The Single Dad (The Dalton Brothers 3)

What the fuck?

“Hannah, I—”

“If you’re going to be mad at anyone, please be mad at me. This is all my fault. I’m the one who told her not to tell you.”

I glanced toward the Hills, processing, attempting to rationalize this news in my head. “I don’t know how I feel.”

Her fingers squeezed me, drawing my attention back to her. “I remember the day I started working at the law firm and the very first thing you told me was that I needed to listen to my gut. Ford, that’s something I’ve been practicing ever since, and when something feels right, when it looks right, when it sounds right, I get this feeling in my stomach.” Her brows lowered, the furrow between them gone. “That’s what happened when I met Sydney and when I saw her interact with Eve. They instantly took to one another. So, when I heard she needed a job and you needed a nanny—it was a home run, in my opinion.”

“Except I wouldn’t date a woman who was caring for my child. Did you ever think about that?”

“I know you better than you know yourself, Ford Dalton. Obviously, I thought about that.” A smile came across her lips.

“You intentionally kept us apart …”

“No.” Her smile grew. “I put you guys together.”

I searched her eyes. “Explain yourself. I’m fucking lost.”

She pulled her hand back and crossed her fingers over the table. “You suck with women. I’m sorry, but it’s true. Maybe things with Sydney would have worked out had she not become Everly’s nanny. But what I did know at the time was that things would most definitely work out if she did become her nanny.”

I rubbed my temples as a Hannah-headache worked its way through my brain. “How in the hell would you know that?”

“Have you listened to anything I’ve said today?”

She waited for a response. I didn’t give her one.

So, she continued, “I know you. I know how you operate. I know the second something turns slightly serious with a girl, you go all AWOL, and you bail because you don’t want to bring them into Eve’s life.” She turned her head, peeking through the glass. “There’s one way to your heart”—she nodded toward the living room—“and it’s through that little girl right there.” She gazed back at me. “If you had any feelings for Sydney, which I kind of assumed you did, then having her around all the time would only emphasize them. And, eventually, you two would be together … like you are.” She raised her arms in the air, like she was cheering. “Who’s the genius here? Me.”

“I don’t even know what the fuck to say right now.”

Her arms dropped. “You can tell your little coz how much you love her since I am the rock star of this equation.”

“Hannah …”

She leaned into the table to get closer. “Okay, so I might have gone about it in a shitty way. I might have told Sydney to lie to you—which is all kinds of fucked up, I agree, and I’m sorry again—but it was only out of your best interest and hers. Because, let’s face it, had you known she was going to interview, you wouldn’t have let her, and then who knows if we’d all be here right now?”

The things she’d said weren’t far from the truth.

Had I known Sydney wanted to apply for the job, I wouldn’t have let her.

In fact, I wouldn’t have even considered her for the position.

And Hannah was right about my dating record. Although I wanted to think things would have been different with Sydney, I didn’t know if that was true.

So, my cousin had intentionally put us together. That wasn’t such a bad thing.

It had worked, and I was happy as hell.

The only thing that really bothered me was that Sydney hadn’t told me. Even now, a month into our relationship, she’d kept her word to Hannah.

Was that a huge deal?

I didn’t know. I just feared there were other things she was keeping from me.

“Tell me what I’m looking at,” she said as she stared into my eyes. “A wicked, pissed off Ford? Semi-pissed? Ready to hug me and call me a goddess matchmaker?”

I sighed. “I’m not mad. It all worked out—that’s really what matters.”

“Your tone isn’t convincing me.”

I glanced through the glass, seeing Sydney on the floor, playing some kind of game with Everly. “I just wish she had told me.” I looked back at Hannah. “That would have made me feel a lot better.”

“Would it have though? Because she still chose your daughter over you, am I right?” She let that simmer. “And if she only wanted you, she wouldn’t have wanted to interview for the job.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying, it doesn’t matter that you knew or not. Her heart was always in the right place—she has been there for Everly, and she’s proven that to you every single day.” She broke eye contact to gaze inside. “Look at her, Ford. Is there anyone in this world who’s better for you and your daughter than Sydney Summers?”

At a party full of her favorite people, Everly was on the floor with Sydney.

Laughing.

Smiling.

Hugging her.

Fuck, Hannah was right.

And when I looked at Hannah to respond, she was smiling again.

“I know; I’m going to make the best lawyer ever.”

I laughed. “You really are.”

“Don’t be angry with her.” Her voice softened as she said, “She’s one of the good ones, Ford.”

I said nothing more, knowing the person I needed to talk to about this was Sydney, not Hannah.

And since there wasn’t anything left to say, we stood.