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I had no reason to be biased, but she was one of the cutest kids I had ever seen. She had bright, giant, round blue eyes, a hooked nose, puffy lips, and little freckles that sat high on her cheeks. Her hair was golden brown and all curls.
“I’m glad you slept well, baby. I missed you last night.”
I’d melted when I saw the Best Dad Ever mug. That was nothing compared to this. Watching the two of them together—their love and interaction, the way they gazed at each other—was the most beautiful sight.
Everly played with the keys in her father’s hand. “Where are you going, Daddy?” When she finished speaking, she turned in his arms, facing me. “Who are you?”
I didn’t want to say the wrong thing. I didn’t even want to address his daughter unless Ford was comfortable with it, especially because he’d told me he sheltered her from the women he dated, and even though I wasn’t in that category, this gray area was just as complicated.
My gut told me to stay silent, so I looked at Ford and then at Hannah, hoping one of them answered her.
“That’s my friend,” Hannah said. “She came over to have some cookies with me.”
Ford shifted his stance, holding Everly toward me so she didn’t have to turn around. “Everly, this is Hannah’s friend Sydney. Can you introduce yourself to Miss Sydney?”
Still holding one of the cookies, I switched the dessert to my other hand, extending my dominant one to his daughter. “Hi.”
“Hi, Miss Sydney. I’m Everly Dalton. Daddy calls me Eve. You can call me Eve or Everly.”
I smiled. “It’s very nice to meet you, Everly.” Her hand was so warm against mine. “You can call me Syd, if that’s easier. That’s what my friends call me sometimes.”
She had a dimple on her right cheek when she grinned. “Really? That’s sooo pretty.”
“Thank you. I think your name is very pretty too. Do you know what else we have in common?”
Her eyes went wide. “What?”
“We both love the color pink.”
“You dooo? Is it your fave, like mine?”
I nodded. “My absolute fave.” There was a smudge of chocolate on her cheek, telling me Hannah had probably given her a cookie before bed. “You know what else is my fave?” I held up my free hand. “Hannah’s cookies.”
“Cookies for breakfast!” she shouted.
I laughed, pulling back both hands. “That’s what I had for breakfast, but it sounds like you’re going to have pancakes, and that’s just as yummy.”
“You like pancakes too?”
“Of course.” I winked. “Who doesn’t love pancakes? They’re the best when they have loads of chocolate chips.”
“Daddy, you have to make some pancakes for Syd. She likes them like I do.” She glanced at me again. “Did you get pretty to have pancakes with us?”
I realized she was talking about my dress and heels—an outfit that felt outrageous at the moment.
When I didn’t respond, she gasped and said, “Daddy, we need to have a pancake party. I need to go put on my pink dress!”
“No party, baby.” Ford held the side of Everly’s face and kissed her. “Sydney only came over for cookies, but now that she’s had some, she and Hannah are going to leave.” He looked at Hannah, and I could tell from his profile he was silently asking her to take me home.
“No, Daddy!” Everly leaned away from him and crossed her arms, pouting. “I want to have a pancake party.”
“Look at me, baby.” He waited until Everly did as he’d asked. “Hannah and Miss Sydney have to get going. Maybe one day, Miss Sydney will come back and have pancakes with us, but it’s not going to be today.”
“Daaaddy,” she whined.
He set her on the counter and handed her a mixing spoon. “Are you going to be my sous-chef, or are we going to pout and ruin our breakfast?”
She huffed a few times until she muttered, “Okaaay.”
I was impressed with the way he’d handled her, how he hadn’t given in, how he’d calmed her before a tantrum took over.
“Okay,” Ford repeated. “Now, say good-bye to Hannah.”
Hannah quickly gathered her books and placed them in her bag and went over to Everly. “I’ll see you tomorrow, bestie.”
I could tell they had a special bond, and by the way Everly looked at Hannah, I knew she was a significant role model in Everly’s life.
Everly wrapped her small arms around Hannah’s neck and hugged her. “I wanna go hiking. Then, we can get those fruit things. You know, the mixed-up kind.”
“Hiking and smoothies, huh?” She tickled Everly’s belly. “You just like to torture me and race me up the hills, don’t you?”
Everly snorted. A sound that was so sweet and pure.
Once they separated, Ford said, “Can you say good-bye to Miss Sydney?”
I waved my hand in the air. “See ya, Eve. It was really wonderful to meet you.”
Everly mirrored my wave with her short fingers. “Can you come hiking tomorrow?”
“Awww.” I shrugged. “Probably not, but maybe someday soon.”
Ford had left Everly on the counter and returned from the pantry with a glass canister in his hand. He opened the lid and stuck his finger inside, dabbing what looked like flour onto Everly’s nose. “Are you ready, little lady? We’ve got some stirring and flipping to do.”
He’d already distracted her in such an adoring way, so I turned around and followed Hannah. Before I rounded the corner, cutting off my view of them, I took a quick glance toward the kitchen.
Ford was watching me.
Words didn’t have to be spoken between us, nor did he have to lift his hand and wave.
That was because I could feel his stare throughout my entire body.
His needs.
His wants.
And a heat started to move through my chest and slowly lower.
I gave him a quick smile, one he wouldn’t forget, and I walked out to Hannah’s car.
“Thank you,” I said once we both climbed in. “I know you didn’t sign up for this. I’m happy to take an Uber.”
“It’s no problem at all.” She started the engine. “Just show me the way. I’m really horrible with directions.”
I hadn’t looked at my phone since the bar and pulled it out of my clutch. There were a few texts from Gabby, asking for updates, and an explosion of notifications from every social media site. I’d posted a picture of us before we went out last night, letting the world know I was back in LA, and there were hundreds of reactions.
Instead of reading all the comments, I typed the address of our apartment into Maps, and the app pulled up the directions. I turned up the volume and said, “This’ll take us there much better than I can.”
While waiting for Ford’s gate to open, she tightened her bun and gave me a brief glance. “So … you met Eve.” She winced. “Oops.”
I exhaled loudly. “I know that wasn’t supposed to happen, but I’m glad it went well.”
“I’d say it went well. You should go to school to become a teacher; you’re freaking amazing with kids.”
I laughed. “I am.”
“No?”
“Really, I am. I’ve been an au pair for the last four years, and now—”
She slammed on her brakes halfway through the gate. “Shut up. You’re a nanny?”
