If You Give a Single Dad a Nanny (Aspen Grove, #1)

by Ann Einerson

“Okay, well if you—” I stop when I hear a child’s voice calling my name. When I hear it again, I turn around, and sure enough, Lola’s bounding down the street toward me. Pigtails flying. She’s a ray of sunshine in a bright yellow jumper with a short-sleeved white shirt underneath and silver sneakers that match mine.

“Now, enough chitchat. Go spend time with your family.” She doesn’t wait for my response before hanging up. My family. I love the sound of that.

My heart nearly bursts with joy when I lay my eyes on Dylan, his arms loaded with backpacks and suitcases. He’s jogging alongside Lola but stops briefly to push his glasses up on his nose. He’s positively mouthwatering in his black crewneck T-shirt, light wash jeans, and gray sneakers. And he’s all mine.

“Marlow,” she exclaims. Tears threaten to spill as I hold my little girl in my arms after three months of separation. I’m never letting her out of my sight again. “I’m so glad you’re here, lolabug,” I say as I stroke her hair.

Dylan drops their bags next to my art supplies before enveloping us in a warm embrace. He presses his nose into my hair, inhaling deeply. “I missed you so damn much,” he murmurs. “I missed you too.

I nuzzle closer to his chest to make sure he’s really here. “I’m so glad you’re here. “Me too, sunshine. Me too.”

“Welcome home, sunshine,” I say as I carry her over the threshold. Never before have I spoken words that sound sweeter.

Getting a new neighbor didn’t turn out anything as I expected, but now I know what happens when a single dad gets a nanny for his daughter… She becomes their whole universe.

Marlow told me that we weren’t having anyone else take care of our daughter when she was more than capable. It

“Is everything okay?” she murmurs, still half asleep. Everything is perfect.