“Why don’t you go check out the toys,” she says to Daisy. Daisy bounces off, and Sam straightens. She has a soft pink flush on her face when she turns back to me. “Excuse the mess.”
“Looks perfectly good to me,” I say as I catalogue the room.
“It’s probably not what you expected.” She waves her hand. “But I’m hoping to break that wall down and put a door in the…the…” She pauses for a second, like she’s trying to gather herself, then says, “I would like for the office to have direct access to the outside, so clients won’t have to go through my home.”
“Have you been here long?” I ask.
“No, just a couple months, and just getting set up. I really appreciate Quinn sending work my way.”
Daisy squeals when she finds some orange stuffed bear, and Sam gestures to a chair. “Please have a seat so we can get the consultation underway, then if it’s okay with you, I’ll ask you to have a seat in the living room, so I can have one-on-one time with Daisy.” She opens a file, and slides a paper across the desk. I glance it over, fill in my information, including my insurance, and lift my head to slide it back.
When I do, I find Sam watching me. Her eyes go wide and she tears her gaze away fast, then goes about fussing with the papers.
“I…uh…okay.” She closes the file, takes another breath like she’s trying to center herself again, and says, “Everything looks in order.”
“Do you think you can help her?” I ask.
A warm smile comes over her face as she turns her focus to Daisy. “I’ll do my best.” She stands and I follow her up. “We’ll take it slow. Best not to rush things or put too much pressure on her.” Her big brown eyes narrow. “Have you been working with her at home, trying to get her to enunciate properly?”
I reach behind me and rub the back of my neck. “Uh, not really. Should I have been doing that?” I ask. Dammit, I guess I’m not about to win any father of the year awards here.
As if sensing my unease, Sam puts her hand on my arm. “Oh, no. Not at all. There will be exercises later, but right now it’s best not to put pressure on her.”
“Whew,” I say and exhale loudly. That brings a smile to her face. I lower my voice. “I just don’t want to screw up with her, you know?” I gaze at my daughter as she talks to the stuffed orange bear. “It’s just her and me, and I don’t always know if I’m making the right choices.”
“I understand,” Sam says quietly, and I shake my head.
Why am I telling her this? Then again, I’m guessing if she’s a friend of Quinn’s, she’s well-versed in the situation that made me a single dad. I’m about to leave the room, take a seat in her living room, when her voice stops me.
“You’re not what I expected,” she blurts out, then her eyes go wide again, like she said something she shouldn’t have.
“What did you expect?” I ask.
“I…I…” She laughs, but it’s strained and uneasy. “I’m sorry, Zander. I shouldn’t have said that. That wasn’t professional.”
I put my hands into my pockets and her gaze drops for a brief second as my jeans sink lower on my hips. “For the record, you’re not what I expected, either.”
“What did you expect?” she asked, her eyes flying back to mine.
“Nanny McPhee,” I say, and her mouth drops open.
“Are you serious?” I nod. “Why?” she asks.
“Beats me,” I say, as my thoughts stray, turn to the bedroom, and all the things I’d like to do with her beneath the sheets.
Okay, dude. Cool it. You are not, under any circumstance, going to have your way with your daughter’s speech pathologist, no matter how hot she is.
“Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you,” she says quietly, in a very non-flirtatious manner that makes me want to play with her, tease her a little.
“I never said I was disappointed,” I return, my voice lower, deeper.
Stop flirting already.
She draws her bottom lip between her teeth as the color on her cheeks deepen. She points to the door. “There are some magazines on the coffee table to help you pass the time.”
I reach for the door, needing the distraction. “Thanks.”
She bites back a grin. “I was going to suggest you practice your goldfish lips, but you’ve already nailed that.