The Daddy Project: A Single Dad Romance. Lee McKenzie

      “Oh, I’m sure they don’t. Your girls are great. They’re happy. Anyone can see they’re well cared for.”

      “Thank you.” The tension around his eyes softened.

      “You’re welcome.”

      “So, how about it? You come to my sister’s birthday party, I’ll go to your family barbecue, and we’ll call it even.”

      Say no. “Sure,” she said instead.

      He offered his hand to seal the deal. “It’s a date.”

      She shook it. “A fake date.”

      “Make that two fake dates.” He smiled and her insides turned to Jell-O.

      Chapter Four

      Kristi tugged her hand out of Nate’s and hiked a thumb over one shoulder. “I’ll just go and start sorting.”

      “Sure, good idea. And I’ll run out to the market but, ah, first I have to make a call.”

      Kristi made her escape, collected her things from the foyer and headed down the hallway to the children’s bedroom.

      He was going to call his mother. There’d be no turning back after that. What were they thinking? What was she thinking? Her mother and Aunt Wanda would be happy, but how was she going to explain this to Jenna? Only time would tell if this fake-date idea was brilliant or ill-conceived.