Page 2 of Single Daddy Doctor Dreamy

Perfect timing. I brace myself as my brother’s voice booms through the house before he even reaches the door. “Lucy! Where are you?”

“In here!” I call out, meeting him halfway in the hallway. Aiden scoops me into a bear hug that only a big brother can pull off, lifting me off the ground.

“You made it,” he says, setting me down. His grin falters slightly when his gaze shifts to Joel. “So, this is happening.”

“Nice to see you too, Aiden,” Joel says dryly.

Aiden crosses his arms, his protective brother stance in full effect. “We need to talk,” he says to Joel, jerking his head toward the porch.

Joel’s jaw tightens, but he nods. “Sure. Lucy, why don’t you settle in upstairs? Miles and Finn can show you to your room.”

I’m torn between wanting to eavesdrop and avoiding whatever testosterone-fueled lecture Aiden’s about to deliver. Ultimately, curiosity wins out, and I linger in the hallway long enough to catch the opening line.

“She’s my sister, Joel. Keep it professional, or we’re going to have a problem.”

“I plan on it, Aiden,” Joel states in a firm but frustrated tone.

Great. This is going to be fun.

I wander upstairs to my room, which is far nicer than I expected. The walls are painted a soft fern green, and the bed is covered with a fluffy white duvet that looks impossibly comfortable. There’s even a vase of fresh flowers on the nightstand. Joel’s attention to detail is… surprising.

I sit back and take in the space. The house is warm, inviting. It feels like a home, the kind I always dreamed of having. Not that my childhood with Aiden was bad, but it was chaotic, especially after our parents’ divorce. Seeing Joel manage all this as a single dad is… impressive.

As I unpack, Miles and Finn dart in and out of the room, peppering me with questions. “Do you like pizza?” “Can you play video games?” “Why did you come here?”

The last question catches me off guard. I glance at Miles, who is perched on the edge of the bed, his expression earnest. “Because your dad needed some help with you two wild things,” I say, keeping my tone light. “And I needed a change.”

“Our mom died a long time ago and dad has trouble with us,” Miles states in a matter-of-fact way. He has clearly heard this from another adult because it’s not something an eight-year-old would say.

“Will you miss your friends?” Finn asks softly, his dinosaur clutched to his chest.

“I will,” I admit. “But I’m happy to be here with you guys. And I can always make new friends. Plus, I lived in Everwood as a kid, so I still have a few old friends living in town.”

Miles grins. “Good. We like you.”

“Yeah,” Finn echoes, his shyness melting away.

Their simple approval warms me more than I expected. Maybe this will work out better than I thought.

Downstairs, I hear the murmur of voices, followed by the sound of the front door closing. Aiden must have left. Joel’s voice calls up the stairs, “Dinner’s ready!”

I follow the boys down, finding Joel in the kitchen, setting plates of lasagne on the table. He glances up as I enter, his expression unreadable. “Everything okay?”

“Fine,” I say, though I’m not entirely sure. “Aiden didn’t scare you off, did he?”

“Not yet,” Joel says, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. “But he made his point.”

As Miles and Finn scamper off to wash their hands, Joel turns to me, his green eyes serious. “Aiden’s just… looking out for you. But I want you to know I’ll keep things professional.”

“Good to know,” I manage, my voice steadier than I feel.

The tension between us is subtle but undeniable, like a string pulled taut. As we sit down to eat, I can’t help but wonder how long we can keep this professional facade intact. And honestly, I’m not sure I want to.

The next afternoon, a knock at the door interrupts my thoughts.

“I’ll get it,” I call out, heading for the door. When I open it, I’m met with the curious eyes of a woman holding a pie. She’s in her fifties, with perfectly curled hair and a nosy air about her.

“Hello there,” she says, her eyes narrowing slightly. “You must be the new nanny.”

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