Page 16 of Who's Your Daddy
There are cacti and ferns and spider plants and at least ten other species I can’t name. We’ve stepped into a house plant jungle. And not one of them was in the pictures Brian sent me.
Why the hell would the guys fill the whole place like this?
Murphy sighs. “It’s my dad, right?”
“Um.” It’s all I can come up with. I’m too stunned to form words.
“He’s the weird plant guy, isn’t he?” It’s a question, but there’s certainty in Murphy’s tone.
I blink. “Maybe?” I can’t picture it being Brian or Sully. And yet I’ve never known Cal to be into plants. His office in NewYork is plant free, and I’m certain I didn’t see any the one and only time I was in his penthouse.
Cal appears in the kitchen doorway, dressed in joggers and a T-shirt, with a mister in his hand, singing softly to himself.
As I assess him, it occurs to me that I’ve never seen him dressed so casually. It’s disconcerting the way my eyes can’t help but eat up every inch of him.
The second he spots us, he freezes, his eyes widening, like we’ve caught him off guard. But an instant later, he breaks into that stupid sexy smile of his.
“Oh, hi,” he says, affecting a casual stance, like the room we’ve just stepped into isn’t something straight out of the Jungle Book. “I didn’t know you were here already.” When neither of us says anything, his expression goes pinched for a second, almost betraying his nerves, but he recovers quickly. “I was just getting ready to give these little babies their special midday showering.” His eyes move over the room, softening. “Aren’t they perfect?”
“Why?” I ask, looking from one plant to another. And another. Andanother. “Why are there seventeen plants in this room?”
“Because the lighting in my room isn’t right.” He shrugs.
“No.” I scoff. “That’s not what I meant. Why do you have so many of them?”
“Jeeze, you sound like Sully.” With a shake of his head, he sets the mister on the table. “I thought one would be enough. But then when I went to the store, I realized that if I only picked a single plant, I’d be taking it away from its family. So I got them all. I didn’t want anyone to be lonely.” Cal surveys his new friends, his shoulders slumping almost imperceptibly. “Turns out taking care of plants isn’t as easy as it seems.”
“My dad is the weird plant guy,” Murphy whispers, “and he’s not even good at it.”
At this moment it’s hard to disagree with that statement. This is already going poorly.
I clear my throat. “How about we get Murphy settled and then can we focus on the plants?”
Cal straightens again, and that smile is back. “Yes, wait until you see your room, it’s the best.” Still beaming, he rushes towards us.
As he gets close, I’m engulfed in his spicy cologne. I have to fight the urge to lean in and sniff. I’d never admit it but I’ve always loved how he smells. His scent is just one more annoying attribute on the long list of them that Callahan Murphy possesses.
He snags the small suitcase from me, causing our hands to brush. The brief contact sends warmth rushing up my arm and forces all rational thought from my brain.
“Come on, Lola,” he sings, quickly reminding me that I hate him.
“Lo,” I snap.
“Whatever Lola wants.”Cal’s laughter echoes off the low ceiling in the tiny hallway as he practically skips toward the door labeled Murphy’s room.“I got you the best room.”
Murphy says nothing. He just stops a couple of steps inside the door and freezes.
When I follow him in, I see why.
The mattress on the opposite wall is in a blue race car frame. The desk beside it matches.
“When I saw this bed, I knew it would be perfect.” In two strides, Cal is on the other side of the room. He drops onto the colorful comforter and bounces up and down. “I got the extra springy mattress. Come try it.”
Slowly, Murphy slips his backpack off his shoulders. It lands on the floor with a thunk, and then he’s cautiously shuffling to the tiny bed.Carefully he sits next to Cal, making sure to leave a couple of inches of space between them.
Cal bounces again, launching Murphy into the air. He catches the little boy with ease, and while he chuckles, Murphy doesn’t even crack a smile.
“Isn’t it great?” Cal’s tone is full of glee.
