Page 100 of Dr. Single Dad

“Sue me for wanting to know if my baby brother enjoyed a date with the woman he’s been waiting for his whole life.”

My gaze darts to his.

“What?” He shrugs. “Just telling the truth. Was obvious in Norfolk. I’m glad she’s taken pity on you. Seems like she’s more than you deserve.”

I roll my eyes. “She is.”

Jacob nods. “Good for you.”

For a fleeting second, I wonder if Jacob has even a fraction of the need to protect me as Eira does for her brother and sister. “Thanks Jacob,” I say, my voice softer. “You’re a good brother.”

“Yeah?” he asks. “That’s because you’re terrible, so I have to make up for it.”

I grin at him and disappear over the road with Guinevere.

When I’ve finished locking the doors, I can hear the shower going. I settle Guinevere in her DockATot while I get her milk. As I turn, out of the corner of my eye, my gaze lands on the bottle right next to her.

I grin. Eira can’t help but care. Fuck, how did I get so lucky?

I grab the latestBritish Medical Journaland sit, cradling Guinevere in my arms, and give her the milk. I flip open the publication and start to read. “‘Abstract Objectives To determine the extent and content of academic publishers’ and scientific journals’ guidance for authors on the use of generative artificialintelligence—” I break off. “This is going to be a good one,” I say. “Might even be useful.”

I feel Eira’s hand on my shoulder before I hear her. “What are you doing?” she asks.

“Reading her theBritish Medical Journal. She loves it.”

She laughs. “Of course she does.”

“I’m serious.”

She bends and gives Guinevere a kiss on the head. “Hey, sweet girl. I missed you.”

Maybe I’m imagining it, but I swear there’s a flicker of recognition in Guinevere’s eyes.

“Can I get you anything?” she asks, heading to the kitchen. “I’m grabbing a water.”

My jaw falls open as I see she’s wearing my old Cambridge t-shirt. “No, but I’m going to enjoy the view.”

Her head tilts to one side as if to tell me I’m incorrigible. “I’ll have a drink and call a cab.”

My body tenses and I frown. “A cab for who, exactly?”

She grins at me. “I’ll head back to the flat and?—”

“No, Eira. No, you won’t. I’m not giving you up again.”

She brings her glass over to the table and sits down opposite us. Just her being nearer calms me, like she’s human propofol or something. “It’s just one night. We haven’t discussed logistics or what comes next and?—”

“Do we need to?” I thought I’d made myself completely clear. “I want you. I want to be with you. I love you.”

Even in this low light, I can see her blush.

“I love you too,” she says. “And I want to be with you. But this is new and?—”

“Then stay. There’s no point in you going somewhere just because this feels fast. We both know this is it. That we’re together from now on. Why delay the inevitable?”

She shrugs. “Okay, so I’ll stay.”

I don’t even try to contain my grin. “Okay,” I say.

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