He slowly shifts in his chair, and my breath catches. His hand lifts, his fingers trailing over my cheekbone as he pushes a tuft of hair behind my ear, and he’s justthere, observing, so close I can’t breathe without inhaling his exhales.
I know I should say something, know that he said he wanted to keep this professional, but what if Zoe’s right? What if he’s tryingnotto be interested? What if he wants?—
The office door swings open and Grayson retreats like he’s been burned, cursing under his breath.
“Daddy?”
Penelope stands there clutching her stuffed Daddy Bear by one paw, hair mussed from the couch cushion, eyes heavy with sleep.
I have never loved and resented anyone more in my life.
Grayson clears his throat and sits back in his chair so fast it’s almost comedic. “Hey, princess. What’s up?”
She rubs one eye. “Movie’s over. M’sleepy.”
I try to school my features back into something normal, try to calm the incessant thudding in my chest.
Grayson starts to get up. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.”
I move before he fully sits up, desperate for oxygen and distance and a task, and set my glass down on the desk. “I’ll do it.”
Grayson’s gaze snaps to mine immediately.
“I mean,” I say, scrambling to sound normal, “if you want. If Pen wants.”
“I want Carly to!” Pen chirps, suddenly a little more awake.
Grayson hesitates, then breathes out like all the air in the world just left his lungs. “Yeah. Okay.”
I take her hand and lead her to her bedroom, getting her into her bed, making sure she has every stuffed animal possible beside her in the correct order. She yawns so wide her whole face contorts as she settles deeper into the pillows.
I smooth a hand over her hair. “Tired?”
She nods. “The rabbit made me sleepy.”
“I hear that’ll do it.”
She blinks up at me, sleepy and solemn all at once. “I like when you put me to bed.”
My heart gives a traitorous little squeeze. “Yeah?”
She nods, grinning. “I like you a lot,” she says, her voice all soft and genuine in that way only kids can do.
I smile back down at her. “I like you a lot too, Pen.”
“Even when I ask a lot of questions?”
“Especially then.”
She considers that. “I think my daddy likes you a lot too.”
I go still.
Kids say things all the time, random things, weird things, especially when they’re tired. But I can’t help but wonder what she might have heard in passing and only half understood.
“Why... why do you think that?”
She squeezes Daddy Bear tighter. “He smiles more.”
