Page 9 of Tempt

I grin. “That’s quality supervision.”

“What’s supervision?” Andy takes an oversized bite of pasta.

“When someone needs to watch someone else to make sure they’re doing a good job and don’t get into trouble,” Daniel offers.

“This way you can watch your dad and make sure he doesn’t steal one of the animals,” I say.

Andy erupts into laughter, and even Daniel smirks into his pasta before reaching for his water glass.

The gold band on his ring finger glints in the light and my chest tightens.

This was such a happy moment, I forgot that their family wasn’t always the two of them.

“Dad, I need to bring pots for school this week. We’re planting flowers.”

“Uh. Yeah.” Daniel rubs a hand through his hair, looking distracted. He rises and grabs his phone off the island, cursing softly. “And you have soccer tomorrow. Are your clothes clean?”

Andy flips his palms. “I don’t remember.”

“If they smell like anything but sunshine and manufactured rainbows, they’re dirty,” I offer.

He snorts and turns to his dad. “Can I go play?”

“After you put your dishes away and check on your clothes.”

Andy dutifully carries his plate to the sink then takes off down the hallway for the stairs.

“He’s a great kid,” I murmur when he’s out of earshot and Daniel returns to the table.

“The best. I lucked out.”

“Luck has nothing to do with it.” I take the last bite of pasta on my plate, eyeing my companion as I chew and swallow. “You’re doing a hell of a job.”

“Thank you. It still feels like I’m not most of the time.” Daniel slings an arm over the back of his chair. “I kept telling myself it would get easier.”

“Does it?”

“Yes and no. I’m starting the tenure process—basically the world’s biggest performance review,” he goes on at my questioning look. “I need help. With Andy. With keeping our lives organized. With making sure we’re not deciding between McDonalds and frozen food every night.”

I point to my empty plate. “Evening turned out pretty well from where I’m sitting.”

He shifts forward in his seat. “How are you so good with kids? Did you babysit a lot? Have younger siblings?”

“Only one brother, he’s older. I guess I’m a kid at heart.”

He nods, reaching for his water.

For a man who’s so open about some things, he’s good at hiding what he’s thinking.

“So, what happens after your roommate leaves?”

I twirl my wineglass by its stem. “I’ll live alone or find a new place to live for the semester.”

“Where would you go?”

“I don’t know. But I’ll figure it out. I always do.” I drain the last few sips of my wine in a gulp. “Bathroom?”

“Down the hall on your right.”

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