Grasping the neck of his beer bottle, he gives it a little shake. “You sure I can’t offer you a better drink than water? I have a bottle of white zin in the fridge, too.”
Game of twenty questions done, then, I guess.Gotcha. My teeth sink into my bottom lip. Do I want a drink? “I wouldn’t want to overstay…”
He barks a laugh. “Sweetheart, at this point you live here more than I do. Overstaying shouldn’t even be a thought in your mind.”
His words make my heart flutter, like a newly emerged monarch. Looking down at the nearly empty glass of sparkling water, I swirl what’s left, barely carbonated.
My logical, professional side screamsbad idea, the words flashing like a neon sign flickering with burnout, while my curious, lustful little hussy side is eager to spend more time with the hot single dad.
Bad.
Idea.
Still, I feel the grin as it radiates through my cheeks and I nod in agreement. “Yeah. A drink sounds great.”
Maybe since I already ate the alcohol won’t go to my head.
For a moment, Declan looks surprised I’ve said yes again, but then he stacks my plate onto his. “What’ll it be?”
“I’ll take a glass of wine if you don’t mind opening the bottle.”
“Not at all. I’d join you, but I’ll stick to beer tonight.” He saunters over to the sink, placing our dishes in before pouring my drink. When he hands me the stemless wine glass, our fingers brush, and for a moment it’s like time stops.
That seems to happen a lot when he’s around.
For a second, I forget how to breathe.
Our lingering stare shatters when Sailor appears at my side, holding Snug-Bug as she audibly yawns.
Wrapping my arms around Sailor's small waist, I lift her to my lap, both for my own distraction and because she’s swaying slightly. “Tired?” She immediately leans into my chest, nodding against it.
The clock shows it’s after seven, which is still a little early for bedtime, but she had a big day with lots of sun and fresh air. In the morning we ran errands and played at the park, and I’m sure she was playing in the backyard while I was gone.
“I’ll take you upstairs after I put the food away, Sail.” Declan’s husky voice pulls my attention back to him like a magnet.
“I can get her ready for bed.” With Sailor in my arms, I stand, adjusting her into an easier hold. She wraps around me like a spider monkey, resting her head on my shoulder as her thumb slips into her mouth. I don’t have to look to know her eyes are already closed.
“You don’t have to, you’re not?—“
“Iwantto do her routine with her, Declan. I got this, don’t stress.” And I mean it. It took half a second for me to fall in love with Sailor. If he asked me to, I’d probably agree to work for free, just to help him out. Icare. Probably more than I should considering I’m just temporary in their lives.
At any point Declan could meet someone who falls perfectly into the role ofstepmom, or maybe Sailor'sactualmom could come back into the picture.
Both thoughts make my stomach roil with every step I take, climbing the stairs to the second story.
As I reach the landing, an image as clear as a snapshot flashes through my mind of Declan and I, each holding one of Sailor's hands as we walk through a park, letting her swing betweenus while we lift her higher. It’s the epitome of a candid family portrait, and is as jarring as it is exhilarating.
How did I go from staying for a drink to these wild thoughts?
You need to get laid, Hailey, my sister’s voice rings through my ears. It’s exactly what she’d say if I were to call her right now. She’d laugh and chastise me, insisting that my wayward imagination is my fault because I’m the one who saw how gorgeous Declan Lane was and still took the job.
Just because someone is attractive doesn’t mean anything, right? I’ve been good and kept my thoughts, andhands, to myself.
Plus, he doesn’t even like me. The newfound flirting is a fluke. A one-off.
Just like the vision my mind just conjoined as I stare at the empty tub, of a smaller toddler splashing with Sailor as I get thembothclean and ready for bed.
Shaking my head, I snap myself out of lala-land and focus on caring for Sailor.
