Page 26 of The Single Dad Project

Hell, if he could do that, he would’ve accomplished that feat days ago.

But for now, he still saw those heavy-lidded brown eyes under dark brows. The long locs he’d smoothed with his fingers were gathered in a bun on top of her head, providing an unrestricted view of her elegant bone structure. The pouty mouth with its almost too full bottom lip. More than once during their night together, he’d sunk his teeth into that curve. A cropped denim jacket accentuated the thrust of her firm breasts and her tucked-in waist. Dark blue jeans conformed to the flare of her hips and the long length of her slender legs.

His hands itched with the sensory memories, with the knowledge of how those curves fit into his palms. Of the butter-soft texture of that beautiful brown skin.

No, he didn’t need to be looking at her for her image to be imprinted on his brain. Didn’t need to be standing right next to her to inhale that sweet, woodsy scent of jasmine and cedarwood and subtle notes that had no name. They were just...her.

“Mr. Reed.”

Adam turned at the sound of his name and smiled as Cole Dennison approached him. He’d met Rose Bend’s mayor during one of the meetings with the producers ofVintage Renovation, and had liked the other man, respected his vision for his town. Given Cole was about Adam’s age and had accomplished so much impressed him, as well.

“Adam,” he corrected, extending his hand toward Cole. “Please call me Adam. And it’s good to see you again.”

“You, too.” Cole took his hand in a firm, friendly grip, briefly shaking it before releasing him. “I hope your move to Rose Bend has been smooth. In other words, I hope settling here hasn’t felt like you’ve stepped into the Twilight Zone.” He grinned. “It’s different from Chicago.”

“That it is,” Adam agreed with a chuckle. “But no, it’s been great. My daughter can’t get enough of the playset in the backyard. And as long as she’s happy, that’s half the battle right there.”

“Ah, the playset. Proof that God does love us.” Cole barked out a laugh. “I don’t know if I told you, but I have two daughters. One is five and the other just turned one. As long as everything is okay with them—and no one’s screaming bloody murder—then all is right in the world.” Cole shook his head, affection and humor lighting his voice and eyes. “If I remember right, your daughter is five, as well?” When Adam nodded, Cole held up his phone. “I have your cell number and I’ll make sure you have mine. Let me know if you want to get together and have the kids meet. My family owns the local inn here, Kinsale Inn, and we are a huge clan with kids of all ages underfoot. We’d love to have you and your daughter over for dinner. That way, you get to know the people you’ll be spending the next few months with, and your daughter has some kids she can call friends. One thing you’ll discover about Rose Bend, the people will be here for you if you need them.”

It sounded like something out of a Hallmark movie—too good to be true. And the cynical part of Adam probed his words, trying to find the catch. Maybe the skepticism could be attributed to living in a big city for most of his life, except for those pockets of time when his job carried him to different locations.

But he suspected his natural distrust was more a byproduct of how he grew up—or rather who he grew up with. Nothing in his family had been free. If his father doled out any kindness, it always carried a price tag.

Turning off the part of him that didn’t trust easily would be akin to shutting down his lungs for breathing. Impossible.

“Thank you.” Adam nodded. “I appreciate the invitation.”

“You got it. Hey, you haven’t met my sister yet.” He shifted, glancing over his shoulder, and held up a hand. “Flo, can you come over here for a moment? I’d like to introduce you to the architect over the renovation.”

Flo?

His sister?

No fucking way.

Frowning, Adam looked from Cole to Flo as she extricated herself from the TV crew and headed toward them.Dennison.Their shared last name had gone completely over his head; it was common enough. And studying her features, searching for the resemblance to the man in front of him, Adam still couldn’t find it. The mayor appeared to be Latino, and Flo was a Black woman. Maybe they shared a parent...

Cole softly chuckled, drawing Adam’s attention back to him.

“I recognize that expression.” He wrapped an arm around Flo’s shoulders as she came to stand by his side. “Flo, this is Adam Reed. I just mentioned you were my sister.”

She snorted, a smile flirting with her full lips. He really shouldn’t stare at those lips. Damn sure not right in front of the man she calledbrother.

“Just wait until he sees Wolf,” Flo drawled.

And though Adam didn’t get the joke, Cole grinned.

“If you accept that invitation to dinner, you will get to meet my brother Wolf as well as the rest of my family and see that we’re kind of Rose Bend’s clap back toThis is Us.”

Oh. Now it made sense. The famed TV show had featured a family with two white siblings and an adopted Black brother.

Adam jerked his chin up. “Good to know. Now when I eventually meet this Wolf, I’ll make sure to mention the family resemblance.”

Barking out a laugh, Cole’s grin widened. “Please do. And feel free to drop in that I obviously got the lion’s share of the looks and brains in the family.”

“Uh, excuse you?” Flo arched an eyebrow. “I’m standing right here.”

“Well, present company excepted, of course.” He paused. “You’re almost as pretty as me.”

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