Page 31 of Challenged by the Single Dad

A tightness filled Chloe’s chest, and she forced out a smile as she started taking apart the bellini machine. “Hopefully, I stick around long enough to meet them all.”

Renée headed for the door. “I’m sure you will. Have a great night.”

“You too.”

And then she was alone.

With her emotions, the sudden rush of grief, and the never-far-from-her-mind guilt, hoping that the island was a magical as everyone made it out to be, and being here would finally bring her the peace she so dearly longed for.

CHAPTER SIX

Theguiltwasn’tasthick inside him as it probably should have been as he watched Chloe on the camera as she cashed out that night.

The bar was his baby. His responsibility. And he needed to make sure it was well taken care of.

Sure, he did his best to be present for Silas.

They made homemade mac ‘n’ cheese together for dinner, then he got out the tabletop campfire and they roasted marshmallows and made s’mores.

Silas had a stack of books he made Dom read him. Then they played Go Fish, followed by Connect Four. When he tucked his son in at night, Silas said it was the best day ever because he got to spend so much of it with Dom.

That, of course, choked Dom up something fierce, and he hugged his kid tighter and longer than normal. He then sat on the edge of his son’s bed, stroking his head until he fell asleep.

Then he sat there even longer and just watched him sleep.

Peaceful. Innocent. And perfect.

It was curiosity and nerves that pulled him from his son’s room and prompted Dom to pace his living room and dining room, itching to know what was going on down at the bar.

Then he stood on his porch with his door open so he could hear Silas if he woke up, but kept his ears peeled for sounds down at the bar.

He heard nothing out of the ordinary. Just voices, cars coming and going, and the odd burst of laughter.

No smoke alarms, no gunshots, no terrified screaming.

Still, that didn’t mean chaos wasn’t quietly taking shape inside.

He was still on the porch, drinking a beer and sitting in a lawn chair when the crunch of gravel beneath footsteps pulled his attention to the three shadowy figures approaching.

“Tell me you’re not sitting here eavesdropping?” Brooke asked, disappointment in her tone. “The bar is busy, but Renée and Chloe are managing just fine.”

“Can’t eavesdrop. It’s too far away,” he grumbled, tipping his beer to his lips.

“You’re trying to though,” Justine replied.

“I haven’t gone down there.” He sighed. “That’s saying something.”

“True,” Vica replied, “but hiring Chloe was supposed to put your mind at ease. To give you the opportunity to relax. This does not look like relaxing.”

“People relax in different ways.”

The women stood in front of him now, staring down at him with gazes of genuine concern. It was tough to see their faces in the dark, since he’d flicked off the porch light to keep the bugs from going in the house. But he could feel their worry.

“She’s lovely, Dom. I don’t think you have anything to worry about.” Justine rested a hand on his shoulder. “My goodness, you’re tense.”

He grunted.

“You need to go see Phia or JD at Unger Wellness for a massage,” Vica added. “I swear JD’s hands are magic.”

---