Page 76 of Forbidden Flame

I whistled. “I don’t envy you when she’s a teenager.”

“At least Sebastian will be in the same boat.” Knox joined us as Addy ran back over to Izzy and Ember.

“Daphne, this is Knox.”

Knox nodded in her direction. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Mommy, come see the caterpillar,” Izzy called her over.

“They get along okay?” Knox nodded at the girls, who had their heads bent over something in Addy’s palm.

“They were great,” I said to him. “Thanks for letting Addy come over.”

Knox rocked back on his heals. “I was surprised to hear that you initiated a playdate.”

Sarah and Daphne were friends, so it might have made more sense if it came from Sarah. “I know what you’re thinking—”

“What should I be thinking? And don’t just say Daphne’s a nice girl. I’ve heard that before.”

“What do you want me to say? That I like her? That I’m the biggest idiot in the world. That our families could never get along.”

“I’m not going to tell you that. You can’t help who you like. But don’t you think the family feud might make her more attractive? She’s the forbidden fruit and all that? She is the youngest sibling. You’re either brave or incredibly stupid.”

I chuckled without any humor. “I think it’s the latter.”

“Do we need to have a conversation about dating single moms?”

“I’d take any advice I can get. The father’s never been in the picture other than financially.”

Knox let out a breath. “That’s something at least. He seriously never comes around?”

“When she got pregnant, he had plans to go to med school. He didn’t want anything to get in the way. I don’t know if it’s him paying the child support or it’s his parents. I don’t know the whole story. I just know that she has her family for help, but she can’t count on the dad.”

“And now you.”

I wanted to deny it, but, “I’m helping her learn to ride a bike.”

“You know that’s a big deal, right? That her father or even her uncles should be doing that?”

I chuckled. “Apparently, she refused to ride it unless I was there.”

“Seriously?” Respect shone in his eyes, and at my nod, he continued, “You must have made quite the impression.”

“She makes it easy,” I said, watching Izzy who was looking up at her mom.

“They do. Don’t they? They just want love and attention.”

“I can’t imagine living my life and pretending my child doesn’t exist. Letting someone else get the joy of raising her. Letting my daughter feel like she was abandoned.”

Knox shook his head. “Addy’s lucky her dad stepped up shortly after I came into their lives. Whether he viewed me as competition or something else, I don’t know, but it worked.”

I’d heard the story of Gary moving to Maryland so he could exercise his visitation more easily. “Now she has both of you.”

Knox clasped my shoulder. “It’s the best of both worlds. But make sure this is what you want.”

He stepped back and said, “Addy, Ember, we have to get home for dinner.”

If this thing with Daphne continued its current path, I’d have no problem with having Izzy in my life. I’d welcome the opportunity to be the father figure she needed. I had an example of how not to be, and I’d do my best to fill her father’s vacant shoes.

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