‘You scared me,’ she cries, nuzzling into my neck as Willow smiles at me the way she does whenever I get like this.
Mackenzie takes a step forward, her pale hands raised in supplication. ‘I’m so sorry, Mr Ledger, I honestly had no idea.’
‘It’s okay,’ I say. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…’
For a moment we all stay quiet, and then I take a deep breath, bringing Harper around until I can see her red and puffy eyes.
‘How about we give Miss Miller a tour?’ I say, softening. ‘Together.’
She wipes her eyes with her fists and nods. She’s so resilient, even with a grumpy asshole like me for a father, and for a moment my chest swells with pride. Then she nods excitedly, jumping down and running ahead, grabbing Willow’s hand and tugging her along.
Mackenzie waits, and for a heartbeat, I think she might be about to apologise again, but then her face twitches and she falls silent, a deep blush spreading out across her cheeks and down toward her chest as I avert my eyes a heartbeat too late.
For a moment the two of us stand still, a few feet apart, and then she beams that bright sunshine smile of hers, and once again, I’m lost.
*
Fuck.
Why the fuck didn’t the agency tell me? Family of four, the girl had said. I think I can be forgiven for assuming that meant two kids, a husband, and a wife? Not three girls and a ridiculously hot single dad.
I should’ve made the connection when Thea made me jump harder than a horror movie, but my brain is all mushed. I scare easily, but that’s beside the point. My heart is breaking. Those little girls losing their mommy so young, and their daddy looking after them here, all alone?
It’s too much right now.
I’ve barely heard a word during the tour, it’s been all I could do to stop myself from crying, and it’s not helping that little Harper’s face is so pure and full of love as she hops along beside me squeezing my hand every now and again and swinging it like a pendulum.
The house didn’t feel right from the moment I walked in. It felt like something was missing but I couldn’t put my finger on what, but now I know what that something is and I feel terrible. I don’t understand why the agency never told me.
‘The garage is through there,’ says Mr Ledger, pointing. ‘You can use the car. In the glovebox is a fuel card, keep it above half at all times.’
I get a car? I blink.
‘Yes, you get a car,’ he says, frowning. Shit, did I say that out loud? I need to watch that. ‘You have a license, I presume?’ he continues, hesitating as he ponders this potential deal-breaker.
‘Oh,’ I say, remembering my altercation with the gate guard. ‘Yes, of course.’
‘Good. Thea needs to be in school by eight each morning for choir.’
‘Okay,’ I say, making mental notes as fast as I can.
‘Harper has yoga at eleven on Tuesdays and playschool on Thursdays at ten, Willow has swimming at four on Wednesdays.’
‘Sure.’
‘Speaking of which, through there is the pool,’ he continues as he makes a right angle and begins ascending the stairs without breaking his stride, leaving me wondering if I’m allowed to swim or not. For a moment I consider asking, but then the mischievous side of me decides that it would probably be more fun to see what happens if I do it anyway, especially as I don’t have a costume.
At the top of the steps is a wide atrium surrounded by foliage, the leaves glistening as if they’ve just been freshly watered.
’This is my bedroom,’ he says, stopping suddenly. ‘This is out of bounds. Under no circumstances may you enter.’
‘Okay,’ I say, nodding politely as I try not to even look at him because whenever I do I feel unnaturally turned on. Something about the way he uses his voice, that firm intensity coupled with those dark steel eyes is doing things to me that I’m too embarrassed to even think about. The fact that he’s a widow, probably military, and a single dad, makes what I’m feeling even worse.
‘Theo’s room is at the far end, Willow’s room is there, Harpy’s room is between, and...’ I take a deep breath as Mr Ledger stops and turns gesturing toward the only door left. ‘This is your room,’ he says with a smile. ‘I’ll give you some time to settle in. Come downstairs when you’re ready. We need to talk about your ground rules.’
I nod as a blush sweeps over me and my chest thumps. ‘Thank you,’ I force out.
Ground rules.