Page 13 of Beautiful Mess

Back at the house, Willow helps me whip up some dinner. I grill the hot dogs outside while she cooks the Kraft Mac & Cheese inside. About two years ago, she started asking me and her mom to let her help in the kitchen. It took me longer to come around to the idea than it did Nicolette, but only because it was much easier to cook it all myself, but once I saw how much Willow enjoyed helping and learning how to make various things, I felt like shit for waiting so long.

And now that she has like five or six things she can make herself under her belt, I must admit it’s nice to have the help.

Once the dogs are grilled to perfection—and byperfection, I mean nearly burned—I saunter into the house, setting them on the kitchen counter. “Almost done?” I ask Willow as I open the cupboard to grab a couple of plates out.

“I already did that!” she blurts out. “And yeah, it’s done. Just stirring in the cheese packets.”

“You did?” I scan the counters.

“Yup, set the table already.”

“Well, look at you go, missy.” I gently squeeze her shoulder as I pass her. “What do you want to drink?”

“Do we have lemonade?”

Opening the fridge, I take a quick inventory. “We don’t, but we do have that vitamin water you like.”

“Oooh, I’ll take that, please.”

After we dish up, we sit down at the table and dig in. The noodles could’ve been cooked a minute or two longer, but I don’t tell her that. She’s getting the hang of it, and I love watching her confidence bloom as she learns each new thing. Cole never had any interest in anything that had to do with the kitchen, and I doubt that’s changed since he moved out. Raising kids so far apart in age and so vastly different than one another is an interesting experience.

“How was school?” I ask.

She shrugs and smiles. “Good.”

“What was the best part of your day?”

Willow used to be a chatterbox, but as she gets a little older, it’s sometimes like pulling teeth getting her to talk about her day.“You wouldn’t get it, Dad. You’re a boy, and kind of old,”she told me, with a straight face, the one and only time I asked why she doesn’t tell me all about her days.

“Oh!” Bouncing in her seat, Willow holds out her arm and says, “Blakely made us friendship bracelets. They match!”

At the mention of Blakely, her mom and the interaction we had at the bakery earlier, pop into my mind.

“That was nice of her,” I offer before shoveling another bite into my mouth.

“Yeah.” She nods and smiles, twisting her bracelet around her little wrist. “Can we have a sleepover soon, Dad?Pleaaaase!”

A chuckle rumbles in my chest at the puppy dog eyes and pouty lip she’s giving me. “I’m sure we can make that happen.”

Willow squeals excitedly, and we finish eating.

“Wanna watch a movie before bed?” I ask her as we clear the table.

She shakes her head. “No, I don’t think so. I got a cool book from the library today, and I think I’d rather read that, if that’s okay.”

“Course it’s okay, peanut.” Bumping her with my hip as I come to a stop at the sink beside her, I say, “How about I do the dishes tonight while you take a shower? Then you can read when you’re done.”

A grin stretches across her face as she jumps up excitedly, and says, “Okay, thanks, Dad,” before disappearing down the hall.

My phone goes off on the counter while I’m finishing the dishes, and when I glance at it, my chest squeezes when it’s Grace’s name I read on the screen. It’s the list of businesses she promised to put together tonight. I’m a little surprised she did it as quickly as she said she would. My mind goes back to her office earlier this afternoon. The way she acts toward me, and the way I reacted to it. It’s a bad idea, but I can’t help but crave another encounter like that. The vision of her wide-eyed look of shock by what I said to her is enough to have my cock twitching in my pants.

Riling her up shouldn’t be as much fun as it is, especially when school just started. We havea lotof time still that we have to work together. If I keep this up, it’s sure to blow up in my face. I’ve got to work on controlling my reactions to her before next week.

Five

Grace

“Blossom Beach Family Medicine, this is Danielle. How may I assist you?”

---