Page 2 of My Forbidden Holidate

Dan Willows likes me.

So does his daughter, though, and I shouldn’t be overthinking this. If he didn’t like me, he wouldn’t trust me with Star almost every day of the week.

“Sweetheart,” Dan sighs, petting his daughter’s head. “Ms. Moona’s wonderful, and I do like her, but it would be—” Our eyes meet from across the kitchen, and a mixture of hot shame and deep longing singes my bones.

“Inappropriate,” he finishes, returning his gaze to his daughter. “She likely already has a date tonight, too. We can’t take that away from her just because we like her so much.”

“But she could stay here,” Star grumbles, scrunching up her face. “We could have sketti and playGo Fish. Ms. Moona’s really good atGo Fish.”

Dan boops his daughter’s nose affectionately and smiles. “I’m sure she is. Why don’t you go wash up for dinner, hm? Grandma will be here soon and she can playGo Fishwith you after sketti.”

“Gramma’s not as good as Ms. Moona,” Star mumbles, doing as she’s told anyhow and disappearing around the corner to the half bathroom. The telltale scrape of her step stool across the hardwood brings a smile to my face.

“She’s a sweet girl,” I say, placing the now empty plates in the sink. “She really loves you. This was all her idea.”

Dan runs a hand through his hair and grimaces. “I have no doubt about her intentions.” Shaking his head, he runs his fingertips through the shiny hearts and sparkles littered across the dining table. “But I doubt you want to spend your evening eating spaghetti with your boss and his daughter.” He flicks the confetti off his fingers and smiles kindly at me. “Even if the spaghetti is world class.”

I can’t help but laugh to cover up how called out I feel. My cheeks flush anew and I decide to be honest. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be tonight, actually. I love your family.”

“Yeah, me too.” Dan’s expression softens and his dark eyes sparkle as he glances down the hallway toward where his daughter is washing her hands. After a moment, he pulls a single rose from the bouquet he placed on the table and brings it over to me. “We love having you here too, Hayden.”

He twirls the rose in his fingertips as he steps around the island toward me. “Thank you for taking care of my daughter. It means the world to us both. You’ve made a big difference these past few months.”

As I stand frozen in stunned silence, he snips the thorny stem off the rose and takes my hand in his. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Hayden. Thank you for everything.” The rose fits perfectly in my palm, and I imagine it’s his heart he’s giving me instead. Red and beautiful, genuine and kind. The image fades as he steps back, but the wish lingers long after he lets go.

I want a family of my own. I always have. I’m only going to college to appease my family, and they made me promise to bring home a diploma instead of a husband.

But when I look at Dan, at how good he is with his daughter and how much she adores him, I wantthatmore than anything. I wanthim.

But I can’t exactly marry my thirty-something year old boss, now can I?

“I kept you late tonight,” Dan says, stirring me from my thoughts as he thumbs through his wallet. “Your date will kill me if I make you late. Here.” He holds out a wad of cash that looks fatter than normal. “For your time, and for dinner. I really, really appreciate everything you do for us.”

I don’t want Dan’s money, but that’s our arrangement and employer and employee. With a lead weight in my heart, I accept the cash and pocket it. “Thanks. Have fun on your date tonight, Mr. Willows.”

He seems to deflate a little but thanks me anyway, then walks me to the door, and I want the gods to smite me more and more with each step. The money feels like a boulder weighing me down, and I’m about to go spend it on a Valentine’s date I don’t even want. I’d rather stay here with him.

As he holds open the door for me, he takes a breath. “Do you… have any plans tonight?”

I nearly stumble down the front steps. “Um. Yeah, a date.” Ablinddate, but I leave that part out so I don’t feel as pathetic. “Like you.”

“Like me,” he mutters, rubbing the back of his neck, “Right.” Clearing his throat, he gestures toward my car. “Don’t let me keep you. Goodnight, Hayden.”

The door closes and I can hear Star running through the hallway as I walk away.

Yeah, I have a date tonight. But I would have given it up in a heartbeat if Dan had asked me to stay… and part of me thinks he almost did.

2

Hayden

Wearing black on Valentine’s Day makes me feel like I’m in mourning— and I kind of am, really, with Dan on my mind. Not only amIgoing out on a date tonight, but he is, too. What if he finds a woman who can watch over Star better than I can? What if she fills his home with laughter and warmth and stability and everything else that a college student can’t provide?

The ache in my chest grows as I walk up to the restaurant and give the host the reservation name. I bet Dan’s going to a fancy restaurant just like this one, and he’ll kiss her hand when they meet, play footsie under the table with her, and have a romantic walk through the park with her that, inevitably, ends up with her panties around her ankles and his name on her lips as she comes undone for his devilish fingers. Or tongue. Or both.

God, do I read too many romance novels. That would never happen to me. But toher, because she’s on a date with Dan and he’s perfect.

She could have that dream date and still go home with him tonight.

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