“Thank you for recording it,” I said, my cheeks heating. “I didn’t even think to do it.”
Logan pulled out his phone and tapped away. A few seconds, later my phone buzzed.
“Sent you the video.” He smiled.
“Thanks again.”
I watched him for a moment before tearing my gaze away, so it wouldn’t seem like I was staring at him. One of my big fears about getting back onto the dating scene was over men not liking my daughter, especially since her father was still in the picture. Logan seemed surprised a few times when dealing with my little sweet pea, but he’d never been mean or annoyed.
Even if he were putting on a show for me, he’d gone out of his way to get her special LEGOs. I understood he’d been in Denmark for business already, but it wasn’t like he had to make a side trip to buy toys for my daughter.
The door to the stage opened, and kids filed out. A good half-dozen ran out until Juniper appeared. She stopped a few feet in front of the door. She looked over at Lionel and his woman and then over to me and Logan. She ran straight for me.
Lionel scowled at me, and I offered him a friendly wave. It took everything I had in me not to laugh. Winners should always be gracious. That’s something Mama taught me from an early age.
I leaned over and put out my arms so I could sweep up Juniper into a hug. After a little hug and kiss, I set her on the ground again.
She spun around, giggling. “Did you see me, Mama? Did you see me?” She wrapped herself around Logan’s leg, bringing an amused smile to his face.
“Oh, sweet pea,” I said. “I saw you, and Logan even took a video. You were the prettiest
flower in all of Tennessee.”
“And the nicest sounding,” Logan added with a grin, patting her on the head.
Juniper grinned.
I let out a sigh. I might not like Lionel, but Juniper was still his daughter, and he deserved to see her. I turned to wave him over, only to find him not where he was. Looking around, I spotted him rushing toward the parking lot, yanking his date along.
I rolled my eyes. It was one thing to be annoyed with me, and another to take it out on our daughter. One of the few good things I’d been able to say about my ex was that he was always sweet to his daughter, regardless of what had been going on between us. And then, there he was, running away because she chose to run to me first.
No. Not me. I looked down at my daughter. She was still hugging Logan’s leg.
I’d never thought about that sort of risk to Lionel’s pride. After all, he had no problem introducing Juniper to whatever girl of the month he was dating. He must have assumed he’d never have to face it himself, that smiling at my daughter would be enough to keep her attention on him.
Letting out a long sigh, I shook my head. I couldn’t know what he really felt. Out of all the bimbos my husband had introduced to my daughter, she’d never taken a real liking to any of them. They just would never be a replacement for me.
Watching Logan smile down at my daughter, I could imagine Lionel realizing the same might not be true. I wasn’t getting ahead of myself. It wasn’t like I’d fallen for Logan already. It was more that I accepted it wouldn’t hurt my daughter if I did date the man. Well, maybe.
“Logan,” I said softly. “Thank you for coming. It really means a lot to me.”
“You’re welcome, Emily. It was my pleasure.” He stroked Juniper’s hair. She still was connected to his leg. No irritation or anything like that was on his face. For a man with no kids, he sure was a natural with my daughter.
Those dark eyes of his watched me, summoning a pulse of warmth from my center. I swallowed and fanned myself for a moment.
“Maybe… maybe we could go out to eat again sometime, all three of us,” I said softly. “Not tonight,” I added quickly. Logan’s face dropped.
I regretted it as soon as I said it. It was true. It was a school night, and I didn’t want to set up bad habits in my daughter, but when I replayed the comment in my head, I knew it sounded like a brush off.
“I’ll give you a call here in a couple of days,” Logan said. His grin from before was gone, replaced by a guarded smile. “I’m sure we can work something out.”
“Mama, why can’t we go out tonight?”
“School tomorrow, sweet pea.”
“I promise to go to bed right away when we get home.”
I stared down at my daughter, her wide, innocent eyes pleading with me to go out. How could anyone say no to that kind of look?