Page 60 of Summer Fling
I could hear her splashing and babbling, completely unaware of the battle brewing between her parents.
He pulled back slightly and looked at me. "Are you okay?"
I tipped my head slightly. "I am."
"You shouldn't have to deal with this."
"I knew what I was getting into when you hired me. You were upfront about Oakley's habits. When you asked me to be your girlfriend, I suspected she'd have a problem with it."
"Still. I want to shield you from her."
"When I heard her at the door, I brought Lilliana up here so she wouldn't hear her mother's raised voice."
"I appreciate that so much. When Oakley is yelling, it's hard to think, much less react."
I touched his face. "I'm here for you and Lilliana."
He crushed me against his body. It felt like he was overcome with emotions. I couldn't blame him. It was a stressful situation, and his ability to see his daughter hung in the balance. The only thing I could do was be there for him and Lilliana.
Together we finished Lilliana's bath, and then he got her into bed. I watched in the hallway as he dimmed the lights in her room and read her a story in the rocker in the corner. After he finished the story, he sang her a lullaby that had my heart skipping a beat.
I'd never been close enough to see his usual bedtime routine, and it almost felt too personal to be watching now. I slipped away, careful not to make any noise. I didn't want to wake Lilliana.
I took a few deep breaths and grabbed a glass of water, taking it outside to enjoy the quiet evening. It had become a habit for me to come here, and then Dalton would meet me after he got Lilliana in her crib.
A few minutes later, the slider opened. "Why'd you leave?"
"I didn't want to interrupt your moment with her. It was very sweet."
He sat next to me. "I read a book and then sing to her. It was something we started when she was a newborn. She fell asleep in the swing while I held her hand and sung to her. I didn't think I had a good voice, but she's always liked it."
I bumped my shoulder with his. "Because you're her dad. You're her hero."
"I want to be."
"You already are." In my eyes, he was already her hero, her champion. He'd do anything for her, including protecting her from her mother. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her, and it made me fall for him a little more. Fairly soon, I would be in a free fall with no way of going back. Sensing he needed a distraction, I asked, "How's the maze going?"
"I talked to Willow, who's getting me in contact with a topiarist. I need someone who can maintain it too. But one step at a time."
"I can't wait to see it. It's going to be amazing."
"Yeah, Phyllis wants to have another party to celebrate the grand opening." Then he focused on me. "You should go out with the girls. Didn't they ask you out?"
"Yeah, but you need me here."
"I can handle one night without you. I'm used to doing this all on my own."
I smiled. "Are you trying to get rid of me?"
He sobered. "Not at all. I just want you to be happy. It's probably selfish of me to even think this, but if you had friends here, maybe you'd decide to stay."
I hadn't realized he wanted me to stay. That it was even a consideration for him. "I would like to go out with the girls. I've missed having that connection with other women."
"Go out and have fun. I'll look forward to you coming home."
I rested my head on his shoulder. "How have you not been snatched up by some lucky woman yet?"
He groaned. "I got tangled up in Oakley; that's how."
