Page 65 of Sexy Bad Daddy

“Is that the duck from the golf club?” Garrett asks.

“Um … yes.”

“You stole a duck?”

Furrowing my brow, I shake my head. “No. She adopted me. Seriously, I can’t get the duck to leave me alone. I—”

“I understand. Completely. I have the same problem.”

“Huh?”

“I don’t want to leave you alone, either.”

Suddenly, he’s bending over me, pulling Abby out of my lap. Wrapping his hand around my upper arm, he tugs me to my feet.

“Um, I should … umph.” My words are muffled by his shirt as he’s dragged me into a hug so tight, it rivals the one Abby gave Ducky.

Ducky? Why do I have a feeling the thing finally has a name?

Without relinquishing his hold, Garrett cups my chin and lifts my face, and then he crashes his lips against mine and oh God, it’s the greatest feeling in the whole wide world. I choke on a sob as I melt against him, wrap my arms around his neck, and open my mouth, welcoming the intrusion of his tongue, my leg lifting like I want to climb his body. Which I do, actually. I want—

“Fuck, I’m so glad to see you,” he says after stopping to take a breath. I’m raining tiny smacking kisses all over his face while he talks. “Why did you run away? Why won’t you answer your phone? Why haven’t I been able to find you? Where the fuck does your best friend live, anyway?”

I freeze as reality slides down my spine like a trickle of icy cold water. I try to extract myself from his arms, but he won’t let me go.

“No way,” he says, apparently guessing my intentions. “You aren’t going anywhere. Not until we talk.” He glances down at his daughter. “Abby, take the duck—”

“Ducky.”

He rolls his eyes. “Ducky. Right. Take Ducky and Spot and go find Uncle James, please.”

Abby places the duck on the grass and gives Spot’s leash a tug. “Come with us, Ducky.” Much to my surprise, the bird waddles along by her side without so much as a backward glance in my direction.

“Huh,” I say, watching them.

“Huh, what?” Garrett says.

“That’s the first time the duck has been willing to leave my side since that night.”

“Are you telling me I’m stuck with a duck now?”

I shake my head. “No. I’ll take her home with me. I wouldn’t—”

“Well, since your home is at my place, I guess that answers my question. Although I don’t even know if ducks are allowed in our building.”

Leaning away so I can look up into his face, I say, “What did you just say?”

“I said I don’t know if ducks are allowed in our building. But don’t worry, I’ll work it out—”

“No, no. Before that. My home is at your place? Is that what you said?”

“Yes, it is. It’s—”

“You still want me to be your nanny after that debacle at the golf club? You didn’t lose all your sponsors?”

“Not all of them, no. Quite a few, though, and I’m probably going to be footing a fair portion of my expenses for the rest of the season out of my own pocket, but Callum’s got some ideas for next year. And no, I don’t want you to be my nanny. Evie’s been great, actually. I’ve hired her full time.”

My heart drops to my toes.

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