Letting out a relieved breath, I bolted for the door, turned the lock that Garrett must have engaged when he let himself in, and threw it open with a bright smile. “Hey, monkey! I missed you. Did you have fun?”

“You took too long,” Liddy whined as I scooped her up, giving her a tight squeeze and propping her on my hip.

“Sorry, baby girl. I had my headphones on and didn’t hear you.”

“Look what I got at the park!” she shouted, her short attention span a blessing at times like this. She thrust her small fist out and opened her palm, exposing the dirty rock in her hand like it was a huge diamond. “It’s for you, Mommy! It’s shaped like a heart!”

“It’s beautiful, baby.” I placed a kiss on her cheek and shifted my attention from my little girl to the only other adult in our group. “Thanks so much for taking her today. How was she?”

Steve, one of the only single fathers at the daycare, smiled kindly as he ruffled his daughter, Michelle’s, hair. He was a great guy and a hands-on father. He and his wife split when Michelle was only one, and he had sole custody. Unlike a lot of the other parents, I thoroughly enjoyed Steve’s company. He had kind eyes, and the fact that he was attractive wasn’t lost on me, but I didn’t want to rock the boat. What I’d told Garrett was true; navigating the social waters of daycare parents was like being thrown back into high school. I once brought cupcakes for a classroom party, and a few of the other moms nearly ripped my head off for not buying gluten-free—whatever the hell that was.

Liddy began to struggle in my hold so I put her down, and she and Michelle ran into the living room toward the basket of toys I kept there. “They were great. Only one minor meltdown when we discovered that one of the swings was broken. But no worries, I taught them the art of taking turns.”

Still shaken from the close call with Garrett, my smile wavered. “Well, I’m glad you were able to get it sorted without any bloodshed. Next time is my turn. I really appreciate you taking them today.”

“Not a problem,” Steve replied. “Honestly, Liddy’s a great kid.” He leaned in close and dropped his voice so the girls wouldn’t hear. “She’s one of the only kids that doesn’t drive me crazy. I dread it every time Simone Clark tries to set something up.”

“Oh God.” I snorted in an effort to hold in my laughter. “Her kid’s the biter, right?”

“Yep.” Steve chuckled. “That kid scares the shit out of me.”

The laugh I’d been working to hold in broke free. Steve’s smile brightened and his gaze grew somewhat curious as he said, “You know, I was thinking that maybe next time we could take them together.”

“Oh… yeah, sure. If they’re too much of a handful for one person—”

“No, no,” he interrupted. “It’s nothing like that. Like I said, they were great. It’s just….” That enduring smile turned a little shy. “I’d like to get a chance to know you a little better.”

“Oh… ohhh,” I responded, realization finally dawning. “I… that’s really sweet….” I wasn’t used to that kind of attention. I’d spent the past three years so wrapped up in Liddy that I somehow turned that part of myself off. Dating wasn’t even on my radar. Sure, I needed to get laid, but that was totally different.

“If you’re not interested—”

“No!” I exclaimed a little too loudly. “I am. I just didn’t realize you were… you know.”

“Interested?” he chuckled.

A small, embarrassed grin tilted my lips. “Exactly. Sorry, I’m a little rusty at this. I haven’t dated in a long time.”

“Well, just so we’re clear, I’m interested, but I thought it would be safer to get to know each other on neutral ground before asking you on an official date.”

I nodded, feeling my cheeks start to burn a bit. “That sounds really nice.”

“Great. Then I’ll call you and set something up.”

I was flattered at having a man’s interest, and was so absorbed in my conversation with Steve that I’d totally forgotten about Garrett hiding in my bedroom until Liddy called out, “Mommy! My teddy’s in your room. Can I get it?”

Oh shit. “Just a second, baby.” I turned back to Steve, the flutter of butterflies in my stomach now extinguished by the need to get him and his daughter gone before they discovered Garrett. “I’ll look forward to your call. And thanks again for taking them today.”

“Of course. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Yep. Have a good day.”

He called his daughter and they headed toward the stairs. I breathed a relieved sigh as I closed the door behind them. Just as I threw the lock, I heard the creak of my bedroom door opening.

“Hey, monkey. Guess what,” I said to Liddy, who was playing with her Lego set on the living room floor.

“What?” she asked, looking up with big, inquisitive eyes.

“Someone’s here to see you.” I grinned at the sound of motorcycle boots moving toward us because I knew how thrilled my little girl would be to see her daddy. No matter the wrong choices, in Liddy’s eyes, Garrett walked on water. I might not have felt the same, but I still managed to get enjoyment out of seeing my daughter so happy.

Her excited squeal blasted through the room, and a second later she jumped up from the floor like a shot, shouting, “Daddyyyyyy!” at the top of her lungs.

She launched her little body at the big man, and I watched as he caught her effortlessly. Something about the sight of the matching joy on both their faces, and Garrett’s easy nature with our daughter, made my skin tingle and start to feel hot. It was uncomfortable, as if it had grown too tight.

“Hey, munchkin. I’ve missed you like crazy. How you doin’?”

“I miss you too!” she cried. “I don’t like when you’re gone. It makes me sad.”

Ah hell. She looked like she was about to cry, which made Garrett’s jaw grow tense. “Then it’s good I’m sticking around for a long time, huh?” he said in a soft, gentle voice I’d only ever heard him use with Liddy.

“You are? Promise?”

“Swear,” he stated firmly.

Liddy’s arms shot up in the air and she screamed “Yay!” at a glass-shattering decibel.

“And I’ve got even better news,” he continued. Oh no. Nonononono! He wouldn’t…. “You and your momma are gonna move into my house, so we’ll see each other a whole lot more!”

She screeched with excitement again while, in my head, I yelled every curse word I could think of.

I went from warm and tingly to murderous in two-point-five seconds. “Honey, why don’t you go get all your new toys so you can show your daddy?” I suggested so I could have a second alone with Garrett in order to claw his eyes out.

Liddy ran to her room to gather all the toys she’d gotten recently. As soon as she was out of hearing range, I smacked Garrett in the arm and hissed furiously, “What the hell were you thinking, telling her that?”

“Well, it’s the truth, isn’t it? And what the fuck’s up with you sending my daughter off with another dude?” His face was a mask of anger as he spoke. “You said she had a fuckin’ playdate.”

“It was a playdate! Steve’s daughter is in Liddy’s daycare class. And don’t change the subject. You had no right to tell her that!”

Our argument continued in hushed voices as he stated, “I had every right. I’m her dad and you agreed, Gwen. And you stop avoiding the issue here. Did that limp dick ask you on a date? Who is this fucker?”

“He’s not a fucker! He’s a perfectly nice guy. And it’s none of your business if he asked me out or not. And I only agreed to move in with you under duress!”

Garrett’s eyes narrowed in a glare as he eased in closer. “You’re not actually going out with that guy, are you?”

“Damn it, Garrett!” I cried out quietly. “Stop changing the subject! This just proves my point. Us living under the same roof would be a disaster!”

He shrugged like it was all the same to him. “Too late to back out now. You made a deal, and I made my little girl a promise. You gonna make me a liar because you’re scared? I took you for tougher than that, sweetness.”

“Stop. Calling. Me. Sweetness,” I bit through clenched teeth. “And I’m not scared.”

“Then prove it.” His face and body echoed his challenge, and my stupid pride wouldn’t allow me to be cowed.

A low growl vibrated through my chest. “God, you’re such a prick.”

Garrett puffed his chest out and smiled widely, preening with the knowledge that he’d won this round.

Liddy came running back into the room, her arms overloaded with stuffed animals and dolls that she dropped unceremoniously on the floor at our feet. “Mommy! Since we gonna live in Daddy’s big house, can we get a puppy? Please! Pleasepleasepleaseplease!” She’d been on a puppy kick for a while now, but I’d been using the excuse of our place being too small to keep from having to be responsible for another living being. Liddy was too small to take care of a pet on her own, and I didn’t have the time, inclination, or energy to do it myself.

“We’ll see,” I answered vaguely. I used to hate when my mother gave me those standard parent non-answers, but now that I was in her shoes I totally got it.

As expected, her tiny toddler mind couldn’t hold attention on one subject for long, and she turned to Garrett and shouted, “Daddy, come play with me!”

He lowered his big body onto the floor next to her and picked up one of Liddy’s dolls. It looked so strange in his tattooed hands. But instead of appearing uncomfortable, Garrett stretched his legs out and got into it, no problem.

I scooped my laptop off the couch and carried it into my bedroom where I sat for the next hour, working on my manuscript while Garrett and Liddy played in the living room. I needed time away from him to clear my head. I’d spent so many years avoiding any unnecessary interaction with Garrett, but these past few days he’d practically forced his way into private aspects of my life that I kept separate from our connection with our daughter. And the deeper he slithered in, the harder it became to dig him out from beneath my skin.

I worked while they laughed and chattered away, losing myself in my words like I normally did, so I didn’t notice Garrett in the doorway of my bedroom until he spoke.

“What are you doing?”

“Shit!” I placed my hand to my chest. “How can a guy as big as you move so quietly?”

He leaned against the doorframe, his soft chuckle sending tremors from my belly straight between my legs. The bastard. “Just one of my many talents.”

I rolled my eyes, choosing to ignore the innuendo, and closed my laptop. “You two finished?”

“Yeah. We have a radio interview at five, so I need to head to the station.” He moved into the room, taking in the miniscule space. “And you haven’t answered my question.” He tipped his head toward my computer. “What were you working on?”

Unease prickled at my consciousness. The only one I’d ever talked to about my writing was Corrie. She was aware of what I was doing, but had no idea what my story was about. The idea of letting anyone read my work before it was perfected scared the ever-loving hell out of me. “It’s nothing,” I lied. “Just playing around online so you and Liddy had some time to yourselves.”

He nodded and crossed his arms as that jade gaze moved back to mine. “I’ll make some calls when I get home and set the movers up for tomorrow.”

My back went stiff as I sat up straighter on my bed. “What? Tomorrow? Garrett, I have to work. I thought maybe in a week or two—”

“You got a spare set of keys?” he cut in, ignoring my rising apprehension.

“Huh?”

“A spare set of keys, babe. I’ll meet the movers here, have them pack your place up, and get it over to my place while you’re working.”

“But… but… I have a lease. I can’t just—”

The jerk cut me off again. “I’ll take care of it. You’ll be set by the end of the day tomorrow.”

I closed my eyes, lifted my fingers, and began rubbing at my temples, trying to stave off the tension headache building behind my eyes. “Garrett….” I sighed.

Once again, I hadn’t heard him move. My eyes shot open at the feel of his rough, callused fingers beneath my chin. He tipped my head up and leaned in closely. “No more excuses,” he said quietly. “This’ll be good. You’ll see. You won’t regret this, Gwen.”

He’d never used that tone before, not on me at least—soft and gentle… soothing with a hint of pleading laced with the words. I was so hypnotized by his voice that I found myself nodding in agreement before I knew what I was doing.

“You good?” he continued, still speaking softly.

“Yeah,” I whispered in return.

“Keys.”

“Spare set is hanging on the hook by the front door.”

“Okay. See you tomorrow, baby.”

His gorgeous face came closer until it was the only thing I could see, and before I could ask what he was up to, he placed a kiss on my cheek, his plump lips brushing against the corner of my mouth.

I inhaled sharply in surprise, unable to speak as he stood tall and walked from my room, leaving me wondering one thing.

What the fuck have I just agreed to?