Page 84 of The Single Dad Project

Was he kidding? Hehadto be.

The last time she’d been at his home, it’d been the most awkward “morning after” in history as his ex-wife sailed inside like she rented the place with him. Like she belonged there. And maybe she did. More than Flo, that was certain. Adam, Justine—they were her family, not Flo’s. And the delighted squeal of “Mommy!” as Justine leaped down from her chair, raced across the room and threw herself into her mother’s outstretched arms solidified that.

Of course the little girl would be thrilled to see the mother she hadn’t been with in so long. And God, what did it say about Flo that jealousy had wormed its way through her? That she’d been hurt? Maybe she was as immature as he’d once called her.

This was why she didn’t get attached, didn’t get invested.

Emotions were messy and ugly.

And she sucked at them.

“Justine’s mom is here. I didn’t want to intrude on their time together.” Didn’t want to appear like the desperate...whatever she and Adam were, who didn’t know where she stood with him or his daughter.

She kept her attention focused on the digital screen. Scrolling, scrolling. But not really seeing anything. Avoiding looking at him, so he didn’t see the doubts that had been crawling through her since yesterday morning.

It’d been hell.

Hell, knowing he was alone with the woman he had so much history with.

Hell, knowing she could do nothing if the old chemistry that had brought them together—and kept them together for years—sparked again.

Hell, knowing her relationship with Justine might have come to an abrupt end.

Hell, knowing her heartache could have arrived much sooner than she believed.

“Flo,” he murmured. “Will you look at me?”

No. Don’t ask that of me.

God, she didn’t want to, but she finally lifted her head and met his gaze. And prayed that the chaotic storm inside her wasn’t reflected in her expression. He studied her, his scrutiny roaming over her face as if searching for...for what?

“I’m sorry,” he said.

She shook her head. “There’s nothing for you to apologize for, Adam.”

“Yes, there is,” he countered. “Yesterday did not go—” he paused, his full lips momentarily flattening “—anything like how I planned or imagined. And I feel like I put you in a very—” another pause, another grim firming of his mouth “—uncomfortable position. For that, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine,” she said, flicking her fingers and waving off his apology. “The most important thing is that Justine has time with her mother. She’s really missed her.”

“Yeah.” That piercing gaze didn’t move from her, and the plea for him to look away, to leave her some pride, some privacy, scrambled to her tongue. “She’s happy her mom is here. It’s good that Jennifer came to see her.”

“Definitely.”

God, this was awkward. And painful.

“Flo,” Adam rumbled.

“I need to get some more pictures in here then move on to the parlor. You probably need to get to work, too.” She stepped forward. Away from him. “We’ll ta—”

“She isn’t staying at the house with me, Flo. I took her to your parents’ inn after you left.”

A weight lifted from her chest—one that had been pressing on her lungs since the day before. She inhaled and a tremble shook her. Relief. A cool, almost drunken sensation shuddered through her, damn near weakening her knees. And then instantly she felt bad and petty for it.

Adam wasn’t hers to claim; they’d never discussed being that to each other. On the contrary, he’d told her she wasn’t good partner material. Too young. Too ambitious. Too inexperienced. And yet... Yet, her mind, her body, her...heart weren’t on the same page. It would cost her. She understood that. When he left, not looking back in just a few weeks, it would absolutely cost her.

“Thank you for telling me that,” she murmured.

He nodded, and after a long moment where things unspoken hummed between them in a thick silence, he lifted a hand and brushed her locs back over her shoulder. That simple, small gesture slammed into her sternum like a hammer. Because it seemed as if he justhadto touch her. She ducked her head, returning her gaze to her camera, otherwise he might glimpse just how much that caress affected her.

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