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Aspen nods, completely certain. “Everybody likes Miss Morgan.”

I kiss her forehead and switch off the lamp.

“Night, Pen.”

“Night, Daddy.”

I close her door behind me, having absolutely no idea just how right she is.

Thirteen

Dean

I’m five minutes early to parent-teacher night, which is practically a fucking miracle.

The shop was packed today, and I wasn’t sure I’d get out on time, but I know how important this is to Aspen.

I wasn’t going to miss it.

As I make my way toward her classroom, I hear her talking to someone inside.

Miss Morgan, I assume.

I slow.

Wait. Why the fuck do I know that voice?

I step through the doorway and stop dead.

“Blair?”

Fucking Blair.

“Daddy!” Aspen beams. “You know Miss Morgan?”

Blair stares at me like I’ve just grown a second head.

“Penny?” she says slowly.

Aspen giggles. “That’s what Daddy calls me.”

Blair’s eyes snap back to mine.

Oh, fuck.

“I told you you’d like her!” Aspen claps excitedly, completely oblivious to the fact that both adults in the room have short-circuited.

For once, my attraction to Blair isn’t the first thing on my mind.

I’m thinking about the fact that my daughter hasn’t stopped talking about this woman for an entire week.

The same woman I nearly kissed two nights ago.

Fuck me.

Blair clears her throat and shuffles the papers on the desk, attempting to recover before I do.

“Well,” she says, giving me an awkward smile. “This is unexpected.”