I was quietly impressed that Willow picked out the Audi— one of the safest cars on the market— and not the coupe or the Jeep even though most girls would probably think they were cuter. After getting Willow situated, I locked myself in my office and forced myself to do some work. Knowing that Willow was down the hall, practically within arm’s reach, was too much. The night had settled in and that was when times like these became trying.

I wanted to loom over her and watch her. I wanted to press my ear to her door and listen for all those sounds that signify that a woman was in the room— her low, sweet voice, her breathing…

I rubbed my crotch and sighed. After Morgan, I thought I had lost all taste for ever loving a woman again. Much less for sex, which made it easy for me to agree to Morgan’s insane stipulation that I not date anyone while Ariel lived with me. At the time I’d thought it’d be a small sacrifice for having my little girl.

But Willow? She made me burn.

My cock had never experienced such visceral reactions before. Lust was one thing— I’d always appreciated beautiful women in a sexual way, just as any other straight man did— but this went beyond that. I was getting obsessed with her. My cock was getting obsessed with her. Just thinking about her made it hard.

Which was why I buried myself in emails and paperwork.

I grunted and shifted in my seat, opening more emails.

These people were going to think I had a bot go through and answer these emails. Rarely anyone got an email back from me. It was usually my assistants or if it was urgent enough, a phone call.

A knock came from the other side of the door.

The soft little knocks on the double oak doors only could come from one precious person. I took a breath to settle my cock down before my daughter came into the room.

“Come in, Ariel.”

I smiled as she opened the door and slipped in with her favorite teddy bear hugged close to her in her arms. Her breath was hitching and tears streamed down her little face.

“What is it, sweetheart?” I scooped her up and took her to the small couch.

“I had a bad dream,” she sobbed.

“What was it?”

She hugged her bear and curled into my shoulder. “I had a dream that Mommy tried to take me away from you! I tried to run, but she was dragging me by the arm,” she cried softly. Her wet eyelids fluttered as she looked up at me. “You’re not gonna let her do that, right? I don’t wanna live there, I wanna be with you, Daddy!”

She leaned over and I hugged her.

This was why I couldn’t let my heat escape me. My daughter needed me. I had to save her from these nightmares that could become reality if I weren’t careful.

“No, Daddy will never let that happen.”

I rocked her in my arms until her tears abated and her breathing was more relaxed.

“Thank you, Daddy.” She looked back up at me. “I wish Willow was my mommy. She’s nice. She taught me how to do a back roll today.”

“Willow would be glad to hear that,” I said, standing up. “What would you think of Willow staying with us? I want to hire her to be your nanny, and look after you when I’m at work.”

Her face was still tear-stained, but her smile lit up the room. “Yay! Willow is staying! She’s my favorite, Daddy!”

Ariel stood and relaxed her grip on her teddy bear.

“I love you, Daddy. Bedtime snuggles?”

I chuckled and gave her a piggy back ride to her room where I let her down. Willow had already changed the way we talked, with her phrase “bedtime snuggles.” It was playful and affectionate, and perfect for cuddling a sleepy child. Willow was a natural at this.

“Let’s tuck you tight like a burrito!”

She giggled as I tucked her tight into her bed.

“Goodnight, Daddy!”

“Goodnight, princess.”

I left her door cracked open the way she liked and returned to my office.

Willow…

It wouldn’t hurt to check on her, make sure she was settling in all right.

So I went down to her room, which was between mine and Ariel’s.

I knocked─most young women her age stayed up late, didn’t they? Though she was an exception to every rule, so she probably was asleep.

I drew my hand back in, willing it to not touch the door knob.

No, I couldn’t—I—fuck.

Quietly, I turned the knob to check and see if she was in her room. I wasn’t looking to get my cock off, and while it might have had some say in the matter, I only wanted to see if there was a lump in the bed, an indication that she was safe and sound.

Her bed looked smooth, flat, from what I saw. So, I cracked it open some more and peeked all the way in.

She was gone.

“Willow?” I called out softly. “Willow, are you here?”

No response.

It wasn’t like she had to have my permission to leave, but a part of me felt insulted, hurt that she left and it was already so late at night.

Calm down. She can take care of herself. But why didn’t she say something?

I went back to my office and picked up my cell phone, where I’d already entered Willow into my contacts.

The phone rang a few times, then it dropped me into voice mail.

I called her another time, voice mail wasn’t going to cut it.

“Where are you, Willow?” I mumbled.

The clock on my desk said it was nearing eleven o’clock. Maybe she went to her home to go get some extra things to take back? No, she didn’t have a car.

Damn it. Despite Ariel being asleep, I was worried that if I went to look for Willow, she’d wake up from another nightmare.

If I were gone, she’d panic. And since, unlike her mother, I was actually a good parent, I knew full well that seven was way too young to leave a child alone at night.

I got out of my seat and went to check on her.

She was sleeping more peacefully. From what I saw, I had about an hour at least. Ariel usually slept through the night. But her nightmares were ramping up recently, and I didn’t know why.

Now I had Willow to worry about. She hadn’t driven here, and I knew she didn’t use my car because it was still in its parking space when I looked out the window.

That was when I saw her, walking up the driveway, shivering.

She wasn’t even wearing a jacket. What the hell had she been up to?