Single Dad's Nightmare Read online

  Single Dad’s Nightmare

  By Sam Destiny

  Copyright © 2018 Sam Destiny

  Cover Copyright © JC Clarke of The Graphic Shed

  Edited by Kim Young of Kim’s Fiction Editing Services

  Formatting by Aimie Jennison

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be copied or reproduced without written consent of the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events, places or people, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Contents

  Other Books by Sam Destiny

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Standalones

  AJ’s Salvation

  Call Me Michigan

  Tagged Soldiers Series

  Tagged For Life

  Forever Girl

  Tagged For A New Start

  Forever Try

  Tagged Soldiers Boxed Set

  Love and hate are closely related. May you find someone you love to love, even if there are days where you hate them.

  DALE

  “If I wanted an asshole to tell me what to do, I’d still be with my ex!”

  I ducked as a plate came flying, shattering against the wall next to my head. I covered my face with my arms to keep the shards from hitting me.

  “Are you fucking crazy?” The question was redundant. After all, Clare Delaney had just thrown a plate at me.

  Her fiery green eyes narrowed as she placed her hands on her hips, a black curl escaping the messy bun on her head.

  “That’s rich, Dale Harris. You show up at eleven at night, then proceed to tell me what I can and cannot do in my own house, but ask me if I’m crazy?”

  I shook my head, running my hand through my hair. It was official. I hated my neighbor. When she first moved in, I couldn’t help but admire her slender body, dark hair, sparkling emerald eyes, and full lips, but I’d quickly come to realize that those lips were always running. If she wasn’t talking on the phone loud enough to entertain the whole neighborhood, she was singing.

  At the top of her lungs.

  In the middle of the night.

  Couldn’t she have moved anywhere but Eden, Michigan? It used to be peaceful. Now it no longer was.

  I gritted my teeth, telling myself to be rational and calm. “Look, all I ask is that you tone it down after it gets dark. Sally is in bed, and she has a hard enough time sleeping without you crowing all hours of the night.”

  For a second, her expression had softened, but at my last words, she looked furious again. Before I knew it, another plate came flying.

  I ducked. “Woman, if you hurt me, I’ll make you pay for it,” I growled, but Clare was not the least bit impressed. Her belly button ring distracted me for a moment, the small stone sparkling whenever she inhaled.

  Damn, does the woman have no decency at all?

  “Sue me, Dale, but be prepared to explain to the judge why you were breaking and entering a house you weren’t invited into.”

  I coughed in disbelief, glancing at the clock behind her. I needed to get back home to make sure I’d be there if my daughter woke up screaming again.

  I hated Sally’s nightmares almost as much as I hated the nightmare of a woman in front of me.

  “Breaking and entering? Your door is always unlocked. All I want is one fucking peaceful night for the neighborhood.”

  She had the audacity to smirk. “If you wouldn’t scream, people would actually have that.”

  I threw up my hands. “Fuck you. Stay quiet, or I’ll call the police!”

  I shoved open her screen door and left, the banging of it closing again echoing across the empty street.

  “You wouldn’t dare!” Clare called after me.

  “Try me!” I swallowed the “bitch” I had on my tongue.

  Stepping inside my house, I grabbed a bottle of beer from the fridge and stepped up to the kitchen window, glaring at the house next door. The downstairs was now dark, one single window lit on the second floor. The curtain was drawn, yet I could see Clare’s shadow behind it. I couldn’t help but think I should turn away, but my eyes stayed focused as she took off her top and her bra, shaking out her hair.

  God, that silhouette… If only she weren’t as much of a pain in the ass as she is.

  I turned away, walking through the silent kitchen and into the living room. I turned on the TV as low as I could to still hear it, then settled back against the couch. My shoulders were tense, my whole body primed and ready to jump up the moment Sally woke up again.

  I set the bottle down on the coffee table and rubbed my hands across the scruff of my face. I was exhausted, had been for the last few weeks. After my wife died in a car crash two years ago, Sally’s nightmares had started. For whatever reason, they were suddenly getting worse.

  Sometimes, maybe every other night, she slept peacefully. But even then, I didn’t.

  I’d considered dating again, soon realizing it was for the wrong reasons. Hell, I just needed someone to help me out, to take my daughter off my hands when I couldn’t console her.

  This house lacked a female touch, and I hated that for Sally.

  Did I long for cuddle nights on the sofa? No doubt. Kisses in the kitchen? Sunday mornings relaxing in bed? I missed all of it, but I could do without.

  What I couldn’t do without was a female voice singing Sally to sleep, calming her. On those rare occasions my mom drove up and visited, she always managed to lull Sally back to sleep faster than I ever could.

  My phone rang, startling me, and I pulled it from my pocket, seeing my best friend’s name on the display.

  “Cane,” I greeted him.

  “You sound exhausted.”

  “Thanks, dude. You sound peachy, too.”

  He chuckled. “Trust me, that new nanny is a single dad’s nightmare. Anyway, I’m calling because I need to be a man again. Let’s grab some beers this Friday.”

  I snorted. “Right, and what do you propose I do with Sally?” I didn’t like the idea of a babysitter because the ones I’d tried were horrible when it came to dealing with a six-year-old who occasionally had nightmares when napping.

  “Bring her over. Lilian is incredible as a nanny and she’ll be able to handle her. You can pick her up Saturday morning. I’m sure Kelly will enjoy the company.” Kelly, four months older than Sally, was Cane’s daughter.

  I hesitated, then sighed. I needed a break, and after some beer, I might even get a good night’s sleep, which would be a double bonus. I could allow myself one night, right? Then again…

  “Hey, if your nanny calls because something’s off with Sally, will we be able to sleep at your place?”

  He didn’t live too far away, but walking home at night with a six-year-old after having some drinks didn’t seem like a great idea to me.

  “Definitely. So that’s a yes? Thank fuck. I was so ready to…”

  He trailed off as a low murmur in the background distracted him. Probably the new nanny. She’d moved in just recently, but I didn
’t know anything about her—and didn’t care either way. I’d meet her when I dropped off Sally, and if she gave off any weird vibe, my daughter and I would just go home.

  “So long, Cane,” I called as loud as I dared, then hung up to leave him to deal with whatever his nanny wanted.

  Lifting the beer back to my lips, a commercial for an adult dating website came on the TV. I sighed. I had to admit, some sex would be nice, but I wouldn’t be able to bring anyone home, and I’d definitely stay away from a woman’s apartment.

  Wondering if I should dare watch some porn on my phone and jerk off, just for some stress relief, I turned off the TV and walked up the stairs, listening to the silence of the house. Sally was still nightmare-free tonight, so I slipped into my bedroom and closed the door, resting my back against it. I pulled up my shirt and lowered my sweatpants, then tapped one of the apps on my phone. Usually, people probably followed their fandoms there, but honestly? It was the best place for free, naked action.

  I exhaled slowly, trying to get into the right mindset, even while telling myself how pathetic I was. Figuring my fantasies would do, I threw the phone onto the bed and closed my eyes, wrapping my fingers around my erection.

  A hiss escaped me after the first few strokes as pleasure raced through my blood. God, this feels good, and it has been too long since I last—

  A cry made me freeze and I held my breath, my cock softening. I pulled up my pants and quickly walked into the bathroom. I washed my hands, splashed water on my face, then steeled myself to rock Sally through the night until she fell asleep, probably just as the sun started rising.

  CLARE

  I arched a brow at the little girl playing on my lawn. “Sally, you’re in the wrong yard. Again.” I crossed my arms in front of my chest as she grinned at me.

  “But I like it much better here, Ms. Delaney. Your grass is fluffier.”

  I laughed, loving the little girl as much as I hated her annoying father. “Of course it is. I paid a fortune for that.” I sat down on my porch steps while Sally danced her doll through my grass.

  She was a beautiful kid, her hair the same whiskey color her father sported, while her eyes had to be her mother’s. Dale’s were unique, dark brown that lightened on the outside, while Sally’s were a startling blue.

  Her mother had died before I moved here, but Mrs. Olsen from next door—not Dale’s next door, but the other side—had told me she’d been a beautiful woman with pale skin and those shining baby blues. I couldn’t help but hurt for the child playing across from me. Sometimes, I felt like gathering her in my arms and kissing the top of her head, just to make her feel protected.

  “How did you sleep, sweetie?” I asked, remembering Dale mentioning her nightmares. I wondered how frequent they were. Did she have them every night? Or only occasionally?

  The corners of her mouth turned down, but she didn’t cease her playing. “Not so good. Daddy had to make my nightmares go away.”

  I reached out, brushing my fingertips through her soft hair. “Do you have nightmares often?”

  She paused and stared up at me, the pain clearly visible in her eyes. I opened my arms, waiting to see what she’d do. She hesitated a moment before dropping the doll and coming over.

  I gathered her close, pulling her onto my lap, and held her for a moment before she started speaking.

  “Almost every night. I dream of cars and monsters. They eat the car, and people scream inside. I watch them, then they come for me.” She shivered, turning her face into my shoulder. I pressed my lips against her hair, noticing that she smelled of chocolate, sugar, and her father, leading me to assume he hugged her frequently.

  “What do the monsters look like?” I asked softly.

  She shrugged, her little shoulders moving against me. I looked over at the house where I expected her father to be.

  In our neighborhood, people still let their kids play outside because they knew there was always someone watching out for them. We were tight-knit and would always have each other’s backs—although Dale would need someone else to back him up because I stayed away from him as much as possible.

  He was rude, condescending, and an asshole most of the time, even though I’d never done anything except move in next door. It wasn’t my fault he kept his house deathly silent and I didn’t.

  I’d grown up with music, laughter, and singing, longing for the same as an adult. I’d thought Eddy, my ex, would’ve been the one to create a family with, but it turned out he liked “creating families” with others.

  I dated occasionally, not finding any guy who’d held my attention long enough for me to even grant him a second chance.

  “They are big and have no faces, just mouths.”

  It took me a moment to remember that I’d asked Sally a question. I turned my attention back to her. “The monsters? In your dreams, is it day or nighttime? Are they like shadows?”

  Sally’s head snapped up, hitting my jaw. My eyes watered instantly.

  Damn, this girl has a hard head.

  Her eyes widened. “Shadows, yes. And it’s night, really dark. No clouds or moon. But the monsters are even darker.”

  As I moved my mouth, testing my jaw, I wondered what to deduce from that. Sally’s mother died in a car accident. Whether the girl actively knew that, I had no idea.

  I thought for a moment while she played with the pearls decorating my top. “And how does your dad chase the monsters away?”

  She stayed quiet again, then lowered her voice. “He just holds me, and I think I fall asleep again while crying. When I wake up, he’s still holding me.”

  Meaning Dale was probably cranky a lot of the time because he didn’t sleep much.

  Not that it’s any excuse as to how he treats me.

  “I’m sure you’ll outgrow them. When I was little, I had nightmares. Eventually, they got less and less.”

  She pulled away and clambered off my lap, only to lay down on the grass, chin propped on her hands. “Really?” I could tell she was relieved someone else felt like she did.

  “Really,” I assured her, although there was no way I’d tell her why I had those nightmares to begin with. “They started when I was eight, and were really bad for about two years. Then they got a little better and I only had them every other week. Now I just have them, like, every couple months. In fact, I haven’t had one this year yet.”

  It was going on August, and it took me saying that out loud to realize it was true.

  “So it’ll get better?” she asked, hope shining in her eyes.

  “Yes, sweet cheeks, it will. Maybe you should try some sleeping techniques, like…” I thought for a second. “Thinking of something that makes you happy. Reading a book with princesses and dragons. Or you can imagine things you still want to do or want to have.” Those were tips I’d gotten from a psychologist back then. I knew they’d never helped, never stopped the nightmares, but at least they’d given me the feeling as if I could do something.

  “Daddy sings me to sleep. He doesn’t sing well and Grandma always laughs about it, but he does that,” she explained.

  I tapped my chin. “What if he started telling you stories instead? Maybe that would help.” I had no idea if Dale was creative or not, but he could always buy books.

  Damn, the guy could manage that, right?

  I was proven wrong when, five hours later, the brute breezed into my living room, furious.

  “You told my daughter to make me stop singing and tell her stories instead?” he fumed.

  I glanced at the clock. It was seven thirty, so Sally clearly went to bed early—and easily.

  I didn’t get up from the couch or look up from my book longer than it took me to arch my brow at him. “All I told her was maybe telling her a story would keep her mind occupied enough to keep the nightmares at bay. If she focuses on something other than cars and shadows—such as dragons and princesses—maybe there won’t be nightmares. It’s not foolproof, but it’s worth a try.”

  He st
ayed silent until I looked up, finding his dark eyes on me. “Cars and shadows?”

  I blinked, surprised at how soft and warm his voice could sound when he wasn’t screaming. However, I knew I needed to tread carefully.

  “Aren’t kids always dreaming about shadows? They lurk everywhere, grab you from under the bed—”

  “You said cars and shadows, as if you know something I don’t.”

  He loomed over me, his arms crossed in front of his chest, his black tee straining against his muscles. I wondered what it was that Dale did, but then shook the thought from my mind. What did it matter?

  I stood, no longer wanting him to look down on me—which I knew was stupid because even standing, I barely reached his chin—and placed my hands on my hips.

  “Maybe your daughter didn’t tell you because she didn’t want you to worry. Maybe she needed to tell someone and—”

  He took a step closer, his nose almost touching mine.

  “Stay away from her. You’re the last person she needs, Delaney. You’re not her mother. In fact, you’re nothing to her but the nice woman from next door, so stop putting your nose where it doesn’t belong.” His voice was low, almost threatening.

  I gaped at him, opening and closing my mouth before fisting my hands. “You asshole. All I did was console your child, then made suggestions I thought you would appreciate because they might, just might, change how her nights go. As it is, though, she is the only Harris welcome at my house from now on. If I see you on my lawn or inside my home, I’ll call the cops.”

  He paled, stepping back as if I’d slapped him. “You wouldn’t.”