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I laughed. “That’s all right. Your dad is more than welcome to have it.” I looked at Ford, smiling. “You can have as many as you’d like.”
“This cookie,” he groaned. “It’s phenomenal.”
I bunched the end of Everly’s ponytail in my hand, the curls springing right back. “Miss Eve is the star. She did all the baking tonight.”
“Daddy, I make the bestest pancakes, but my cookies are ’nomenal.”
He laughed. “Yes, baby, they are.” He scooped her into his arms, holding her while she finished her pink cookie. “You are the best.” He kissed her cheek, not caring that she was covered in frosting and stickiness and glittery sprinkles. “And now, it’s time for this princess chef to go to bed.”
Today wasn’t the first time I’d seen them together, but it was the first time I really studied them. Their smiles so similar, their love for each other so present.
The way he looked at her took my breath away.
But it was the way she looked at him that completely stole my heart.
When her arms wrapped around him, her head leaning against his neck, I saw that she wasn’t just half of him. She trusted him more than anyone in this world.
It was just the two of them.
And their bond wasn’t just apparent; it was beautiful.
“Okaaay, but I’m not happy ’bout it,” she told him, taking the last bite of her cookie. She finished chewing, her eyes getting heavier. “Daddy, Syd’s fun.”
My cheeks blushed as his gaze moved to me.
“She likes you,” he said, his voice a little gritty.
I rubbed her back, the warmth of her body coming through her shirt. “I like her. A lot.”
She sucked the frosting off her finger. “We eat blueberry muffins for breakfast when we hike, and Chef Craig cuts my strawberries into little hearts. Can we make muffins and hearts sometime?”
“I would like that, Everly.”
“Can you give Miss Sydney a hug and thank her for the good time you guys had tonight?”
She released his neck and held her arms out to me, letting me take her from her father. The moment she was in my grasp, she clung to me. A hug that wasn’t forced. That wasn’t weak. That came from a girl who knew how to love.
“Thank you, Syd. I had the bestest time.”
“Me too, honey.”
She didn’t release me. She squeezed even harder and said, “I can’t wait to cook something else with you. And take you hiking. And show you all my animals.” She gasped and turned toward her dad. “I forgot to show Syd my animals.”
“You will next time, baby. You can give her a whole tour, even show her the pink skirt we got for your hippo.”
“Wait till you see, Syd. It’s so cute.”
I leaned back, so I could take in her adorable face. “I can’t wait to see it—all of it. But what I’m looking forward to most is spending more time with you.”
“We are going to have the bestest time ever.”
Ford clasped Everly’s chin and said, “All right, my girl, it’s time for Sydney to go home and for you to get some sleep.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
I gave her a smile and whispered, “Bye, Everly. Sweet dreams.”
“Bye, Syd.”
I handed her back, and as she transitioned to his arms, Ford mouthed, Give me five minutes.
As he carried her through the living room, on the way to the stairs, I began to clean up the kitchen. Since Everly had helped with the dishes once we put the cookies in the oven, I only had to gather the frosting bowls, wipe down the counter and floor, and collect the decorations. The leftover cookies went into Tupperware, and I stuck the container on the counter, so they could munch on them for the rest of the week.
With nothing left to do, I found my phone in one of the bags I’d brought, seeing a text from Gabby on the screen.
Gabby: How’s it going?
Me: I think good. Everly just went to bed. I’m waiting for Ford to come down and talk to me.
Gabby: He’s going to offer you the job. Obviously. I mean, you made cookies with his daughter. It doesn’t get cuter than that.
Me: Um, hello? There’re a million reasons why he won’t offer me the job, but I do think Everly had a good time, and she was so much fun. Gabs, he’s the best dad. Sigh.
Me: Oh shit, I hear him coming down the stairs. Got to go. Wish me luck. XO
Gabby: You’ve got this. Love your ass. See ya at home.
“Sorry,” I said, sliding the phone back into my bag as Ford took a seat in one of the barstools across from me. “That was Gabby. She was just checking on me.”
“You don’t have to apologize. You’re allowed to use your phone.” He glanced around the kitchen. “You didn’t have to clean up, Sydney.”
I waved my hand, showing him it was nothing. “If I make the mess, I’m certainly going to clean it. That’s part of my job.”
“But you weren’t here tonight as an employee, which reminds me”—he reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out his wallet—“how much do I owe you?”
“For what?”
“The baking supplies, frosting, those little crunchy things you put on the cookies. I want to reimburse you for everything.”
I shook my head. “You’re not giving me a dime. I had all this stuff—I bake at home.” My voice quieted as I added, “You know that.” Since he was sitting across from me, I would have put my hand on his, but I refrained. “Please put your money away.”
I could tell he was reluctant, but he did what I’d asked, adding, “If you become her nanny, you will have a credit card, and all purchases will go on that card. You won’t be paying for anything, understood?”
I smiled. “Yes.”
“Good.” He took a deep breath. “She loved you, Sydney. I think you know that.”
I nodded. “She’s a pretty fabulous kid, Ford. She was receptive to my instructions, she followed directions, and she stayed on task, needing very little encouragement. Tonight went great.”
I didn’t want to sell myself.
I didn’t want to list the reasons I wanted this job.
I hoped, after this evening, it was obvious to him.
We were now at the point where he was either comfortable with having me here or not.
“I’m going to be completely honest with you, Sydney.”
As he paused, my stomach started to bubble, as I had no idea where he was headed with this, unable to read the expression on his face.
“I knew you were going to be perfect for her—I never questioned that. What worried me was how I was going to feel about having you here.”
As he halted, the churning rose to my chest, a tightness forming.
“Seeing you with my daughter”—his gaze dropped, like the intensity was too much—“it was more than I expected.”
What’s more?
