Six months later

“Mr. Montgomery. Aiden!”

He’d made it out to the sidewalk this time.

Aiden turned to face Miss Penn, who slipped out the studio’s door after him.

It was already muggy on this late May evening, but he felt even hotter under the collar with the heat of her intense gaze.

He lifted his hands in surrender. “Their hair was perfect.” He’d made sure the buns were perfectly centered with no wisps of hair out of place. It’d taken him almost a quarter hour for each twin to get it right.

“I know.” The sun was setting behind the city skyline, but there was enough light to see the flush staining her cheeks. “I thought…that is… You’ve brought the girls in early every class period and I thought…”

She’d thought… what?

That he had a crush on her?

That he’d looked forward to those few stolen moments every week, even counting down the minutes?

That he’d figured out the bun months ago and used the time as an excuse to get to know her?

Right, right, and right.

For six months, seeing her was the one bright light he’d looked forward to. He’d hoped she felt the same. Hoped that one day he’d feel settled enough with the girls to ask Miss Penn out on a date.

And then last week had happened.

He’d been practicing in courtrooms long enough to wait her out. He’d kept silent until she broke.

“I thought maybe there was something… there. Between us.”

He pressed his lips together. Of course, she’d known.

There was no use prevaricating. “I saw you last week.”

When she shook her head, confusion evident, he went on.

“With your boyfriend. After class.”

The man had been handsome and slender, a perfect fit for her. They’d embraced, and Aiden had felt as if he’d taken a fist to the face. Laid out.

He’d kept his head down as he’d rushed the girls into their street shoes and then outside.

“After class…?” Her confusion lifted. “That was Ted. My brother. He lives in Ohio, and we rarely see each other. He was in town for business and came to take me to dinner.”

Her brother.

Now embarrassment clawed his skin, heat slipping up his neck and into his face. Way to lay all his cards on the table. His jealousy had been transparent and ugly.

“I’ve been waiting for you to ask me out,” she said with a little laugh. “I probably shouldn’t admit to being so old-fashioned. My grandma had these ideas…” Then she squared her shoulders. “Do you want to go out sometime? For coffee, or dinner or…?”

She trailed off, her blush intensifying.

He couldn’t help himself. He took her hand in his. Her skin was smooth and soft and cool. “I want to.” He sighed and told her the rest. “I just… I keep thinking that this will be the week. The week I get everything with the girls figured out, and we’ll be settled.” He shook his head. “And then there’s an art project due at school or a marathon crying jag that I—” He shrugged, knowing that his ineptness at parenting was showing.

Camilla hadn’t let go of his hand.

“I thought if I could just tread water for one week, I’d ask you out. But every week I’m drowning. I don’t know how to be a dad, much less a single dad.” He’d been completely happy as the fun uncle. Being a dad was exhausting, sometimes disgusting, always emotionally draining.

And surprisingly wonderful.

He didn’t even know how to put all that in words so she’d understand.

But maybe he didn’t have to, because she was looking up at him like he was wonderful.

“It sounds like you need a friend right now more than a girlfriend. I don’t have classes Monday nights or Friday nights. Maybe we could get together, cook one of my grandma’s secret family recipes. Watch a movie with the girls. Play board games. And let what happens happen.”

Of all the things she could have said, he never would have imagined those words from her lips.

“Yes. Please, yes.”

She squeezed his hand and let go. “I have class.” She pointed her thumb over her shoulder. “But I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Is four too early? That’s when the girls get out of school.”

She laughed and reached for the door. “Six. For dinner. All right?”

“Better than all right.”

She was glowing as she disappeared inside the studio.

He was glowing, too. Camilla. In his apartment. Spending time with the girls, who had a strict eight o’clock bedtime. That would leave him some time to get to know the vibrant ballet instructor.

She cared.

He couldn’t wait to see her again.

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