Page 7 of Daddy's Perfect Ballerina

Once the office door shuts behind Henry and Noah, I acknowledge him fully.

“Leo,” I greet, keeping a firm edge to my voice. After all, I am supposed to be upset with him for listening through the door. If he were mine and I’d caught him, his ass would already be beginning to redden under my hand.

His cheeks tinge pink. “Uh, hi, Mr. Jones.”

My head tilts to the side. “It’s Ezra,” I correct.

“Oh, right. Erm, Ezra, then,” he stammers. He clears his throat before continuing, “I didn’t know you knew Henry and Noah.”

“Henry and I have worked together in the past,” I tell him vaguely. “I’ve just recently met Noah.” Well, within the past year. “And you? How do you know the two?”

“We went to college together, uh, Noah and I.”

“Did you?”

His face flushes harder under my stare. “Yes…” Nervously twisting his fingers together, he blinks twice. “So, where’s Miley tonight? With her mom?”

At the mention of my daughter, I smile. “She’s with my brother, likely being spoiled rotten as we speak.”

“The hockey coach? I thought he didn’t move here yet.”

“Checking up on me?” I tease with a chuckle.

He blushes so hard his cheeks turn a bright red. “Noah said that’s what you and Henry were talking about—”

“I figured, I’m only teasing,” I interrupt, letting him off easy. “But no, I have two brothers. Justin and Henley. Henley is the hockey coach. Justin works in developing apps, so he works from home a lot. Miley hangs out with him and his wife when I have somewhere to be.”

“Oh.” His cheeks puff, losing a held breath and his spine becomes less rigid. With some of his previous tension deflated, he asks, “So is your wife here with you then?”

My brows draw in. “My wife?”

His hands lift, one pointing to the other. “Uh, yeah, your wife?” he repeats, emphasizing the left ring finger in his little demonstration. Then it dawns on me what he means.

I look down at my own hand and chuckle. “This,” I say, pulling the silver band from my finger, “is a prop.” I’ve gotten so used to putting it on that I hardly notice it.

“A prop?”

“Correct.” I pocket the little thing, seeing as I won’t be needing it tonight. “When Miley is around, I wear it to keep people away. I don’t appreciate being hit on in her presence.”

“Oh.” His throat bobs. “Does… does that happen a lot?”

Not anymore.I shrug. “Not with the ring on.”

“And without it?” he asks. “Do women hit on you a lot?”

With the way he asks, I’m able to see through to the deeper meaning of the words he’s chosen. “Women, men,” I reply honestly, watching his lips part as he shifts on his feet. “I’m particularly disinterested in the former, but the compliment is nice.”

“Oh wow,” he blurts.

“Problem with that?” I ask, tilting my head to the side. “I assumed since you’re close with Henry and Noah—”

“No, no,” Leo rushes out. “No problem. Of course not, I just thought… well, with Miley and the ring… I shouldn’t have assumed. I’m sorry.” A shaky breath leaves him. “I mean, I’m gay so… no problem. At all. Swear.”

He is positivelyadorablewhen he’s flustered.

“Are you?” I taunt, looking him up and down obviously. “Wouldn’t have guessed that.”

His mouth pops open before he asks, “Are you teasing me?”

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