Page 8 of Single Daddy Doctor Dreamy

It’s perfect, and it’s exactly the kind of distraction I need. At this point, living under the same roof as Joel is getting harder and harder. I have to admit to myself that my teenage crush is cranked up full speed again. I really want to jump his bones but, obviously it would be inappropriate given we are just “pretending” to be in a relationship. But it’s tempting.

Joel and I arrive hand in hand, the boys bounding ahead of us in their costumes. Miles is a pirate, complete with an eyepatch and a foam sword he’s been swishing around all evening. Finn, predictably, insisted on being a dinosaur, his green tail dragging behind him as he stomps and growls at anyone who crosses his path.

“They’re having the time of their lives,” I say, watching as they dive into a ring toss game.

Joel glances at me, his green eyes warm in the glow of the festival lights. “They sure are enjoying themselves.”

There’s something in his tone that tugs at me, a weight he doesn’t let show often. I squeeze his hand without thinking, and his gaze flicks to mine, startled. “What?” I ask, suddenly self-conscious.

“Nothing,” he says, a faint smile curving his lips. “You just surprised me, that’s all.”

“By being nice?”

“No, by being you,” he says simply, and the way he says it makes my stomach flip. I look away, my cheeks warming under his steady gaze.

We spend the next hour weaving through the festival, stopping at booths and games as the boys rack up a collection of prizes. Joel insists on trying his hand at the ring toss, and I can’t stop laughing when he misses every single one. He just shrugs, grinning. “I’m better in the operating room.”

Before I can respond, Finn tugs on my sleeve, begging me to join him in the pumpkin decorating booth.

As the evening stretches on, the festival becomes even more magical. The main stage is lit up now, with a live band playing upbeat covers that have people dancing in the grass. The boys are busy with some kids they know from school, leaving Joel and me to wander on our own. It’s strange, this feeling of being part of something bigger, something that feels almost… normal.

“Want to dance?” Joel asks suddenly, his voice cutting through my thoughts.

I blink at him. “What?”

“Dance,” he says, tipping his head toward the stage where couples are swaying to a slower song. “It might help sell the whole ‘happily together’ thing.”

I hesitate, but the playful glint in his eyes convinces me. “All right, Dr. Anderson. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

He holds out his hand, and I take it, letting him lead me toward the makeshift dance floor. The moment his hands settle on my waist, I forget how to breathe. He’s warm, solid, and entirely too close for comfort—or maybe just close enough.

“You’re not bad at this,” I say, my voice lighter than I feel. His hand tightens slightly on my waist, pulling me closer.

“I have hidden talents,” he replies, his voice low and amused. “Though dancing isn’t usually one of them.”

The song shifts into something slower, softer, and I realize we’re swaying now, our movements in sync without either of us thinking about it. I glance up at him, and the look in his eyes makes my breath hitch. It’s not playful anymore. It’s intense, searching, like he’s seeing parts of me even I don’t understand.

“Lucy,” he says quietly, his voice barely audible over the music.

“Joel, what…” she began, but her words falter as he leads her behind one of the massive oaks that borders the festival grounds. Hidden from view, the noise of the festival dims further, leaving only the sound of her rapid breathing and the hum of voices in the distance.

“Is this better?” he teases softly, his voice a low rumble that sends shivers down her spine.

“Better for what?” she asks breathlessly, though she already knows the answer.

Joel doesn’t reply. He cups her face in his hands, tilting her head just enough to meet his gaze. His thumb brushes over her cheek in a tender, deliberate motion that makes her pulse spike.

“Better for this”, he whispers, his voice thick with restraint.

Instead of pulling away, she leans into him, her hands on his chest as he closes the distance between them. His lips find hers in a kiss that starts slow but quickly ignites. Joel’s mouthis warm, insistent, and utterly consuming as he presses her back gently against the rough bark of the tree. Lucy sighs into him, her body melting into his as his hands slip to her waist, pulling her closer.

When he finally breaks away, they are both breathless, their foreheads touching as they try to steady themselves. Joel’s thumb tracing her bottom lip as he gazes down at her, his expression a mix of desire and something deeper.

In the distance, Lucy hears Miles, “Dad, where are you?”

His answer is interrupted by a loud, familiar voice. “Dr. Anderson! What a surprise to see you here!”

We both turn to find Dr. Rivkin approaching, his smile as fake as the tan he obviously gets from a booth. He’s wearing a suit, of course, looking entirely out of place among the costumed crowd. The sight of him is enough to break the spell Joel and I were under, and I step back instinctively, putting a bit of distance between us.

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