Page 57 of Summer with the Single Dad

He nodded. “Yeah.”

Her head bobbed, jostling her now-frizzy curls. “Yeah, that … that sounds okay. Not too bad. I can do that.”

He squeezed her tight and kissed her head. “That’s my brave kid. And for the record, I am very, very proud of you for protecting the baby squirrel.”

“Do veterinarians have to go to college?”

“For a very long time.”

Her frown was hilarious. “Darn.”

Just then, the front door opened and in walked a sun-kissed beauty in a big beach hat. She wore a black bikini beneath a white, mesh-style beach cover-up, flip-flop sandals, and had a huge wicker beach bag, or purse, or whatever slung on her elbow. Her sunglasses were dark and huge and covered a large part of her face, and a rolled-up towel and water bottle stuck out of the bag-thing. She looked like the poster child for a day at the beach.

“Justine!” Aya cheered, leaping off Bennett’s lap and rushing Justine to wrap her arms around her torso. “I punched a kid today at school. But only because she punched me first.”

Justine had her hand on Aya’s head and was smiling, but her smile dropped when Aya bombarded her with the news of her battle royale. Her gaze shot to Bennett, and she removed her sunglasses. “Are you okay? Is she okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. No bruises or broken bones. I’m tough. See?” She swiveled her face side-to-side like she had for Bennett. “And I punched Carnation in the belly.”

“What happened?” Justine asked. She ditched her bag, hat, and sunglasses. Then dropped to a crouch in front of Aya, getting right down to her level. “Who would want to hit a wonderful little kid like you?”

“I know, right?” Aya said with a casual shrug.

Bennett smothered his laugh with his hand and watched as the woman he’d fucked against a tree that morning interacted so beautifully with his child.

“Carnation was throwing rocks at a baby squirrel, and I tried to get the rocks out of her hand, then she punched me. So I punched her.” Aya was already on the mend from her earlier tears and taking the explanation the second time around in stride. “My consequence is early to bed and fewer books at bedtime.” Her eyes lit up. “Can you read me my bedtime books?” Then a streak of panic flew across her flawless face. “Unless that’s a consequence too? Dad?”

“Justine is a guest. We can’t ask her to do—”

“I don’t mind,” Justine said. “I love reading.” But she glanced at Bennett. “Unless it’s part of her consequence?”

Aya’s puppy dog eyes were in full-on attack-mode. He was a sucker for those eyes.

“I suppose not,” he said slowly.

Aya cheered and Justine chuckled.

“We were just about to have a snack. Do you want to have a snack with us?” Aya offered. “Where were you? The beach? Which beach? Did you build a sandcastle? Did you put on sunscreen? What does it smell like? We like the orange blossom smelling one that sprays on. It’s not too greasy, but you have to be careful not to get it in your eyes. Did you get it in your eyes? Is that why you were wearing sunglasses and a ha—”

“That’s enough questions, Little Bug. Let Justine get in the house.”

Aya pouted and let go of Justine’s hand as Justine stood up.

“I did go to the beach. I went to Humpback Bay, and it was so warm and wonderful. I didn’t build a sandcastle. I also didn’t go swimming as the water was pretty cold and I’m a chicken.” That made Aya giggle. “I put sunscreen on, but mine doesn’t spray. It’s a stick. And I didn’t get it in my eyes. I was careful. You’ll have to show me your orange blossom one. That sounds delicious.”

“You can’t eat it, silly,” Aya said with a giggle.

Justine bopped her index finger on Aya’s nose. “I know, but things can still smell delicious.”

“Like barbecued steak. I like the smell, but I don’t like the taste.”

“Yes, just like that.”

“So what’d you do at the beach, then?”

“I read and I napped, and I ate my lunch.”

“That sounds really boring.”

---