Page 14 of Single Daddy To Go

He regards me quizzically, then smiles. “Fair enough. We’re not here to talk about my father anyway, are we?”

“I don’t think so,” I try, feeling out of place once again.

“No worries, I like that you’re a little different. Anyways, college was a blast. I didn’t study much, but I worked out a ton. I was on the crew team,” he says. “We never won anything while I was rowing, but I made a lot of friends.”

I nod enthusiastically, even though I’m totally unathletic. “Do you still row?” I ask him.

He winces a little bit. “Only in the gym, unfortunately. I don’t have time to keep up with it. Do you like the water?”

I nod. I don’t have too much experience with boats, but I’ve always liked swimming, even if I’m not exactly what you’d callgood.

“Yes but it’s a challenge to find a pool in Manhattan,” I laugh. Rob nods knowingly.

“I keep a boat at one of my summer homes. Maybe I’ll take you out there some time. It’s a speed boat, though. Machine powered not man powered.”

I laugh, taking another sip of my drink. Boats? Water? I’m so out of my element. But the billionaire doesn’t notice.

“By the way, how’d you get into the day care game?” he asks me, cocking his head quizzically. I take a deep breath.

“Well, I always knew I wanted to do something in the education field,” I say. “I went to school in Chicago where I studied elementary education. I thought about being a kindergarten teacher, but my mom knows the owner of Ladybug Tots and he was happy to give me a job. I really love kids, so it was an easy sell. Some people say that two and three year olds are ‘terrible’ but if you ask me, they’re some of the best creatures in the world. I just love watching them learn and grow.”

“Do you think you’ll stay there long term?” he asks. “It doesn’t seem like an easy gig to handle thirty kids at once.”

I nod and laugh a little.

“For the time being, at least. I really like the job. Ladybug is a great place, and the kids that come are really good kids. I grew up a little sheltered, I have to confess. I don’t think I’d do well in a rough environment or dealing with tough cases. Not that I wouldn’t do my best!”

He touches my arm briefly, not exactly in a sexual way but the closeness is enough to send a bolt of electricity through me. “I think you’re doing a great job. Katie talks about you sometimes. She loves you.”

My heart lifts, taking the focus off the spreading warmth in my lower parts.

“Oh, I’m so glad to hear that! Katie is a really special girl.”

“I think so too,” he says, his voice filling with pride. “She’s certainly very special to me.”

I laugh.

“I love being a day care teacher, but actually, I’m leading you astray. Idohave other plans. I’m saving up to go back to school,” I confess. Despite Rob’s insanely good looks, he’s actually really easy to talk to, almost like he’s a normal guy. The cocktail doesn’t hurt either. “I want to get a Master’s in Education,” I say. “The way the world is going, kids have to start and earlier and earlier to learn the skills they need to compete. I want to focus on really early childhood education, kids Katie’s age. Getting the right foundation is very important, and I know I have the patience to deal with little kids, which not everybody does.”

He nods.

“I’ve watched you with them. Youarereally talented. I loved how you explained to Katie that the little boy was only trying to show her that he liked her when he pulled her hair. You didn’t excuse the behavior, but you explained what was happening while staying fair and neutral.”

The thought goes through my mind that I would really like it if Rob pulled my hair right now. I feel silly for thinking this, and my cheeks start to color. He looks at me rather intensely, perhaps imagining the same thing.

“Would you like another drink?” he asks smoothly.

“Sure,” I murmur, looking down at my lap. Suddenly, I feel really hot. Having finished the first drink, I’m a lot more present, and no longer worried about not belonging at the bar. “I want to try something different this time.”

“Anything the lady wants,” he chuckles deeply.

I scan the menu. “How about a Sidecar?” I venture.

He calls the bartender over and orders another round.

“I love that you’re interested in children,” he says, once he’s ordered the drinks. “I like women who are interested in family and kids. Do you have any children of your own?”

My uterus hears this and contracts pleasurably inside of me. Oh my gosh, really? I often think about having kids, but I’d need to find a father for them first.