Page 129 of The Single Dads Club
“Yes, thank you.” She folded the napkin and set it on the empty dish.
I took our plates to the kitchen, and after a giving each a quick rinse, loaded them into the dishwasher. Alexa had cleaned as she cooked, because the dishwasher was loaded with the pots and implements she’d used while preparing supper. She leaned against the counter and watched me finish the rest.
“You said it was a mistake, but you did film one video…” Her voice trailed off and her eyes went wide, like she knew she’d been caught snooping.
My breath caught in my throat and my cock stirred in my jeans. “You’ve seen it?” The idea of her watching me have sex with another woman was… weird…and horrifying but also incredibly fucking hot.
Her cheeks flushed crimson and I knew she’d not only seen it, but probably even gotten herself off while watching it.
Ah, hell.
Chapter 8
Alexa
“Lexa, will you help me?”
Lily’s sudden appearance in the kitchen couldn’t have come at a better time. I needed a heaping dose ofshut the hell up. I’d practically just admitted to Cade that I’d watched him have sex. God, I sounded like a creeper. But creeping on the resident porn star wasn’t why I was here. It was this sweet little girl now looking at me with big eyes and a even bigger smile. The fact that her brother made me hotter than hell was beside the point.
I followed her to her room and helped her get undressed, removing her leggings and tunic while she kept one hand on her walker, holding herself up. I could tell that as she got tired, her coordination and muscle control went south. She pointed to the drawer where she kept her pajamas, informing me that she wanted the Cinderella ones. I couldn’t help but notice that the drawer also held a few gently worn, adult-sized T-shirts. Cade’s I presumed. Those were probably full-length dresses on her. The thought made me smile.
I found the pink Cinderella nightgown trimmed in yellow lace and slipped it on over her head. I noted a small puckered scar from a recent surgery and a pronounced dimple where her spine had failed to fuse properly before birth. Poor little thing. I delicately touched the patch of skin, wishing my hands held the power to heal.
I lifted her into bed and secured the covers around her. “Get some rest, sweet pea.” I brushed her blonde curls back from her forehead and leaned in to press a kiss to the center of it. She smiled sleepily up at me, her eyes already beginning to fall closed.
“Night-night, Caden,” she whispered.
I turned and saw his large form filling the open doorway, his expression serious.
Cade remained silent, but his eyes were locked on me. Watching everything I did, my every movement with her. The intensity of his gaze sent a rush of heat skittering along my spine. His look was both curious and possessive.
I crept from the room, and he backed away from the doorway, allowing me to close it behind us. I stood before him in the hallway, which suddenly felt crowded and narrow.
“You probably had better things to do than babysit all afternoon.” His voice was soft, careful.
“No, it’s fine.” I couldn’t believe I’d been here for almost six hours. The truth was it was nice being here, feeling helpful and needed. It was better than sitting alone in my empty apartment, studying the same material I already knew like the back of my hand.
He stepped in closer and lifted a hand to my cheek, brushing his thumb along the line of my jaw. “Thanks for taking care of her,” he said, his callused thumb whispering a delicate path along my skin. “I’m not used to accepting help.”
I nodded, not trusting my voice to work.
“Do you have to go or do you have time to stay for a drink?”
I nodded again, still finding it hard to put words together.
“You have to go?” He dropped his hand.
I shook my head, immediately missing the feel of his hand on my cheek. “No, I can stay.”
A lazy grin tugged at the corner of his lips. “Come on then. I have beer, and I think I could even rustle up a bottle of wine.”
“Beer is fine.” Something icy to cool me off would be perfect right now.
I headed to the living room while he collected two bottles from the fridge. I’d just sat down on the couch when he joined me and handed me an ice cold beer. The beer was refreshing after such a long day, and I leaned back against the sofa, propping my feet up on the coffee tableand sighed softly. He grinned at me, as if in agreement that it was tiring caring for her. I returned his smile, knowing he also knew she was worth every second of work.
I glanced around the sparse living room. No feminine touch here. No throw pillows, knick-knacks or candles, or any of the other things that made a house feel like a home. The room contained a large picture window efficiently covered with wooden blinds, a hunter-green sofa and armchair and a pair of matching coffee and end tables, one of which held a softly glowing lamp. It was sparse, but it was enough. You could tell this house was filled with love. It was completely at odds with how I first pictured Cade’s life. I imagined him to be a playboy bachelor, probably out with a different woman every night of the week and living in a bachelor pad in the middle of the city.
When I finally looked over at the man himself, I realized he was watching me from beneath hooded eyes. I took another sip of my beer and broke the connection.
