Page 25 of Single Daddy Doctor Dreamy

"Yet," her mom says smoothly, a sly smile tugging at her lips. "But I’m a patient woman."

The table bursts into laughter, even Aiden chuckling despite his earlier protests. I catch Lucy glancing at me occasionally, her expression unreadable but soft. There’s a vulnerability there that feels rare, even in moments like this.

"Alright, alright," Aiden says, raising his hands. "Enough about me. Let’s talk about something else."

"Fine," Lucy’s mom says, clearly not ready to let him off the hook but willing to change the subject. "How about holiday traditions? Joel, do you have any with the boys?"

I clear my throat, grateful for the deflection. "We keep it pretty simple. Gingerbread houses, a lot of Christmas movies, and decorating the tree. Miles insists on putting the star on top every year, even though Finn’s always trying to talk him into trading."

"Classic sibling politics," Lucy says, her laughter light. "It sounds perfect."

"It is," I admit, glancing at her. "Though it’s about to get even more chaotic with someone like you around."

She grins, but there’s a flicker of something deeper in her eyes, something that feels like it’s meant just for me. The moment stretches between us, quiet and meaningful, until Lucy’s mom interrupts.

"Joel," she says, her tone shifting to something more serious, "you’ve been doing an incredible job with those boys. I just want you to know that."

I nod, the weight of her words settling over me. "Thank you. That means a lot."

The conversation drifts again, back to holiday anecdotes and stories of childhood mischief. But even as the laughter flows, I can’t stop myself from glancing at Lucy. Her mom’s earlier comment about me being "in the mix" is still echoing in my head.

After dinner, everyone gravitates to their usual corners. Aiden and I end up in the living room, watching football while Lucy, her mom, and the boys dive into a Monopoly game in the den. It’s the kind of chaos that only a six-year-old who doesn’t understand money can bring. Every so often, Lucy’s laughter rings out, blending with the boys’ squeals of delight.

"You’ve got a good thing going here," Aiden says suddenly, pulling my attention away from the screen.

"What do you mean?"

He nods toward the den. "This. The boys, Lucy. It feels… solid."

I’m not sure how to respond, so I don’t. Instead, I take a sip of my beer and wait for him to continue.

"You’re serious about her, aren’t you?" he asks after a beat.

"Aiden…"

"Don’t Aiden me. Just answer the question."

I sigh, setting the bottle down. "I don’t know. It’s complicated."

"Complicated how? Because she’s my sister?"

"Partly," I admit. "And partly because I… I don’t want to mess this up. She’s important to me, Aiden. And the boys love her."

He’s quiet for a moment, his gaze fixed on the game playing out on the TV. When he finally speaks, his voice is softer. "I just don’t want her to get hurt."

"Neither do I," I say firmly. "That’s the last thing I want."

He studies me, his expression unreadable, before nodding. "Alright. But if you screw this up, I’ll kill you."

I smirk. "Fair enough."

By the time everyone heads home or to their respective guest rooms, the house is quiet again. Lucy’s cleaning up in the kitchen, and I find myself lingering in the doorway, watching her. She moves with an easy grace, singing under her breath as she loads the dishwasher.

"Need help?" I ask.

She glances over her shoulder, smiling. "I’ve got it. But thanks."

I don’t leave, though. Instead, I step closer, leaning against the counter. "You did good today."

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