Me: Don’t panic, but Everly has a fever. I promise she’s fine. I have everything under control. I’m watching her like a hawk. I just wanted you to know.

Since we’d spoken this afternoon, I knew he was at dinner with a client, so I’d debated about sending that message. I also knew the moment he got out of the restaurant and checked his phone, he’d see my text and call right away.

I just hated to alarm him, but telling him was the only thing that felt right.

Less than a minute after I hit Send, my phone was ringing, Ford’s name on the screen.

I held my cell to my face and said, “Ford—”

“Is she all right?”

“One sec,” I whispered.

Not wanting my voice to wake her, I carefully climbed off her bed and tiptoed into the hallway, closing the door most of the way so the sound wouldn’t travel.

“She’s okay. I was just lying with her in bed, and she fell asleep. Her temp was at 102.2. Since I knew you were with a client, I called your mom, just to be on the safe side, and she agreed that I should give her some Motrin. I gave her some about forty-five minutes ago.”

“I’ll come home.” There was movement in the background. “I’ll call the pilot and get the plane on the tarmac in less than an hour.”

“Ford, no. You don’t have to do that. You know kids get sick all the time. This could be nothing. Let’s see how she feels in a couple hours or maybe even the morning.” When he didn’t respond, I added, “I promise I have this handled. I’m not going to let anything happen to her.”

“I’ve never been away from her when she’s sick.” His voice was so quiet. Grittier than normal.

I couldn’t just hear the struggle; I could sense it.

“Her stomach seems to be fine,” I said, giving him more reassurance. “She’s not coughing or sneezing, and she doesn’t have a runny nose. She was rubbing her ear a bit and complaining that her head hurt, and that’s what triggered me to take her temp.” I paused, waiting for a reaction, but all I heard was his breathing. “I made some soup that I found in the pantry, and she ate a little in bed. We were cuddling, and she fell asleep.”

“Fuck.” A one-worded response that dripped with so much concern. “She gets ear infections. She has since she was a baby. They don’t happen as often as they used to, but she averages a few a year.”

I paced the hallway, and with each pass, I looked into Eve’s bedroom to make sure she hadn’t stirred. “Don’t worry; she’s not leaving my sight. If I sense things are getting even the tiniest bit worse, I’ll call the doctor.”

“Sydney …” He exhaled. “This isn’t easy for me.”