Page 3 of The Single Dad

Now the tables have turned. Am I about to lose my best friend because of these thoughts I have of his sister? But I guess, if they’re just thoughts and I don’t act on them, it will be fine. Right? Nobody else has to know.

“Ow! Crap!”

The loud yelp echoes from upstairs, sharp and pained. My chest tightens, fear crawling up my spine. I’m up in seconds, moving before my brain catches up, taking the stairs two at a time.

As a father to a boy who likes grabbing things he shouldn’t, my protective instincts are sharp and give me superhuman strength and speed.

Without thinking, I shove open the guest bedroom door, heart hammering, half-expecting to find Noelle on the floor, injured and bleeding or worse.

Instead, she’s standing in the middle of the room, balancing on one foot, her hands clutching the other. Her face twists in pain, frustration burning in her eyes.

No blood or broken bones. That’s good.

I glance down. A single, cursed yellow LEGO piece lies on the floor, and another sticks to her foot.

Shit.

I exhale sharply, rubbing a hand over my face, willing my heart to calm down. “Jesus. You almost gave me a heart attack over a LEGO?”

She glares at me. “Have you ever stepped on one of these? Because I swear, I saw my life flash before my eyes. I thought I stepped foot in hell.”

I smirk, crossing my arms. Have I ever stepped on one? She should have seen the murderous look on my face each time I saw someone gift my son a box of LEGOs. I’m still convinced it’s the work of the devil, and no one can tell me otherwise. “Want me to call an ambulance?”

She narrows her eyes. “Keep laughing, old man. Karma’s watching.”

I step closer, instinct pulling me in. She’s still balancing on one foot, still gripping her ankle, and for some reason, I feel the overwhelming urge to steady her. My hands twitch at my sides.

And that’s the exact moment it registers on me.

Noelle’s not wearing anything. She only has a thin towel wrapped around her luscious body.

Holy mother of…

That stops me in my tracks, my smile disappearing. I’m firing on all cylinders, spiraling inward. I need to step outside, go back to my beer, and forget the vision of a semi-naked Noelle.

My body fails to get the memo, though, and I stand there staring at her for what seems like hours. Noelle realizes it a beat too late because her eyes widen, and she briefly drops her gaze to the thin piece of fabric covering her. The only thing between us. Gone is the playful glint in her eyes and replaced by the flush creeping on her chest, neck, and cheeks.

“I-I should leave. Are you sure you’re okay?”

Noelle nods and forces a smile. “Yeah, yeah.”

“Okay. Good. Just call me if you need anything.”

I start to back out of the room when my eyes snag on something. Her luggage is open, its contents spilling out. It’s just a bunch of clothes, some folders, but…

A bright pink eggplant-shaped something sits on top of it, and it looks suspiciously like…

“Oh my God.” Noelle runs across the room and dives to the floor to cover her luggage. “Don’t look, Adrian, please. I swear. This isn’t mine. My roommate must have packed it as a joke. I’m sorry. I’ll throw it out. Please forget you ever saw it.”

Noelle keeps rambling, but I can no longer hear a word she says. In fact, all my other senses have dulled except my sight. In her hurry to cover the sex toy, Noelle has forgotten one important thing—she only has a towel on. A towel that wasn’t secured to her body. A towel that slipped off her. A towel that now lies on the floor.

And there she is in all her naked glory.

Her ass is up in the air as she hurriedly zips her luggage, and I spot the exact moment she realizes it. Her whole body stiffens, and she slaps both hands to her mouth.

A more decent man would turn around and leave her in peace. But my moral compass has never truly pointed north, and I do what a shameless, sex-starved guy in my position will.

I stare and stare and stare.

---