Page 9 of Single Daddy To Go

“Ally, you’re being silly. If there’s no written policy in place stating that you are not allowed to get drinks with a client, then youareallowed to get drinks with a client. You’re notmyteacher. I’m a businessman. I go out with business contacts all the time.”

She’s still nervous about it, but she’s starting to weaken.

“I guess I can see your point,” she says. “I know there wasn’t anything about this in my employment contract. It justseemsinappropriate.”

I flash her another sly smile.

“Tell you what. If you get in trouble, I’ll have my law firm defend you. Ever heard of Benson & Frederick? Well, Benson is my personal attorney.”

Her jaw drops. I take it shehasheard the name. It would be hard not to, since they’ve been all over the news involved with a bunch of high profile cases. For a moment, she stares at me gape mouthed before she gets herself together again.

“Wow,” she whispers.

“I take it that’s a yes?” I say, confident that it is.

She nods.

“You’ve made me an offer I can’t refuse.” She looks down, smiling shyly. “Actually, I would really love to get drinks with you. I haven’t been out in a while. Thank you.”

“My pleasure,” I say. “But don’t thank me yet. Wait until you taste the cocktails at Bar Virage. Trust me, they’re worth the potential legal action.”

I laugh, and she joins me, mirthful but nervous. Suddenly, my daughter trips over to us.

“What’s so funny, Daddy?” Katie interjects.

I scoop the little girl into my arms, setting her on my tall, broad shoulders.

“Just a grown-up joke, baby girl,” I say. She giggles, happy to be up so high, the matters of grown-ups completely forgotten.

Other parents start to arrive, and I realize I need to get going and let Ally do her job.

“Alright, Ms. Summers. I have to take my daughter home now, but we’re on for drinks, right? How about Friday night?”

She smiles, her face lighting up.

“Yes. Friday would be amazing. I’m really excited about it.”

I linger on her form for a moment, feeling the sparks flying in the air between us, before forcing myself to turn away. Damn, she’s gorgeous. I make my exit, still carrying an excited Katie on my shoulders. NowI’mexcited about it too, not just because I need a date to the school fair, but also because I’m eager to get to know the brunette on a deeper level. Normally, I’d only mean that in the carnal sense, but something about this girl has me thinking softer thoughts.

But to tell the truth, I still feel a little bit bad about asking her out because she’s not a part of my world. I’m using Ally, and she doesn’t know what she’s getting herself into. Oh well. She’ll learn. At least I’ll show her a good time and expand her horizons. I don’t know what Ladybug pays its attendants, but a single drink at Bar Virage probably costs more than she makes in an hour. I won’t hurt her. I’ll make sure that she enjoys the experience.

I reach my car, my mind distracted with thoughts of the date and the stupid school fair. My driver gets out to help me buckle Katie into her car seat.

“Are you alright, Sir?” he asks me. “You seem like you’re somewhere else.”

“I’m just thinking about a business deal that I’m trying to close,” I say vaguely. It’s close enough to the truth, and my driver nods. It’s not exactly business, but Iamtrying to close a deal. I feel as confident about it as I do in the boardroom. I am a man who gets what he wants, and right now, I want this gorgeous curvy sweetheart to be my date to the Annual Fair.

5

Ally

Ispend the next couple of days floating, like I’m not quite on Earth. I’m so excited to be going on a real date, let alone with a man as gorgeous as Rob Lockhart. It seems almost too good to be real, but itisreal. I feel like I’m walking on air.

Friday finally rolls around. I’m half hoping to see Rob at Ladybug Tots, but he sends his assistant to pick up Katie, meaning I’ll have a little time to go home first to get ready before meeting him at the bar. I take the subway home to the postage stamp apartment in Brooklyn that I share with my roommate Haley.

I slip off my grubby work clothes, stained as usual with an assortment of snack foods and marker marks. I so seldom get a chance to get out of kiddie mode. Stepping into the shower, I turn the water on and let it run over my skin, luxuriating in the warm stream. I take this moment to myself, focused on nothing except making myself beautiful.

I don’t always feel good about my body. I’m not the sort of girl you see in movies or on the cover of magazines. In fact, I’m not the sort of girl that most men notice. But Rob wanted to take me out so bad that he offered me a lawyer if I get in trouble with my work. I guess he must find me sexy, and who am I to question it? The thought of his attention makes me feel so much more alive, so much more comfortable with my curvy body.