Page 26 of Single Daddy's Mate

His jaw clenched at the awkwardness of having his daughter right there, standing between him and the she-wolf he wanted so badly.

"It's fine by me," Jake said, nodding. "I have to head off to work in a minute, anyway."

That wasn't entirely true. He didn't usually leave for another thirty minutes, but after all that had happened, he decided it was better safe than sorry.

Melody stood and laid a hand on Sally's shoulder as if to guide her deeper into the house. But before she did, she looked Jake in the eye with such a heated gaze it made matters in his pants even worse. "I hope you have a better day than yesterday."

Jake cringed, remembering Kai's visit. It was overwhelmed by everything that had happened afterwards. He breathed, "It didn't turn out so bad in the end."

Melody blushed more deeply and brushed her hair back behind her ear with a look of innocence that only made him want to grab hold of her again.

Remembering the touch of her fingertips down his bruised back, he knew he needed to get out of there.

Grabbing his jacket from the peg, he shoved it on and crouched before his daughter.

"I made your favorite," he told her, inclining his head to the kitchen. "But you have to share."

"Chocolate chip pancakes?" Sally exclaimed, her eyes widening with excitement. She threw her arms around him. "Oh, thank you, daddy."

"Yum! They sound like just what we need for a good day of learning," Melody commented, and it was clear her excited tone was all for Sally, though Jake remembered all too well the excited, pleasure-filled noises that had escaped her the night before.

Stop it!he told himself firmly as he rose to his feet. Grabbing his briefcase, he promised, "I will try not to be too late back."

"Take as long as you need," Melody insisted. She gripped Sally's hand and added, "We've got everything covered here, don't we, Sal?"

The way Sally clutched her hand in return, the bond that had already formed between the two of them, both made Jake's heart soar and his stomach ache. How was he supposed to get out of this mess?

It wasn't a problem he needed or had the capacity to deal with right now, and so he kissed Sally on the forehead and hurried from the house, determined to get as far away from Melody and her vanilla-scented skin as possible.

Chapter 12 - Melody

Luckily for Melody, there was a park just down the street and so, as soon as she and Sally had eaten breakfast, she suggested they go for a walk. Though she was much too good of a nanny to let Sally down, the thought of being in that house after all she and Jake had done the day before was unnerving.

And she hoped a little air would clear her mind.

Typical for Sally, she clutched Mr. Fuzzy in one hand as they walked, and for a while, Melody was able to forget, to just converse with the little girl about the birds and the bees and the flowers as they strolled hand in hand.

The sun was shining and the birds were singing. Sally was her usual happy self and the park was peaceful.

That was, until they were halfway around the large pond at its center. The sense that they were being watched made Melody comfortable, but Sally appeared unaware. Though whenever she glanced over her shoulder, she saw nothing, she could not shake the feeling that there were eyes on her.

And so, when they hit a straight path that led directly out of the park and back to the house, Melody dropped down into a crouch and suggested, "What do you say we have a race back to the house?"

It was the only way she could think of to get Sally home quickly and safely without frightening her. What else was she to say?Sally, we're being followed, but don't look and don't react. Don't panic, just run.

She could already imagine how well that would go down and how Jake would react when he learned of the situation later on.

No, she was the one who needed to remember not to panic. After Miranda coming to her house and seeing the bruises on Jake's back the night before, it was better to air on the side of caution.

"But it won't be fair," Sally protested, pouting. "Your legs are longer than mine."

"That doesn't mean you won't be quicker than me, especially with Mr. Fuzzy to help you," Melody said, pinching Mr. Fuzzy's nose.

"He's just a teddy, silly," Sally chuckled, but she appeared happier.

"So he is," Melody said, smiling. "But I still think you'll beat me. How about I give you a head start?"

"No way, that's cheating!" Sally exclaimed.

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