Page 25 of Griffin

My stomach rumbles, and I head for the door before she can make me stay.

“Thanks, Ivy; I’ll see you tonight?”

Ivy frowns at me and holds her hand up to stop me in my place.

“Not so fast; your stomach is screaming. The other day, I made a batch of muffins, and they’re still good. Take some.”

Ivy pulls out a bag of muffins and tosses them to me.

“Blueberry. Have a good day.”

Her smile stays with me for the rest of the day.

I can barely concentrate, especially when I devour the muffins. They’re fucking good, so add that to her list of skills.

“How’s it going with Ivy?” Kevin asks, draining a bottle of water. “She seems happy.”

I’m lost for words until I realize he’s not referring to anything other than his daughter helping out with my daughter.

“Good, yeah, Melody loves her.”

Kevin eyes me, and I meet his gaze.

“What?”

What if Ivy told her dad I make her uncomfortable?

Does she catch me looking at her, and it makes her feel weird?

“I hear you had steak.”

Relief ripples through me.

Thank fuck that’s all he has to say.

“Yeah, she’s great. I told her I’m gonna pay her more if she’s doing more for us, you know? Can’t say I’m not grateful. I slept like a log last night.”

It’s true.

Working in this heat is hard enough, but having a full belly and a happy kid meant I slept better last night. All thanks to Ivy.

“She’s happy; you don’t need to overpay her.” Kevin frowns. “She’s out Friday night, so I’m sure she’ll spend it on shit wine.”

He chuckles, but I can only imagine what it would be like to meet Ivy on a night out.

If she wasn’t twenty years younger than me and wasn’t my best friend’s daughter.

I push the thoughts away, trying not to think about who she’ll attract on Friday night, reminding myself that she’s off limits, not interested, and too fucking young.

Twenty-one isn’t young, but it is when you’re forty.

But shit.

I don’t care; it’s not like it will ever happen.

“We did it,” I remind Kevin as he nods.

“I know; I just don’t want any old prick taking advantage of her.” Kevin shakes his head. “She’s better than this town. Better than anyone in it, too.”

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