The Daddy Box Set

Jess tossed her hair behind her shoulder. “Let me have at that.”

With her focus on Gina, I took a moment to inspect her outfit. She wore pleated black pants and a white shirt with a low cut. Unlike Kimberly’s low-cut outfit, Jess’s was classy. Though when she bent over to help Gina, the thin fabric moved away from her body and revealed the top of one of her breasts.

Feeling like a voyeur, I said, “I’ll give you two some space,” then left the room. I took several calming breaths before heading downstairs. I trusted Jess to handle Gina’s hair, and I needed to cool down for a moment. That mere glance at her had sent my head into a tailspin. How much longer could I keep this up before I started something between us again?

I paced the kitchen a few times before I heard them coming down the stairs.

They entered the room, and Gina’s hair was pulled back in a loose French braid.

“You two look great,” I said.

“Thanks!” Gina said and twirled around.

My gaze shifted to Jess, and she offered a small smile.

“We should get going,” I said.

I’d reserved a window seat on the second floor of the restaurant for us. It was private enough to have a decent conversation with each other while not bothering others with Gina’s rambling. I loved her to death, rambling and all, but Eclisse was an expensive place, and I didn’t want to disturb anyone’s dinner with her curiosities.

“This place is beautiful,” Jess said after the waiter took our drink orders.

“It’s one of my favorites,” I said.

“Mommy and Daddy had their first date here,” Gina said.

I sucked in a breath and locked eyes with Jess.

I didn’t know what to expect from Jess. Gina rarely spoke about Wendy.

“That’s sweet you keep coming here,” Jess said, unaffected by the conversation about my deceased wife. I wondered if Gina and Jess spoke about Wendy when I wasn’t there. Not that Gina knew much about her mother, only what I told her.

“Yeah,” I said, looking down at my menu, even though I memorized it a long time ago.

“What is your favorite dish?” Jess asked Gina.

“Um,” Gina said, holding her little chin in her hand. “I like the spaghetti with broccoli.”

“Really?” Jess asked. “I thought you hated broccoli.”

I smiled. “Broccoli rabe,” I corrected. “It’s the garlic that she loves.”

Gina smacked her lips together for emphasis. “Gaaarlic!”

Just then, the waiter placed a basket of bread on the table. “Are you ready to order?”

Jess took Gina’s recommendation and ordered the pasta with broccoli rabe and sausage. It was a simple dish but prepared exquisitely.

I ordered last. “I’ll have the fish special.”

“Very well,” the waiter said, collecting our menus. “I’ll return with your drinks.”

“Did you take your date here?” Gina asked me after the waiter left.

“What?” I asked.

“Is this where you took your date last week?” Gina asked.

“No,” I said. I never took anyone but Gina here; it was special to me. At least until Jess came along. It was a grand gesture to take her out to dinner with us here. Though she didn’t know it yet.