Page 48

“What were you saying, then?” Monroe asked.

“Uh…”

Heat crawled up my cheeks. How would I explain talking about underwear without confessing my pep talk about keeping mine on around him?

“Well, she called them chonies, not undies. Das Spanish,” Goldie said, saving me. “But Daddy, das not good, right?”

Her face followed him as he walked into the kitchen, coming to a stop across from us. I’d been avoiding looking at him until that point, but couldn’t anymore.

Damn it. I pulled my eyes away, but the image was burned into my brain.

A fitted white dress shirt replaced his oversized tee. His messy hair had become a touch more tamed, but still looked unkempt and annoyingly hot.

“What’s not good, Golds?” he asked, voice light and relaxed. His smile no longer just teased at the corners—it was on full display, and I wasn’t sure I could handle it.

This was who he was when he was relaxed?

“Not wearing underwear. You said we always have to wear them.”

“Hey!” I threw my arms up. “I am wearing underwear.”

I wasn’t, actually.

I’d run out of clean ones that morning. But I wasn’t admitting that to a five-year-old and her hot dad.

Goldie shot me a skeptical look, blonde little brows pulled together.

“I think you should check, Dad.”

Monroe let out a choking sound, doubling over.

Goldie turned to me, unconcerned with her dad, who was on the verge of passing out from a coughing fit. “Sometimes I tell Daddy I’m wearing them, but I’m not, so now he says he’s going to check,” she explained.

Oh. My. God.

I leaned down, desperate to move the conversation onto another topic—any topic.

“Golden Girl, I need to make sure your daddy knows how to act at a restaurant. Want to be our server?” Eyes that matched her father’s lit up, her smile so big her cheeks had to hurt.

“Lemme go get my play food.”

Without warning, she launched herself into my arms, knocking the air out of my chest. The moment her bare feet hit the hardwood, she ran off.

“I take back letting you watch my kid. No underwear? Seriously?”

“You gonna check?” I threw back, thankful for the expanse of marble between us.

His eyes wandered over my body, stopping at my leggings, knuckles whitening where they pressed to the counter. Monroe’s face flashed with an almost pained expression as he closed his lids.

Suddenly, the island didn’t feel as large.

“What’s all this about playing server?” he asked between clenched teeth.

Is the edge in his voice because he’s turned on or pissed off?

“You need to prove you know how to act on a date before I just let you out in the wild tonight.”

His eyes popped open, annoyance taking over his face.