The Single Dad: Girl’s Sexual Awakening

A man who had planned to be the single dad forever.

But Sydney had blown into my life and altered those plans.

And of course, things had changed at home since her first day of school. She now lived in the main house. She had her own side in my large closet, the sink on the right in our en suite.

She also had half my heart.

The only person she had to share it with was Everly.

But for this trip-as far as Sydney knew-it was only going to be us.

When I’d told her that my parents were going to be watching Everly while we were gone for the two-week vacation, she had been disappointed.

She wanted Eve to experience Bali.

She wanted to create a picture book.

She wanted memories.

With the three of us.

Together.

The two of them had a special bond.

It had started before the accident, but the crash had only made them stronger. There was a unique level of trust between them.

A friendship.

My daughter soaked up every minute.

She finally had a woman in her life who wasn’t a grandmother or an aunt or a cousin.

Sydney had crossed that mother border.

It was the most beautiful thing to watch.

Just as beautiful as seeing Sydney in a bikini.

She was next to me, spread across the lounge chair, her hair splayed over the top of the towel, a drink balanced in her hand.

The ocean lapped the sand only feet from where we lay, creating the perfect soundtrack.

I reached across the small space between us, tracing her stomach.

Bare.

Flat.

Curves I knew so well that I could draw them with my eyes closed.

“God, you’re gorgeous.”

She’d been staring at the water, but she slowly looked over at me. “Every time you say that …” Her voice trailed off as she gazed into my eyes, really taking me in. “It feels like the first time all over again.”

I surrounded her fingers and brought them up to my mouth. I kept them there, kissing across her knuckles, breathing her in. “Come take a walk with me.”

She kicked her legs over the lounge chair and stood in front of me, keeping our fingers locked.

She didn’t question.

She just trusted me.

I led her a few paces into the ocean, so the waves crashed against our shins.

My arm rested across her shoulders, hers wrapped around my waist as we walked. The height difference allowed me to press my lips into the top of her head.

Inhaling her.

Kissing her.

“Paradise,” she said softly, her sound almost getting carried into the wind. “I can’t believe we have another week here.” She gazed up at me, smiling. “At first, I thought two weeks was a little much to be away from our girl. But you’re right; Bali can’t be done in just seven days.”

I stopped moving, positioning her right where I needed her to be, and I held her chin, tilting it up.

Lost in her eyes.

Her presence.

And then I kissed her.

Just briefly.

My lips brushing hers, my hand holding her steady.

And when I pulled my mouth away, I glanced over Sydney’s shoulder, making sure she didn’t see what I did.

The plan I’d put in place.

The one I wanted to keep as a surprise for just a few more seconds.

Holding her face with both hands, I said, “What if I told you we’re only going to spend a few more days here, and then we’re going to fly to Sydney and on to Melbourne and a stop in Auckland before heading home?”

“Are you serious?”

I nodded.

“Then, there’s no way we’ll only be gone for another week.”

I grinned. “No …” I gnawed on her bottom lip before I released it to say, “It’ll be closer to three weeks total.”

She sucked in a breath. “Ford, that would be so incredible, like beyond words.”

As she paused, I waved my hand behind Sydney’s back, giving the signal. “But …” I said to her.

She continued to gaze at me, her chest rising as she said, “But what about Everly-”

“Syd! Daaaddy,” I heard Everly shout.

Sydney processed the sound, and she turned around to where Everly was running down the beach.

“Oh my God,” Sydney sang as Eve got closer.

My baby, all grown up in my eyes, was dressed in a pink bathing suit and a straw hat, looking so mature and still adorable.

An outfit I was sure Jo and Kendall had picked out.

“What are you doing here?” Sydney said as Everly fell into her arms.

I rubbed Everly’s back, hugging the both of them against my chest.

“I came with Uncle D and Uncle Jenner.”

“You did?” Sydney asked, looking at me.

“She sure did,” I said to Sydney.

I pulled Sydney’s face closer and kissed her.

“Did you plan this?” she asked the second we separated.

I didn’t answer.

I just shifted my eyes to my daughter and said, “Everly, I think you have something you want to say to Sydney, don’t you?”

She nodded so hard that her hat almost fell off. But she held it on tightly and said, “Syd, Daddy and I want you to be our ever and ever.”

She held out her hand, and a diamond ring was on her thumb.

One that had taken weeks to design.

I’d wanted it to be everything I imagined for my future wife, everything that resembled Sydney’s personality.

The round stone was surrounded by two diamonds.

My Everly and I came as a pair.

Sydney’s fingers went over her mouth, her eyes wide and teary as she looked at me.

She hadn’t realized I’d gotten on my knee.

That I was holding out my hand.

That I was asking, “Be my wife?”Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

“And my mommy,” Everly chimed in.

I slipped my other arm around Everly, glancing at my daughter as I added, “Be ours.”

I took the ring from Everly, and I positioned it over Sydney’s finger.

Waiting.

It took only seconds for Sydney to reply, “Yes.” Once the ring was on her finger, she bent down and threw her arms around us. “Forever and ever.”