“I hate my name,” I whisper.

“Why?”

“Because it’s an old lady name.”

“I love your name.”

God, he’s intoxicating me. I’m numb from the pleasure, and yet, I’m more sensitive than I’ve ever been.

And that doesn’t make any sense.

None of this makes any sense.

“I want to spend tomorrow with you.”

I open my eyes to find his on me, narrowed just a little. His hand has drifted down my side to my hip, but he’s still holding the other side of my face in his strong hand.

“To protect me?” I ask.

“That’s only part of it.” He kisses me chastely. “I want to be with you. Do you have tomorrow off for the holiday?”

“Yes.” I give a little nod. “Okay.”

“Okay.” He kisses me one more time, bites my lower lip, then takes a deep breath and leans his forehead on my shoulder. “I have to go. Lock this door and stay smart, Lila. I’ll be back in the morning.”

“Okay.”

“Oh, and I’ll have Casey with me.” He winks. “You’ll like her.”

“Oh. Okay.”

Is okay all I know how to say?

I watch as he leaves, lock the door behind him, and take a deep, cleansing breath. Dear sweet Jesus, that man is potent. And he’s a good guy.

A good guy with a kid.

The thought would normally scare me, but I feel a smile spread across my face at the thought of watching him with a little girl. Does she have him wrapped around her finger? How is he with her?

I’m suddenly looking forward to tomorrow.

Chapter Four

~Asher~

“Is Lila your girlfriend?” Casey asks as we drive from our townhouse to Lila’s apartment. I grin at her in the rearview.

“No. She’s a friend.” How do I explain to my daughter that Lila is so much more than a friend, but not my girlfriend, when I don’t even understand it yet myself? I’ve never introduced Casey to a woman that I’m interested in. No one has ever made me consider keeping them around for the long haul, and I’m not going to bring someone into Casey’s life just to have them say good-bye again.

But I actually want Casey to meet Lila, and that has me more than just a tad nervous.

“And why are we hanging out with her today?”

“Because I’m looking after her for a little while. You’ll like her. She’s nice.”

“Is she nice enough to maybe eventually be your girlfriend?” she asks hopefully.

I simply chuckle, my heart hitching a bit at the longing in Casey’s pretty green eyes, and park in front of Lila’s building, then lead Casey up to Lila’s door.

I knock and scowl when Lila opens the door without even asking who is on the other side.

“What if I had been the bad guy?”

“Are you the bad guy?” she asks with one brow raised, and damn if I don’t want to kiss that smirk right off her gorgeous face.

“He’s the good guy¸” Casey replies seriously.

“You must be Casey,” Lila says with a smile and holds her hand out to shake my daughter’s. “I’m Lila.”

“You’re pretty,” Casey says.

“You’re prettier,” Lila replies as she grabs her handbag and keys. “Do you know where we’re going?”

“Breakfast,” Casey says and glances up at me for confirmation.

“Breakfast,” I agree.

“Perfect. I’m starving.” Lila offers her hand to Casey, and together they walk hand in hand toward the car.

Watching them together, the tall, slim brunette and my small, slim redhead, makes my heart catch.

I’ve never imagined bringing a woman into our lives full time. Casey is happy and well adjusted the way things are, and asking her to accept someone new has always seemed rather selfish of me.

It never occurred to me that she might need, or even want, a woman in our lives.

And damn if Lila doesn’t look perfectly comfortable with my daughter.

“Do you have a place in mind?” Lila asks, and she and Casey climb into the car and buckle themselves in.

“I do.” I grin at her and wink as I back out of the parking lot. “You’ll see.”

There’s a little hole-in-the-wall joint not far from Lila’s place that Casey and I love. It’s busy today, but we’re quickly shown to a table in the back corner with a view of the street. I sit with my back to the window, as always, with Casey next to me so I can keep an eye on the room.

I never sit with my back to a room.

“They have the best pancakes,” Casey announces, setting her menu aside. “May I please have bacon with mine, Daddy?”

“Of course,” I reply and kiss her head, then glance up to find Lila watching us.

“How old are you, Casey?” she asks.

“Ten,” Casey replies and sips her water. “I’ll be eleven in seven months and one week.”

“That soon?” Lila asks with a laugh. “What grade are you in?”

“Fourth.”

“Lila is a teacher,” I tell Casey.

“What grade do you teach?”

“I am a college professor,” Lila says.

“Wow. You must be really smart.”

She’s brilliant.

Lila laughs and orders pancakes and bacon for herself and Casey when the waitress arrives.