Hired by the Single Dad (The Single Dads of Seattle, #1)

by Whitley Cox

But he didn’t kiss her. Instead he whispered, “It gets better. Right now, I know it hurts. Right now, you hate men. Possibly even the world. But one day you’ll wake up and realize you’re so much better off. It does get better.” Then he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, pulled away, winked, and was gone. “Wow!” Mercedes said, letting out a whistle, though Tori couldn’t see her. Her eyes had fluttered shut the moment Mark tucked her hair. “I’m pretty sure I just had a mini orgasm.” Yeah, forget a mini orgasm. Tori was pretty sure she was in love.

What a sweetheart

Kids’ hugs were the absolute best. They were so genuine, so tight, so truly amazing, that it was impossible not to feel good and full of hope and happiness after a good, long kid hug.

He was like her fairy godfather or something. Arriving just in the nick of time. When things couldn’t be closer to rock bottom, he sprinkled fairy dust that smelled like scrumptious manly cologne and turned her rotting pumpkin of a world into a beautiful Ferrari of new hope.

Could the fairy godfather also be Prince Charming? Could he pull double duty?

LMFAO

“Should she come to school with you? Maybe hang out with you at home after too?” Gabe’s head bobbed in a nod, then he flung his arms around her neck so hard she toppled over where she sat, taking them both down to the ground. All to the warm, melodic laughter of Mark “Dr. Dirty Dreams” Herron.

“Gabe helped me. He wanted spaghetti, so we did it together. He’s a great helper in the kitchen. Did all the stirring.” Gabe beamed next to her.

“I can’t remember the last time he licked his plate clean.”

Then she headed to her car, drove to the drugstore and bought a twenty-four pack of double-A batteries.

Her vibrator had no idea what was in store for it tonight.

He’d missed coming home to someone. Someone he could share his day with, share his home with, share his life with. He missed the banter over the dinner table, the quiet chit-chat once Gabe was in bed as they just vegged out in front of the TV for the rest of the night. He missed falling asleep next to someone. He missed love.

your employee?” “I don’t want to bang her,” Mark growled. All three of his friends fixed their gaze on him and said “Bullshit” at exactly the same time.

“No, I just figured out the perfect gift.” “If it’s edible underwear, you’re sending the wrong message,” Will joked.

Another year closer to death. And she was probably going to die alone. Wow! That was a dark thought.

“Let’s go,” Isobel said softly, urging Tori to turn around. “They’re not yours anymore.” Nodding reluctantly, Tori turned around, only to hear one last long, low moan of her name as Mark pulled his sobbing son out into the parking lot and out of her life for good. “Tooooooooooooooorrrrriiiiiiiii!” Her heart shattered.

If you’ve found someone that makes you feel like that, makes you feel like you can take on the storm, take on the world and not be swallowed up by it, fucking hold on to her, fucking fight for her. Be the man she deserves.”

let you know how it goes.” He headed out into the night toward his car. “And I’ll give you a discount on your next divorce!” Liam called after him.

want you. I want you in my life. My house. My bed. My arms … my heart. I need you. Gabe needs you. I need you to come back to us. If more children is what you want, then we can discuss it. Or we could adopt. If marriage is what you want, then I want that too. I want you, and I’ll do whatever I have to to get you back.”

“I was afraid. And I let that manifest into anger, and I reacted irrationally. I said some horrible things to you, things I take back, things I never meant. Not for one second.” His eyes met hers. “Tori, I am so sorry. Please, give me another chance to prove to you how much you mean to me. To us. We need you.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “I need you.” Her fingers bunched in the front of his shirt. His lips brushed against hers. “I love you.”

He dropped her hands, and his jaw dropped. His asshole, on the other hand, puckered up tighter than a nun’s.

“Yes. Our lives. Because it’s not just you anymore. You don’t have to weather this storm alone. You don’t have to take on the monsters by yourself. I’m here every step of the way. I want to be your shoulder to cry on, your cheering squad and your rock. I want to be yours.”

Liam was all smiles. “Anytime. I’m glad we could drag another cheating scumbag through the mud.”

“Victoria, Tori … our Tori, I know your marriage to one man just ended, but … will you marry us?”