Page 33 of Who’s Your Daddy (Dadcoms #1)

Lola

O ne step outside Murphy’s room, the smell hits me. It’s mouthwatering. Savory and a little yeasty.

My stomach grumbles, reminding me I haven’t eaten tonight. Neither the chicken nuggets nor the mac and cheese I made for Murphy was gluten-free. When I searched the kitchen for something I could eat, I came up empty, so my dinner will have to wait until I get home.

The main area of the apartment is darker than it should be, as if the lights were turned off while I was reading to Murphy.

I refuse to believe in Sebastian, ghosts are not real, however weird shit does happen around here.

When I left the office yesterday, there was a stack of files on the table near where I’ve set up my work station, but when I came in this morning, they had been moved to the floor.

They weren’t knocked over, either. The Redwelds were laid out in a checkerboard pattern on the dingy carpet.

Cal’s sure it was Sebastian.

I blame Amy.

But Amy isn’t here tonight, so I can’t accuse her of turning the lights off.

I’ll be really concerned if I discover a ghost in the kitchen, making a meal.

Halfway down the hall, I can see what looks like candlelight dancing off the leaves of the ferns I replaced yesterday. When people have séances to call ghosts they set candles, but do ghosts do it when they are coming to meet people?

I hope not.

Heart in my throat, I step into the main living area. If I find a floating specter, I’ll dart back into Murphy’s room.

Shit. Can ghosts pass through walls? I don’t know. But I can’t leave Murphy, so I can’t bolt from here the way my feet want me to.

Instead of an apparition, I find the man who has taken up entirely too much space in my head.

“ Lola .” Cal smiles that ridiculously charming smile, practically singing my name like he always does. Beside him, the Ping-Pong table is set with two plates, a breadbasket, water and wine glasses, a vase of flowers, and two battery-operated candles. “You attempted to skip our meeting.”

“No, I skipped your nonsense. Surely your business partners were capable of handling whatever you needed.” I feign annoyance, but in reality, the scent of freshly baked bread makes it impossible to be anything but hungry.

“If you’ll remember, I told you the meeting was mandatory.” He pulls out my chair. “So I brought all the nonsense and the gluten-free bread to you.”

Without my permission, my feet bring me closer to the table. Dammit, he’s annoying, but I’m hungry.

“I can hear your tummy doing the grumbly-rumbly from across the room.” His eyes sparkle in the dim lighting. “Come on Lola, you know you want dinner.”

I eye the steak. I really do. “Fine.” I huff, though the sound that escapes me is more of a moan.

And if the way Cal presses his lips together like he’s fighting a laugh is any indication, he noticed.

“How’s the lighting?” he asks as he guides me into my chair. “Is it too dim? I know you prefer full light. The overhead lighting at Berns really is exceptional. It cast the perfect shadows.” He slips into his own chair and shakes out his napkin. “Next time we’ll have to do this there.”

“Next time?” I ball my hands into fists, cursing the way my stupid heart skips at the possibility. Hating that the effort he put into tonight has me melting a fraction.

He grasps my hand, his warmth seeping into me in a much too comforting way. “Yes, Lola.” His eyes lose the playful glint and he gives my hand a squeeze. “There will be many, many next times.”

I tamp down on the flutter that passes through me and pull my hand away. This is getting out of hand. We work together. It can’t be more. “You have that much business to discuss?”

Not at all deterred, he smiles. “I do. Brian says you’re the best at getting Atshire to sod off.”

I chuckle. “That’s not the way to approach him. I promise.”

Brow cocked, he pushes the basket of bread closer to me. “Eat. Then explain the best way to get him to stop posturing.”

Mouth watering, I break off a hunk of the still-warm bread and pop it into my mouth. The outside is perfectly crusty, while the center is soft and warm.

My eyes drift shut while I chew. “Mmm, it’s as good as 22.”

“You wanted bread, and whatever Lola wants.”

That statement has irritated me for years. Like nails on a chalkboard, it’s clawed at my brain, making me want to scream.

Now, though, sitting here with Cal, it hits me differently. The words leave his tongue in a way that is almost… sweet . Endearing maybe. An emotion settles inside me, one that has nothing to do with annoyance.

After a second bite of bread, I sip my water and clear my throat. “Like any bully, Atshire does better if you call him on his bullshit.”

Cal leans close, his expression earnest and eager, like he’s hanging onto my every word .

As I explain how Brian and I have handled Atshire in the past, I give in and cut into my steak. The knife slices through the perfectly medium-rare filet as if moving through warm butter. And the first bite? I swear it melts in my mouth.

I’ve just popped a third bite into my mouth when I’m hit with a thought.

“Wait. You’ve gone against Atshire more than Brian has, I’m sure.” I set my fork down and hit him with a stern look. “Why are you wasting my time? You don’t need my help. You’re known as the silver-tongued golden boy who can charm any attorney into settling.”

Cal sets down his own fork and focuses all his attention on me. “Needing and wanting are two completely different things, Lola.”

He inches his hand closer. Though he doesn’t take mine, he brushes his pinkie over my own. It’s the slightest touch, yet it’s enough to send electricity coursing through me.

“I want your opinion. On everything.”

My traitorous body leans toward him, caught in his magnetic field.

“I crave your thoughts and your words. Could I do this without you? Sure.” He cups my cheek. “But I desperately don’t want to.”

My breath catches, my pulse racing.

He’s so close. It would be easy to just lean in. Press my lips to his. Give in to the fire growing hotter inside me. The one I can’t douse no matter how hard I try.

But we work together. Hell, we share an office. And he’s Cal.

Finally snapping out of his spell, I shift back and breathe in deeply.

Disappointment flashes in those deep blue eyes, but it’s gone just as quickly. He clears his throat and forces a smile.

“So finish your story.” Fork in hand again, he takes a bite of his own steak. “And then we can watch The Proposal .”

That’s my go-to movie, when I need a pick-me-up or when I just want to chill. The assistant who hates his boss, but falls for her anyway .

Watching a movie with him is dangerous territory. Watching that movie with him? God, it’s such a bad idea.

“Come on,” he says when I hesitate, his tone challenging. “You can’t say no to Andrew and Margaret.”

He’s right, I can’t. So that’s how I end up sitting a little too close to him on the sofa, laughing at the scene where Margaret runs around the yard with a white fluff ball offering it to a bird in exchange for her phone.

I do not remember falling asleep or being moved, but I wake up before six in Cal’s bed.

Alone.

At first, I don’t know where I am, but when I see the electric blue fish floating sideways at the top of the small tank on the dresser, it all comes back to me.

Shit. He killed the fish. At least I was expecting it. With the number of plants I’ve replaced in the last few weeks, I had a feeling this would happen. So I stopped by the pet store and purchased a few Bubbles just in case. Unfortunately, they’re all at my apartment.

I sit up and scan the room. With a sigh, I realize I have no choice but to take the entire tank with me. Cal will be crushed if he comes in and discovers that Bubbles has died. And if that happens, he’ll spiral. He’ll doubt his ability to take care of Murphy, despite what a great dad he is.

And that won’t do because Murphy needs him.

I slip out of bed, only then noticing the sweatpants I don’t remember putting on.

The way-too-big sweatpants that slip down my hips.

I roll them a few times, biting back the smile that hits me at the thought of wearing something of Cal’s.

I’m not supposed to like these things, but I can’t seem to help it.

As I unplug the light and filter from the small tank, I consider my options. In the end, the best choice is to borrow Cal’s car. Lugging this tank the half mile to my apartment is out of the question.

Since it’s early, I make it out of the apartment without running into a soul. I’m not so lucky coming back in .

I’ve just unbuckled the tank from the passenger seat when the back door opens and Madame E sashays out.

Her entire face glows as she smiles at me. “I see ten more of these in your future.”

Shoulder slumping, I huff a breath. “I only got five.”

“In that case, you’ll need to make a few more trips to PetSmart,” she says as she passes me.

“Hey, Madame E,” I call.

With her driver’s door open, she pauses and turns.

“Stop telling Cal to take on more responsibility. One kid is enough.”

She shakes her head. “I only see what I see.”

I huff. “Stop seeing things.”

Madame E may think that Cal can handle more living things, but I’m not sure I can.

Without another word, she climbs into a bright green Mini Cooper and pulls out of the small lot.

Anxious to get the tank set back up without incident, I hurry inside and up the stairs. Before I even reach the top steps, I hear the guys' voices. Dammit. It’s almost seven. Of course they’re all up.

I’ve already committed to this though so I push the door open and feign nonchalance.

At the creak of the hinges, three sets of blue eyes and one golden pair turn my way.

“Morning.” I chirp, my own traitorous eyes straying to Cal.

His lips kick up on one side, as if he’s pleasantly surprised that I returned.

I give him a small smile, though when Brian glares at my bare feet and the enormous sweatpants I’m wearing, the expression falls.

Dammit. He’s going to have so much to say about this.

I refuse to look like I’ve done anything wrong. All I did was sleep. This time at least.

“I thought Bubbles needed a walk,” I offer stupidly.

“Oh.” Cal blinks. “I didn’t realize fish needed exercise like that.” He shuffles across the room and takes the tank. “Look at that.” Smiling, he peers at me over the tank. “Seems it did him some good. He looks brighter.”

I bite back a wince as he turns and takes Bubbles to his room.

“Coffee?” Sully holds up the pot, looking far less annoyed by my presence than Brian.

In fact, he is almost smiling.

Could this out-of-character easiness have anything to do with Sloane? I’ll have to hound her for details later.

He fills a mug and slides it down the counter without another word.

Soaking in the warmth radiating from the ceramic, I sit at the table and take slow sips.

“So, it died.” Murphy tilts my way, his voice a whisper.

“Shh.” Although he’s been helping me change out the plants, we agreed this was our secret.

He shrugs. “If you want to hide a couple of extra fish in my room, we can do that.”

“Probably your best bet,” Brian grumbles. “While Cal might believe that fish need to be walked, everyone else will think you’re a loon if you mention that again.”

Murphy giggles, the sound making my heart swell. This kid never used to laugh, but day by day, he’s coming out of his shell.

“I like having girls over for breakfast,” he announces.

“Me too,” Cal agrees as he reappears.

Brian frowns. “Girls?”

“Yeah.” Murphy nods at me. “Like Aunt Sloaney and Lo. Do you have a girl, Uncle Brian?”

Uncle Brian. This kid really is settling in.

Cal perks up, a bright smile overtaking him as he surveys his son.

Sully scoffs.“Not since Jess.”

“We won’t be having any more girls over for breakfast.” Brian’s tone is cutting, his words final.

I sigh, defeat threading through me. Even if there was a chance that Cal and I could be something, there’s too much at stake. The company, the relationship between these three guys, my job.

As much as I hate to admit it, it’s not worth the risk of jumping into a situation that won't last.