Page 69 of Single Dad Dilemma
Chapter Seventeen
Lily
Pretty much from the moment I walked in, I was gaping like a little kid. Absolutely no chill—which was never my favorite look.
Look! We spend money on all the things!every inch proclaimed.
Everything was big. And shiny. And no matter where I turned, that logo from his quarter-zip was right in my fucking face. While a very serious man with a very serious badge checked my ID, I pursed my lips and looked around the sprawling lobby.
“You sure he knows I’m here?”
Bryce shrugged. Maggie turned a cartwheel in the middle of the lobby, garnering the applause of a few massive-looking guys who passed by.
“Exactly how sick are your grandparents?” I asked him. The text from Robin had been scant in details, which didn’t help someone of my skeptical nature.
He shrugged again. “I dunno. Grandma just said they were super contagious and couldn’t drive and we needed you to take us.”
“Huh.”
While Mr. Security Guard typed up my information for some official-looking guest pass, I glanced over my shoulder, doing a doubletake at the sight of a massive photo of Barrett on the opposite wall, shaking the hand of a white-haired woman in a white Chanel suit.
Speaking of suits.
His frame, large and broad, was fitted in a charcoal suit tailored to absolute fucking perfection. Whoever had cut that thing deserved a raise—several of them, in fact. My heart fluttered behind my ribs at the proud tilt of his jaw, the confident gleam in his eye.
“Here you go, Miss Townsend,” the security guard said, sliding the visitor badge across the desk. That was big and shiny, too, attached to a red ribbon,Buffaloprinted on a repeating pattern in blocky white letters. God, I bet they all saw that word in their sleep. “This will get you access throughout the building.”
“Everywhere?” I asked. “Like, I can break into Barrett’s office with this thing?”
His eyes never left the screen in front of him. “You can try.”
“Hmm. I think I’ll pass.”
“Probably wise.”
“Thank you.” I pulled it over my head and let it drape over my Dolly Parton sweatshirt, which he eyed, bushy eyebrows rising briefly.
I straightened the hem where it hung over my jeans and combat boots, then nodded at Maggie. “Let’s go, superstar. You’re going to have to lead the way because I have no friggin’ clue where anything is in this monstrosity.”
The guard cleared his throat.
I gave him a small smile. “Sorry. It’s very lovely.”
He shook his head and turned back to the computer at his desk.
“This way,” Maggie said, skipping off to the right and down a gleaming hallway lined with more giant pictures. Players and coaches from the past. Iterations of jerseys and snapshots of very large men holding trophies over their heads. Everything in white and red and silver.
We passed a few employees who knew the kids by name, and every single one of them gave me a curious once-over. God, they’d think I was the nanny. Or they’d think I was the fiancée.
A groan got trapped in my throat because I wasn’t even thinking about how people might pay attention tomein this whole little favor.
We took a few more turns, and I was hopelessly lost, when a striking woman with curly brown hair and killer curves came out the double doors at the end of the hallway, her face softening into a smile when she caught sight of the kids.
“There you are,” she said. “We’re getting everything set up for you, Maggie.” The kids sprinted down the hallway, eliciting laughter from both of us. She paused, tilting her head as she looked me up and down. “I’m sorry, I was expecting Coach’s parents. You are ...?”
“Lily.” I cleared my throat. “I’m the neighbor. They’re, um, sick or something. I’m just playing chauffeur today.”
“Got it.” She glanced at the watch on her wrist and blew out a harsh breath through puffed-out cheeks. “We need to head in there. You ever watched a practice?”
