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“Nevermind. Are we watching a movie or what?” I tuck my phone back in my pocket.
“Aren’t you going to put your pajamas on?” Olive dances away—the child dances more than she walks—to the kitchen and opens the fridge.
“Would you like to clean up?” Kel emerges from the second bedroom, a pair of gray sweatpants sitting low on his hips and a soft green T-shirt stretched across his chest. His dark blond hair is damp from the shower and sticking up all over, like he just rubbed a towel over it. A flash of heat runs through me at the sight. Unearthed from beanie and the layers of flannel and grouchiness, Kel is hot. Panty-melting, Ophie-will-kill-me-for-not-making-a-move, hot.
Instead of running my fingers through it like I want to, I nod and swing my feet off the couch. “A shower sounds amazing.”
Before I can finish standing, Kel closes the distance between us and scoops me up in his arms. Again. “Should I even bother?” I roll my eyes as he starts toward his bedroom.
“Bother with what?”
“Protesting at being carted around like a child.”
Kel laughs, and it’s like the world starts spinning backwards. The furrow between his eyebrows I assumed was permanent, disappears. There’s a sparkle in his eyes and a lightness in the sound that belongs to someone else entirely, not the taciturn and bossy man I’ve been dealing with all day.
“Who are you and what have you done with Dr. Grumpypants?”
Kel just sighs, the furrow back as quickly as it left. “Do you want a shower or not?” Using his foot, he nudges open the door and steps inside. He carries me into the bathroom and sets me down on the counter before reaching into the shower stall to flip the water on.
“I thought you were going to carry me into the shower?” I tease, already reaching for the hem of my sweater. The bathroom is bigger than I was expecting, with a separate shower and tub.
“I thought about dumping your ass in the tub, but I know my offspring won’t wait long enough for it to fill, and I didn’t think you’d appreciate her bringing a laptop in here to watch it while you take a bath.”
I freeze, my sweater halfway off. “Uh, that would be correct.” I fold my sweater carefully, setting it beside me on the counter.
Kel finally turns back to me, his eyes going wide at the sight of me. “Fuck.” Kel slides a hand over his cheeks, tugging at his short scruff.
I grin, his face going bright red. I slide off the counter, wincing as my right foot hits the ground with more force than I expected. Instantly, the hesitation leaves him and Kel is at my side.
“I’m fine, I’m fine.” My hand may linger on his chest just a hair longer than necessary when I push him off. I don’t look as I start unbuttoning my jeans. “I can undress myself, Kel.”
“You sure?”
There’s something more than playful in his tone and I look up, meeting his eyes. The hazel in them is dark, and the way his bottom lip is caught between his teeth sends a shiver down my spine. How the hell does this man swing from annoyingly overprotective father to DILF so quickly? I need him to leave before I strip completely, just to see his reaction.
“Dad?” Olive’s voice from the other room startles us both.
“You should—”
“I should—”
We both speak at once, Kel already edging his way out of the bathroom. He disappears, leaving me alone in a cloud of steam. Hunting around the counter, I spy a hot pink hair band that I snag to secure my hair on my head.
I shower as quickly as I can, refusing to dwell on the collection of bottles in Kel’s shower or the way it smells like him. Instead, I clean the dust and dirt that’s collected on my neck and face before shutting off the water.
There’s a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie laid on the bed when I limp out of the bathroom, a giant fluffy towel wrapped around me. The sweatpants are a relief after wearing my jeans all day. The hoodie slips comfortably over my head just as there’s a light knock on the door.
“Maggie? Are you ready?”
I limp my way to the door and swing it open. “Do you promise not to carry me this time?”
Instead of answering, Kel leans down and tosses me over his shoulder, to Olive’s utter delight. “Maggie, Maggie, we’re gonna watch Big Hero 6. Have you ever seen that one? It’s my favorite.”
She laps Kel as he carries me to the couch, this time setting me down facing the TV, before tucking a pillow under my foot on the coffee table. “I’m going to go get you some ice. Pickle, come help me with the snacks.”
Pickle. DILF.
“You okay?” Kel’s question just makes me giggle.
