“Okay. I’m going to run for a little bit, so if you need me I’ll be in the gym, okay?” She nodded and flung herself forward, hugging me tight. I held her close, savoring the smell of her strawberry shampoo, and the simple joy she emanated. Everything was simple in her world—her daddy loved her and Bailey adored her. For the first time since she was born, there was a sense of stability in this house, and by God, I was going to keep it that way. “I love you more than the stars,” she said with a hard squeeze. “I love you more than the moon.” “The stars are prettier,” she argued. “Well, the Earth needs the moon, so I love you more.” Her face scrunched momentarily before she shrugged. “Okay. But only because you need a win.” I hugged her again and put her to bed, silently cursing Rory for saying that yesterday when he was here, arguing to let Bailey move in. I turned off Lettie’s light and shut her door softly behind me. My watch read 8:15 p.m. I could get in a couple miles and then meet the guys for drinks. Or I could get a couple miles in and maybe chill for the night. Yeah, the second was probably the more responsible of the choices. The refrigerator shut as I passed the kitchen, and I turned to see Bailey unloading a bag full of groceries. Her top was perfectly respectable, but the slight dip in her neckline gave me a mouth-watering glimpse of her cleavage. Don’t look at her like that, you asshat. “Hey,” I said, instead, as smooth as a fucking seventh-grader. “Hey,” she answered with a bright smile as I leaned across the island. “So I picked up some more of that Greek yogurt you like, and some stuff for cupcakes tomorrow. I figured I’d bake with Lettie to kind of celebrate our little…” she gestured around her “arrangement?” A corner of my mouth lifted in a smile. “Bailey, you’re living with us. There’s nothing illicit going on.” Pink stained her cheeks and damn if it didn’t make her even more beautiful. Not that Bailey needed the help. She was petite but packed a powerhouse body that had found itself under mine in a few of my more drunken fantasies. And that face? Damn, she was perfection—huge hazel eyes, thick lashes, and olive skin with the most kissable mouth I’d ever laid eyes on. But that was all I was ever going to lay on her. “Well, yeah,” she said, pulling her long, dark brown hair into some kind of knot on the top of her head. “It’s just a transition.” “Hopefully a good one.” It had to be. Lettie adored Bailey, and we’d been friends since we were kids, so it wasn’t like I could afford to piss off Bailey...or our mothers. “It will be,” she promised. “Besides, I was practically living here anyway. Now I don’t have to drive back to my place in the traffic.” “Agreed.” Seattle traffic could be a nightmare. She paused, leaning back against the opposite counter, inadvertently putting those lush curves on display. Fuck my life, if I didn’t get out of here I was going to sport wood harder than the fucking floor. “I’m going to go get a couple miles in,” I told her, pushing back from the island. She reached over and into the fridge, then tossed a bottle of water my direction. “Have a good run. Oh, and I heard Rory and Warren talking today while we were moving in. If you want to grab a couple beers with the guys, I’m totally okay here with Lettie.” “Thanks. I’ll think about it, but I’m pretty sure I’m just going to turn in.” And get the hell away from you before I lose my nanny to sexual harassment.