Page 42 of One Hot Daddy

"Good afternoon," I begin, adjusting my collar."I'm looking for Jennifer Cordell, a good friend of ours.She checked in a little while ago."

The woman taps on her keyboard."I'm sorry, sir, but we can't give out guest information without their permission."

I whip my badge out of my pocket and flash it at the woman."You must be new here.I'm Fletcher Murgatroyd, the general manager."

"Oh!Mr.Murgatroyd, please forgive me.This is my first day on the job."Her face flushes pink as she starts typing frantically."Miss Cordell is in room 237."

"Thank you, love.You're an angel."

She blushes even more, gazing up at me through her lashes."Happy to help, sir."

"Just call me Fletcher."I turn to my children, who are all grinning."Right then.Up we go."

The ride to the second floor seems to take an eternity---despite lasting only thirty seconds.Henry starts bouncing from foot to foot again, while Charlotte practices what she's going to say under her breath.Josh examines the elevator buttons as if they hold the secrets of the universe, and Amelia stares at the floor numbers ticking by with laser focus.

"What if she's asleep?"Charlotte whispers as we reach the second floor.

"It's four in the afternoon," I point out."Trust me, she's not asleep."

"What if she thinks we don't want her?"Henry asks, his voice small."What if she's crying?"

I ruffle Henry's hair."Then we'll make sure she stops crying and knows exactly how much we love her."

The corridor seems to go on forever like the final leg of a marathon.Room 237 is at the far end.We approach the door as a unit, the children clustering around me like ducklings.

"Who's going to knock?"Charlotte whispers.

"I will, pet," I declare, taking a deep breath."But you lot need to be ready with your apologies."

Henry tugs at my sleeve."Can I go first?I practiced what I wanna say."

I give him a light squeeze."You have first dibs, champ."

Now or never.I raise my hand and knock three times.Silence follows, then I hear the muffled sound of movement.The door opens a crack, and I catch a glimpse of Jennifer's face---her eyes red-rimmed and puffy, but still the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen.

"Fletcher?"Her voice catches, and her eyes flare wide."What are you doing here?"

Before I can answer, Henry ducks under my arm and launches himself at her, wrapping his arms around her waist like a koala bear."We're sorry!Please come home!I promise I won't wet the bed anymore!"

Josh tries to seem cool and collected as he steps forward."What Henry means is that we want you to come back."

Jennifer's eyes widen when she sees the four children crowded in her doorway.Her gaze finally lands on me, a question in her eyes.

I give her a gentle smile."May we come in, pet?"

She hesitates for a moment before nodding and stepping back.Henry remains attached to her waist.The room is standard hotel fare---beige everything and unremarkable, but Jennifer has somehow made it feel like home simply by being here.

"We had a family meeting," Amelia explains, stepping forward with the authority of someone twice her age."And we decided you're an idiot for leaving."

"Amelia," I warn, but Jennifer's lips twitch upward slightly.

"She's right," Charlotte concurs, moving to Jennifer's other side."We never said we didn't want you.We were just surprised about you and Dad."

I watch Jennifer's expression as she processes their words.The tears threatening to spill over make my throat tighten.Henry still hasn't let go of her, and honestly, I don't blame him.

"You came all the way here to tell me I'm an idiot?"Jennifer asks, her eyes faintly red but her voice calm.

"We came to bring you home," Josh announces matter-of-factly."Where you belong."