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“Yeah,” he shoots back, gently scooping up his sleeping daughter. “I figured it would be better to put you to bed.”
He stills when he’s standing again with Sophie in his arms, looking surprised at himself. “I mean... I meantsendyou to bed.”
“Right,” I answer dryly, my face flushing slightly. “Yeah. I know what you meant.”
“Sorry, I’m tired.”
“Of course.” I rub my arm awkwardly. “I’m sure.”
He lingers there for a moment, Sophie still tucked away in his arms, looking at me like he isn’t sure what to say now. I decide to save us both.
“Anyway...” I put on a smile. “See you in the morning?”
“Sure. Good night, Cassie.”
Now, Aiden has said my name before, during the interview, if nothing else, but something about hearing it in a dark room, with only the soft light of the television touching his black slacks and his black T-shirt that he must wear under his chef coat, feels different somehow. It gives me a weird sense of déjà vu that I can’t explain. Like I’ve heard it before. I must be really tired.
“Good night, Aiden,” I say back softly, not sure where my voice went.
Thankfully, as dark as it is, I know he won’t see the blush creeping up my neck as I move quickly from the den toward the stairs, hearing his quiet footsteps shuffling in the other direction as he carries Sophie to the next floor. I peek behind me to catch Aiden’s back as he goes before I head down to my room, catching sight of him leaning to press a kiss to Sophie’s sleeping forehead and feeling something tug at my heart for reasons I can’t explain.
He really is trying,I think.
I smile all the way down the stairs.
Chat with @lovecici
I was wondering if you did private shows.
Sometimes. I’m still kind of new at it.
How much?
It’s $100 for a twenty-minute show.
You sent @lovecici
a $100 tip
I want one, please.
CHAPTER 4
Aiden
Sophie!” I call up the stairs for the second time. “We’re going to be late!” I pull my cell phone back to my ear and continue my pacing on the first floor. “Sorry. Tell me what happened.”
I hear Marco, my sous-chef, sigh on the other end of the line. “Alex forgot to put the scallops in the fridge last night after prep.”
“What?”
“Yeah. They’re ruined.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
“Nope.” I can hear him rummaging around in the kitchen back at the restaurant. “And as far as I can tell, that was our entire supply from this week’s delivery.”
“What thefuck.”
