Singled Out

Chapter 5

Over a year in, I still had no idea how single parents did it.

I put my dress shoes on and caught myself frowning. The last thing I wanted to do tonight was go to some fancy gala in Nashville with a girl ten years younger than me. A girl I barely knew, who was taking me because my sister dared her.

The guilt over leaving Danny for the second night in a row ate away at me as it did most Saturdays when the single dads got together. Friday night football games couldn’t be helped. They were my job. And ultimately I could acknowledge the dads’ nights were essential to my mental health—we were all dealing with a lot of the same issues. They were like a support group where we didn’t have to talk.

Tonight? A date? To an event I had no interest in, with a near stranger I had no desire to get involved with?

“Bad decision, man,” I said to my reflection as I straightened my bow tie. “Should’ve never agreed to the auction in the first place.”

I had, so I would see it through, but damn, I hoped to be back home with my son long before midnight.

After a final glance in the mirror to make sure my tux looked okay, I headed to the kitchen.

“Woo, look at your dressed-up daddy, Danny,” Dakota said.

“Dada,” Daniel said around the messy little fingers in his mouth.

I walked to the high chair, bent over, and kissed his blond head, catching his messy hand before it hit my jacket.

“I need my hug, little guy,” I said, my gut knotting like it always did when I left him.

Maybe it was ridiculous that I had separation anxiety worse than my eighteen-month-old son, but I did my best to hide it from him and the world. Better me than him, I always reminded myself.

Rationally I knew the likelihood was strong that I’d be back home with him soon, and all would be well. But life had fucked with my ability to put logic over anxiety, particularly when it came to Danny.

“Here,” Dakota said, handing me a damp paper towel to wipe off his hands. “He got into his dinner tonight.”

As I cleaned Danny’s fingers, I tried to figure out what was all over them. It didn’t look like the chicken and green beans I’d prepared before my shower.

“What did he eat?” I asked my sister.

“Animal crackers,” she said. “A camel and an elephant, right, bud?”

“Ephant.” Danny gazed up at me with those irresistible, always curious blue eyes and a happy grin.

I tapped him on the nose affectionately, reining in my annoyance with my sister as I looked around for his purple toddler plate and spotted it—with minibites of chicken breast still on it—on the counter by the sink.

“Dakota,” I bit out quietly, “you know he only gets sugar on special occasions.”

“We decided Saturday night with Aunt Dakota is a special occasion.”

“He didn’t even finish his dinner.”

“He ate all his green beans,” my sister said. “Those got him extra credit.”

“That’s not how this works,” I said. “Show me your other hand, Daniel.”

On his own schedule, my son slowly held up his other cookie-sogged hand, and I had to grin in spite of my irritation with my sister.

“Dinner is a two-handed, full-contact sport, huh, bud?” I said as I scrubbed his fingers. Once he was clean, I removed his soiled bib and lifted him from the high chair. “Come here.”

Danny stretched his arms out to me and puckered his lips to give me a kiss. Just like always, that got to me like nothing else on the planet could.

I kissed him, then squeezed him to me and gave him a growly hug, eliciting that giggle I loved.

“You be a good boy for Aunt Dakota,” I said. “Or maybe I should be telling you to keep her in line.”

“Funny man,” my sister said.

“I’m not even joking. Bye-bye, Danny.” I kissed my boy’s forehead and set him on the floor.

“Bye!” He took off toward the toy box in the living room.

“Please get him to bed by eight.” There was a pleading tone to my voice, completely justified with my free-spirited sister.

“We’ll do our best.”

“Dakota—”

“Max, relax,” she said lightly. “It’s so easy to get you ruffled.” She walked up to me and adjusted my bow tie even though I just had. “This isn’t my first rodeo with this little cowboy. He’ll be fine. Promise.”

I growled but tried to relax a degree because I knew what she said was true. I was being a dick, and it had nothing to do with my sister and everything to do with the nervousness that had plagued me every day for more than a year.

The truth was, I wouldn’t be able to function without my supportive family. My mom took care of Daniel full-time while I was at work. Dakota and Levi, my older brother, pitched in whenever I needed extra help. All of them loved Danny as much as I did and were dedicated to giving him a secure, love-filled childhood.

“I’m sorry,” I said to my sister. “I know you’re fully capable.” I grabbed my keys and headed toward the garage.

“Max,” Dakota said, following me. At the door, I stopped and turned. “Try to have fun tonight. Do you remember how to do that?”

I clenched my jaw, holding in a snappy reply. I was learning that nothing good came out of my mouth in the heart of an anxious moment.

“Harper is fun, friendly, funny,” she continued. “I think you’ll like her if you give her a chance.”

“The last thing I need right now is to get involved with someone.”

“Not involved,” she insisted. “She doesn’t want that either.” My sister laughed. “Harper absolutely does not want to be tied down. She dates, but I don’t know if she’s ever had a lasting relationship.”

At least we had one thing in common.

“It’s safe to go out for one night with her, enjoy good food, have a drink or two, dance a little,” my sister continued. “Unlike the football groupies, she won’t be angling for more.”

I didn’t have groupies, but I knew what she meant. Women who were interested because I’d played football in a different lifetime and had the bank account to prove it. Maybe some locals who were interested in the spotlight that came with being the high school coach. They wanted a piece of what they thought public Max could provide and didn’t bother even wondering who I really was, let alone getting to know me.

I’d never found someone worth the energy of letting them get to know me. I’d always figured it would happen someday eventually, but now that I was responsible for Daniel’s well-being and happiness, I wasn’t interested. I intended to give Daniel whatever he needed—time, energy, love. Security. It was the least I could do after fate had taken his parents. I loved that kid so much. I just wanted to give him every fucking thing.

The sound of Danny giggling as a ball clunked and rolled down his ball tower had me walking back to the family room. I bent over him and pressed a loud kiss to the top of his head, which made him laugh more. “Love you, Danny boy.”

He giggled again and looked up at me.

Dakota waited by the door when I came back through. “Take some flowers,” she said.

I stopped in my tracks.

Flowers?

Fuck.

In an attempt to not let on I was so rusty at dating that flowers hadn’t crossed my mind, I continued to the door. “Got it handled. Text me if you need anything.”

“I won’t need anything,” she said. “Have fun, you grump.”

I ignored the insult and said, “Thanks for staying with Danny. See you when I get home.”

I got into my SUV, unlocked my phone, and put Harper’s address into the map app. I hoped like hell Oopsie Daisies was still open, because my sister was right. Flowers were in order.

As I turned onto Main, I caught a glimpse of Esmerelda the llama making her way toward the back of the shops on this side of the square. To the bakery. I couldn’t help grinning at the sight of my friend Ben’s pet llama in spite of my alleged—okay, it was a valid accusation—grumpiness.

I could already hear Ben’s voice in my head, cussing about the animal. He acted like she was a pain in the ass, and really, she was because she kept escaping her enclosure and heading toward the bakery. Ben was the town veterinarian and loved both his llamas though.

Without pulling over, I called Ben.

“I know,” he said instead of a greeting. “Fucking llama. I’m on my way.”

“Good luck,” I told him. “I have plans; otherwise I’d help you catch her.”

“You have a good time with your boss’s daughter,” he deadpanned, then hung up.

Others would help him. There were plenty of people around at this hour to assist with getting the llama into the van and driving her home. That’s what you got for taking in llamas, I thought.

Oopsie Daisies was still open. I parked behind the hardware store, then hurried one block over to the flower shop.

“Hello, Coach Dawson.”

“Piper, how you doing?”

“I’m fine. I bet you need flowers for Harper.”

Christ. Zero secrets in this town. There was an upside to that though. “Do you know what she likes?”

“She loves bright colors. You can’t go wrong.” My former student walked over to the cooler of premade arrangements and took out one with large flowers in a range of pinks, from bright to pale. “How about these dahlias?”

“Perfect.” I met her at the counter and held out my card. “I appreciate your help. And that you’re still open.”

“We get our share of people going on dates on Saturdays,” Piper said. She wrapped the flowers in a damp cloth, then in kraft paper.

“Nice. Thanks, Piper.”

“Have fun tonight, Coach.”

“You do the same,” public Max said.

Private Max was thinking the odds of tonight being fun were not in my favor.

I hurried to the car, set the bouquet on the seat, then started the map app again. I hadn’t realized how far off the beaten path Harper lived and hadn’t left myself enough time.

Flying over the country roads, I arrived two minutes after I’d told her I would pick her up. The driveway was long and winding and led to a two-story yellow farmhouse with a big front porch and outbuildings surrounding it. One had a mural that spanned the entire side and a sign that said The Art Community.

I’d heard about Naomi’s studio space, but I’d never been out here. The land was lush and green with lots of trees and flower beds. I made my way from the gravel driveway to the front door.

After ringing the doorbell, I turned to gawk at the porch, full of flowers in whiskey barrels and hanging from crooks. I turned around at the sound of the door opening. Whatever I was prepared to say fell right out of my brain at the sight of Harper.

“Hi, Max,” she said, but I barely heard her.

She was dressed in a deep purple asymmetrical gown with a wide strap over one shoulder. My eyes were drawn to the opposite side of the dress, which consisted of cutouts from neckline to hip, with three silver straps holding the fabric together. Her lightly tanned skin was exposed more than covered on that side, and damn, did she make one hell of a vision.

“Are those for me?” she asked, nodding toward the bouquet.

I swung my gaze to her face. “Um…”

I’d never seen this Harper before. Her hair was piled on her head in tousled but controlled waves. Multiple strands hung to her bare shoulders, framing her gorgeous face. Her lips were an understated pink, drawing my attention with their subtle color and sheen.

“Max?”

Fuck, I was an idiot. “Yes. Hello. Sorry. These are for you,” I stuttered out.

“They’re beautiful. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” I said, straightening and getting my shit together just slightly. “You look incredible.”

She let out a laugh that sounded nervous around the edges, not like the bold girl who’d bid five big ones for me to go with her tonight. “Thanks. Let me put these in water and then we can go.”

“Good idea.”

Yep, I was still in half-idiot mode. I stepped inside and waited in the small entry, working to regain my composure, while she went into the kitchen.

I told myself again that tonight was no big deal, but with Harper looking irresistible, with my mind fixating on those lips and the soft-looking skin revealed by that dress…

I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry.

Tonight was going to be an entirely different kind of tricky than I’d expected.