Page 8 of Single Daddy To Go

I smile at her, saying nothing, until she adds, demurely. “I’d hate it too, if you got hurt.”

Wow, this woman’s an angel. I feel a little bit bad, angling towards a date like a shark sizing up its prey. She’s an innocent and I’m such a bastard to use her in this way. Plus, I’m in no place for a relationship, and I can tell that that’s what Ally wants. I just need the right date to the kiddie prom.

I’m about to change my mind when I feel my phone buzzing. There’s that fucking picture again. It’s Lindsay. I click the call off, so it stops buzzing. A moment later, I get the notification that she’s left a message and wince.

“Oh, are you O.K. Mr. Lockhart?” Ally asks me, picking up on my discomfort immediately. I thought I was hiding it, but she’s such a nurturing person that she notices anyway.

“I’m alright. It was nothing. Just some business I don’t really want to have to deal with,” I reassure her. The call from my ex has hardened my resolve. I need the right date to the fairnow, and Ally’s perfect. I’m not going to show up looking like some lonely hearts loser while Lindsay swans around with that fucking Lex Luthor-lookalike Sheldon. I know exactly how to play this game, even if I feel like a jerk for doing it. I’ll just steer the conversation until the moment is right to make my move.

“I feel you,” Ally murmurs, totally unaware of my thoughts. “I don’t mean to be a busybody. I spend all day taking care of kids so I tend to worry about people. I think I get it from my mom.”

“You don’t have to worry about me,” I rumble. “Life’s good. I confine my risk-taking to the stock market these days, or maybe the occasional high stakes poker game. Anyways, I don’t stick my neck out there, just my money. There’s plenty of fun to be had in this city without endangering life and limb. I’m a particular fan of checking out new cocktail bars. How about yourself?”

Why did I just babble like some ridiculous schoolboy? But Ally freezes like a deer in the headlights.

“I don’t know. I usually just go to the same couple of bars with my friends. I’m a creature of habit, I guess.”

“Is that a hard and fast rule? No new bars?” I ask her.

“No, I... of course not.” She looks at her feet.

“Well, then how would you like to check out a new one with me this weekend? There’s this spot I’ve been meaning to drop by. Maybe I can expand your horizons a little bit.”

Her cheeks go pink and she tips her chin towards the floor.

“I don’t know,” she says, shuffling her feet. “I’m not sure if I should.”

I set my eyes on smolder, giving her a playful smirk.

“Why not? What’s the harm?”

Her lips purse.

“Well, Mr. Lockhart...”

“Rob, please.” I flash her my most charming of smiles.

She blushes a darker shade of pink, stammering.

“Well, Rob, listen... Rob... I just don’t know if it would be acceptable for me to get drinks with one of the dads.”

I shrug.

“Is there an official policy about it?”

I watch her brow knit.

“Um, I’m not sure. I don’t think so, but it might look. Well, I don’t know. It mightlookbad.”

Who cares about looks?

“Why?” I rumble. “We’re adults. All I’m asking you to do is get a drink with me. It’s no big deal.”

She gives me some sad puppy eyes that would make Sarah McLaughlin proud.

“I’m sorry. I would love to but I just don’t think I can. Mr. Lockhart, I love this job. What if I got fired? Maybe that wouldn’t be a big deal to you, but it would be areallybig deal to me. Besides, think about the children.”

I shake my head.