Finn beelines for Harper, giving her a gentle kiss on the lips. “How’s my girl?”
“I’m great,” she answers, looking at him with loved-up eyes.
“Is Avery behaving?” He looks in the bassinet, whisking a finger around his daughter’s face. So much love is pouring from Finn and Harper it’s palpable.
“Always,” Harper answers.
Finn chuckles. “Hmm. I find that hard to believe.”
“Can I hold her, Aunty Harper?” Lily asks.
“Sure you can. Sit next to Alyssa.” Lily shuffles onto the couch, and Harper picks Avery up out of the bassinet and gently places her in Lily’s arms. “Remember to support her neck.”
“I wish Dad would get married, then I’d have a mom and a baby brother or sister.”
Finn laughs, walks over to Hayden, who’s still standing in the doorway, and nudges him in the ribs with his elbow. “Better get working on that.”
I chance a look at Hayden, and he’s scowling at his brother.
“Not happening.” Hayden nudges him back.
“You said if you get a girlfriend you’ll marry her.” Lily looks at her dad like she’s challenging him to deny it.
“I saidifI found someone special enough.” His gaze flicks to me, and for that brief, intense moment I feel like I could be that ‘someone special.’ “I haven’t found her yet.” Just as fast, the look is gone, replaced with a shuttered expression. Damn him and his mixed signals. Or damn me for seeing things that aren’t there.
“Must be your charming personality keeping them away.” I smile sweetly at him.
He leans a shoulder against the doorjamb. “Maybe I’m not interested in the company I’ve been keeping with lately.”
A raging hot flush creeps over my skin. “Maybe you should stop lurking around strip club doorways!”
Lily looks up and asks, “What’s a strip club?”
Hayden’s cheeks turn red. “It’s a bar for adults where they sell drinks,” Hayden says through gritted teeth, his eyes throwing daggers my way.
I smirk.
Harper’s gaze flicks from Hayden to me and back to Hayden. Concern is etched on her face, like she’s worried a smackdown is going to start. “So, Hayden. Did you get everything you need for Lily’s dance studio?” she asks, like she must defuse the situation before things get out of hand.
The question draws him into the room. He props a hip on the couch on the opposite side of where I’m sitting. Like he needs to keep his distance from me.Yeah, buddy, I might bite.
“I think so. I’ll google the height for the barres and work out where everything needs to go, then I’ll put it together.”
Lily’s head springs up. “Miss Alyssa can help you, Dad. She’s a ballet teacher, so she’ll know how to set it up.”
“Oh…umm…I…” Lily has put me on the spot.
“Miss Alyssa can’t help,” Hayden cuts through my stuttering.
Lily’s eyebrows crease. “Why?”
“She doesn’t have time.” He stares hard at me and crosses his arms over his chest, challenging me to object.
I narrow my eyes at him. For whatever reason he doesn’t want me around, he doesn’t have to be a rude prick about it. Although I’m thankful he was quick with an excuse. Because spending any more time around Hayden is not a good idea. We’re likely to kill each other.
Lily looks at me with disappointment lining her little face. “Why don’t you have time?”
Before I can answer, Hayden jumps in to say, “She has a job that keeps her very busy.”