Page 13 of Whisper Sweet Nothings
“I’ve got my eye on that kid,” he said as the corners of his lips turned up in a mischievous smile.
“You don’t gots a boyfriend?” she asked me again, and Archer shot her a look that only made her head tip back in a fit of giggles.
“I do not. I went through a breakup a while ago, and I like being single,” I said, trying not to give her all the gory details.
By “breakup,” I meant “divorce.”
I’d married my high school sweetheart when I was far too young.
We completely outgrew one another.
And he hadn’t taken the divorce well, so I’d basically left with my car, my clothes, and my dignity.
He’d kept our apartment and all the furniture, and he’d managed to spend the advance checks from my publisher for the first two books I’d released shortly after they’d hit our account.
But I was free now, and I could rebuild both my bank account and my life.
“Daddy likes being single, too. He doesn’t go on no dates,” she said as ice cream dribbled down her chin. I instinctually reached for my napkin and wiped it away, just as Archer did the same thing.
My gaze caught his, and he smiled.
And holy hotness, when Archer Chadwick smiled at me—my entire body reacted.
When was the last time my body had reacted to anyone?
Years, maybe?
“Doesn’t go onanydates,” he said. The way he corrected her was gentle and sweet.
“Right.” Melody’s head fell back with a laugh. “That’s what I said, Daddy.”
“And that’s not completely true. I’ve been on plenty of dates. Plus, I’ve got my favorite girl right here. I don’t need anyone else.” He winked at his daughter.
“That’s ’cause I’ve gots the best daddy around,” Melody said as her father got up and cleared our dessert plates from the table. I’d already attempted to do the dishes after dinner, but I’d been turned down. He’d made a joke about me not being on the clock tonight. “Do you gots a good daddy, Winnie?”
“I have an amazing father. He’s my favorite person in the world,” I said without hesitation.
“Do you gots a good mama, too?”
I noted the way Archer’s shoulders tensed at the question from where he stood at the sink. So maybe I was staring a little—the man was very captivating in that quiet, understated sort of way.
“I don’t really know my mom. She left when I was five,” I answered honestly. I figured honesty was an important part of being a nanny, right? And I was a straight shooter, so I’d tell her the truth. I didn’t know their situation, as my aunt and uncle hadn’t mentioned Melody’s mother, only that he was raising her on his own. I wondered if I’d be interacting with her on weekends or just occasionally.
Melody gasped, and her hands came over her mouth. Maybe I’d been too forthcoming.
Was there a rule to how you shared your own abandonment?
“Daddy. Winnie doesn’t know her mama, either,” she whispered, as if we were sharing something sinister.
Archer dried his hands with a towel and came back to the table. He didn’t take his seat; instead he bent down and faced his daughter, taking his hands in hers. The act was so sweet, it made my heart ache.
“I heard that. And you remember what we’ve talked about. That it doesn’t matter how many parents you have, just that you’re surrounded by love, right?” The concern in his voice was impossible to miss.
“Justine Schwartz said that it does matter if you don’t have a mama,” she said, eyes wide as she looked up at her father. “She said it means that I’m not special like her. ’Cause she gots two parents that love her.”
I noted the way his jaw tensed, and the way the vein strained against his neck, but he kept his features calm and cool. “Justine is a child. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about, so I would not listen to that nonsense, okay?”
“Well, my best friend Winnie is very special, and she only has a daddy like me.”
