Page 71 of Single Dad Dilemma
He crossed his arms. “You’re here.”
“Astute as always.”
“Why?”
I gave him an incredulous look. “You expected your sick parents to drive them here?”
“My—” His face froze. “My what?”
I grabbed my phone and held it out for him. “This is the text I got.”
Barrett’s face disappeared again as he tipped his head down to read the text, his chest expanding on a deep, measured inhale that soundeda whole lot like annoyance. I knew what he was reading, because I’d stared at it all morning before deciding that I could, in fact, handle seeing Barrett in scary, growly coach mode.
Robin:I’m so sorry to do this, but my husband and I are terribly ill. Would you be willing to take the kids to the team facilities? Maggie is needed there for her show, and she’d be devastated if they had to reschedule.
Me:Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. It must have hit you fast, you were both okay yesterday.
Robin:Really fast. Just ... knocked us completely over. Do you think you could pick them up at 3 PM? Maggie will have the address to the facilities.
Me:Sure, I can do that. Do you want me to bring you any soup or anything?
Robin:Oh no, that’s fine, thank you, sweetheart. We’re just going to hide in our room so we don’t get anyone sick. Tell Barrett we’ll see him when he gets home from work.
A rock had more expression than his face reading through the text thread, but a muscle twitched ominously in his jaw. Before he returned the phone, Barrett muttered something under his breath that I couldn’t understand, and when our fingers brushed, his eyes flashed dangerously.
“You seem surprised by this turn of events,” I said slowly.
His gaze traced over my face. “Astute as ever.”
“Oh, goodie, the man has jokes today.”
He ignored that. “My parents were perfectly fine this morning when I left for work.”
I blinked. “Your mom lied?”
“Apparently.”
“Why?”
He gave me a pointed look, and I felt the heat crawl up my cheeks.
“Oh.”
“Yeah.Oh.”
“Coach, who is this lovely creature and why don’t we know her?”
Barrett’s eyes never left mine. “Go away, Justice.”
“Nope. Can’t.” He approached with a wide white-toothed smile and dimples deep in his cheeks. The guy was easily six five, muscles on muscles, his thick arms covered in ink, and so freaking gorgeous that I couldn’t help but stare. “I’m Justice Tyler. And who do I have the pleasure of meeting?”
Barrett sighed. He was doing that a lot today. Maybe he had breathing problems.
I raised my chin and held out my hand. “Lily Townsend.”
Justice took my hand and turned it, raising it up to his mouth to drop a kiss on my knuckles. I couldn’t help it—my cheeks were on fucking fire.Anyone’swould have been. Imagine Michael B. Jordan walks up and kisses your hand. You’d be blushing, too, okay?
Barrett cleared his throat pointedly, glaring at my hand in Justice’s until the man dropped it, giving me a tiny wink as he did. “How do you know Coach? He never brings friends, so this is a very exciting day for all of us.”
