Willa rolls her lips inward, biting back a smile. “I would have texted, but I don’t have your number.”
“Of course, I’ll go grab some stuff for you.” The air fryer timer dings just as I start down the hall to grab everything she could need. “Damnit.” I turn to go back to the kitchen, but she places her hand on my chest.
“I can take care of whatever is in the kitchen.” She holds out her hand for Izzy. “Come with me, kiddo?”
“Okay,” Izzy happily agrees and slips her hand in Willa’s.
The sight of my daughter happily walking off with someone who is, for all intents and purposes, a complete stranger should make me nervous. Instead, a warmth spreads through me at the sight. I never felt this way with the nanny I hired during football season. I was plagued by a sense of doom every time I left Izzy with her.
Laughter drifts down the hall as I climb the stairs and pull open the linen closet. I grab several towels of different sizes, an extra set of sheets, a thick blanket, and two pillows. She should be good with this, at least I can’t think of anything else off the top of my head.
I poke my head in the kitchen and find them side by side as Willa plates the food. While she’s busy with Izzy, I take everything next door. It’s an armload for me, so it would probably take two trips for her. I slip on the pink Crocs that Izzy got me for Father’s Day and ignore the cold bite of the wind onmy exposed skin as I cross the wood boards of our shared front porch and let myself into the other dwelling.
Warmth cocoons me as I shut the door with my foot. Carrying the linens into the primary suite, I notice some of her clothes laying out on the bed. It looks like a matching set of some sort, so it could be pajamas, I’m not here to snoop.
I set the sheets, blanket, and pillows on the end of the bed. When I walk into the bathroom, I see a handful of products spread over the counter, like she was getting ready to take a shower and then realized there were no towels. I can’t believe I forgot to bring this type of stuff over. She probably thinks I’m a complete idiot. Or worse, just an inconsiderate asshole.
She wouldn’t be the first to have that impression of me.
Because I know I don’t want to go down that rabbit hole in my brain, I hang the towels. I also take a second to check the water pressure and make sure it heats up for her properly. Nothing is worse than showering in a cold, weak spray of water.
Since I know there’s a strong possibility that my daughter has talked Willa into doing something she knows I wouldn’t approve of, I hurry back home. I find the girls sitting side by side while Izzy eats and tells Willa the story behind the picture she just drew. When my eyes meet Willa’s, she smiles and slides off the stool.
“Your dinner is on warm in the air fryer.”
“Thank you.” Our arms brush as I step by her and into the kitchen. A spark travels along my skin at the contact. “I took everything next door for you.” Her eyes are on my feet when I turn to her.
“Cute Crocs.” She gives me a playful wink.
“They were a gift from Izzy. She told me last year that I don’t have enough pink and purple in my wardrobe.”
“And color has no gender,” Izzy adds with a carrot in her mouth.
“Hell yeah,” Willa says as she holds out a fist for Izzy to bump.
“That’s a dollar for the swear jar.” Izzy’s fist meets Willa’s.
“Bug, we don’t make guests pay the swear jar.”
Willa holds up a hand. “I can swing a dollar.” Her attention turns back to Izzy. “But I don’t have any on me. Can I give it to you next time? Also, why is it twenty for him and only one for me?”
“Severity of the swear word,” I answer.
“Gotcha.” She walks backward. “Thanks again. I’ll let you know what the garage says when they call me back. I left my number on the notepad next to Izzy.”
“Thank you.”
I watch her as she walks out, listening for the sound of her front door opening and closing before I start to plate my own dinner. Izzy starts talking about a show she wants to watch, and I turn my attention from the gorgeous blonde sleeping next door to me back to where it belongs. My daughter.
CHAPTER 4
WILLA
Steam risesfrom my cup of coffee as I sit on the lone chair in the living room of Drew’s rental. The little tendrils disappear into the gray light filtering through the blinds. A heavy snow is falling again, and I’m glad today is one of my days off this week. It’d be hard to get an uber up here to pick me up in these conditions.
Maya is stretched out in front of the gas fireplace, her paws twitching as she sleeps. I always wonder what she dreams about. Her mom and littermates? Playing catch? Eating cheese? Her eyes fly open a second before I hear a knock at the front door.
She beats me to the door, and I see Drew and Izzy as soon I pull it open.
