States of Love: Alabama Admirer - A Steamy and Suspenseful Single-Dad Romance: States of Love

By Ann Omasta and Callie Love

I trusted a beautiful stranger with my little girl. When the worst thing imaginable happens, I'll do anything to protect them both.

 

While in line at his favorite fast-food restaurant, Xander's daughter announces that she needs to use the restroom.

 

The men's room is occupied and Xander isn't welcome in the ladies' room, so he asks the beautiful woman he's been secretly admiring for help.

 

Kate is more than happy to oblige the sexy man and adorable child.

 

None of them could have predicted what happens next, but it will forever change all three of their lives.

 

Was Xander wrong to send his little girl with Kate? Find out when you read Alabama Admirer.

 

The States of Love books feature scorching stories with heat, heart, suspense, and laughter. Dive in to enjoy hunky heroes, strong heroines, seductive instalove, sizzling bedroom scenes, and satisfying happily-ever-after endings. Start reading Alabama Admirer now to satisfy your steamy romance craving.

• Language: English
• Publisher: More Happily Ever Afters
• Release date: Mar 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201590222

Ann Omasta

Ann Omasta is a USA Today bestselling author.  Ann’s Top Ten list of likes, dislikes, and oddities: I despise whipped cream. There, I admitted it in writing. Let the ridiculing begin. Even though I have lived as far south as Key Largo, Florida, and as far north as Maine, I landed in the middle. If I don't make a conscious effort not to, I will drink nothing but tea morning, noon, and night. Hot tea, sweet tea, green tea––I love it all. There doesn't seem to be much in life that is better than coming home to a couple of big dogs who are overjoyed to see me. My other family members usually show significantly less enthusiasm about my return. Singing in my bestest, loudest voice does not make my family put on their happy faces. This includes the big, loving dogs referenced above. Yes, I am aware that bestest is not a word. Dorothy was right. There's no place like home. All of the numerous bottles in my shower must be lined up with their labels facing out. It makes me feel a little like Julia Roberts' mean husband from the movie Sleeping with the Enemy, but I can't seem to control this particular quirk. I love, love, love finding a great bargain! Did I mention that I hate whipped cream? It makes my stomach churn to look at it, touch it, smell it, or even think about it. Great––now I'm thinking about it. Ick! ** I would LOVE to send you a free copy of my novella, Aloha, Baby! Visit annomasta.com for details. ** Stay up-to-date on new releases and insider info by liking / following Ann: - Facebook: facebook.com/annomasta - Goodreads: goodreads.com/annomasta - Bookbub: bookbub.com/authors/ann-omasta - Website: annomasta.com

Book preview

1

XANDER

My little girl is blinking up at me with her enormous, bright blue eyes. I really have to go, Daddy.

Can you wait until we get home, sweetheart? I ask her, hoping my voice doesn’t betray my desperation.

She bites her lip as she thinks it over. I can tell that she wants to appease me, but is unsure if she can make it that long. Finally, she whispers, I don’t know.

The way she drags out the words, makes it obvious that she does know, but doesn’t want to admit it. I hate putting her in this situation, but I’m not sure what else to do. I glance around the fast-food restaurant, silently cursing my lack of forethought to suggest she use the bathroom before leaving our house.

Unwilling to make her uncomfortable, I give up our place in the line to order and take her tiny hand within mine. Smiling down to let her know I’m not in any way upset with her, I suggest, Let’s go see what the facilities here are like.

Relief is obvious on her tiny features as she says, Thanks, Daddy.

She is the light of my life, and I would do absolutely anything for her, but a huge guy like me barging into the ladies’ room seems like a good way for me to end up in jail. Instead of risking that, I peek into the men’s room, hoping it is a one-holer with a lock on the access door to prevent entry from the hallway.

An exasperated huff of air emits from my lungs when I see the line of urinals with a man making use of one of them. I use my wide shoulders to block Zoey’s view before quickly turning and leading her back toward the front of the restaurant.

I run my hand through my hair that’s past-due for a trim as I try to decide the best course of action. The thought of sending my daughter into the ladies’ room alone doesn’t sit right with me. She’s too little and vulnerable. If anything happened to her while she was out of my sight, I would never forgive myself.

I’m considering asking the manager to close one of the restrooms for our use, when I see a woman sitting at a table near the windows. I’d been admiring the beautiful, curvy blonde as we waited behind her in line. Her ass looks impeccable in her snug-fitting jeans.

After shaking my head to clear the wonderful mental image of the dark denim hugging her luscious curves, I decide she may be our best bet. I lead Zoey to the woman’s table.

The restaurant serves the best chicken tenders in town and little else. That’s why it’s Zoey’s absolute favorite place to eat. She would live exclusively on chicken fingers, if I didn’t insist that she occasionally eat some fruits and vegetables.

As we approach the blonde’s table, I realize she has opted for the chicken tender sandwich, which boasts a soft brioche bun and the fast-food joint’s signature special sauce. It’s an excellent choice, and what I normally opt for when Zoey talks me into coming here for dinner.

Just as we stop next to her chair, the woman takes an enormous bite of the huge sandwich. Sensing our presence, she turns to the side and gawks up at me with her wide mouth wrapped around the sandwich.

I had believed the view of her from behind to be stunning, but it is nothing compared to her lovely face. It’s all I can do to keep from stumbling backward. I’m not normally one to become tongue-tied around a woman, but this one is absolutely breathtaking.

She blinks up at me as I stand awkwardly beside her table. We are hovering too close to be socially acceptable, but my mind is completely blank.

My little girl saves the day by beaming a big smile at the woman before saying, Hi, I’m Zoey, and this is my dad, Alexander––but everyone just calls him Xander––’cept me. I call him Daddy.

The woman’s eyes brighten as she grins with her mouth closed around the giant bite of sandwich she has just taken. It’s obvious that my adorable kid has already won her over.

Since I seem to have suddenly gone mute, Zoey continues, I have to go potty really bad, and they don’t have family restrooms here. The boys’ room is gross, and daddy can’t go in the girls’ room. Will you take me?

The lovely lady chews the big bite of food in her mouth and blinks back and forth between the two of us as if she’s struggling to comprehend Zoey’s request.

I’m proud of my little girl for explaining the problem so succinctly, but the woman seems to be wary of trusting us, so I find my voice to say, Please help us out. I’d be happy to pay you for your time.

The woman’s manicured eyebrows snap together just before she says, That won’t be necessary.

It’s obvious my offer has annoyed her when she purposely avoids making eye contact with me. Leaning over to speak directly to Zoey, she asks, Can you wait until I finish eating?

The look of concern emerges immediately on my daughter’s tiny face, but she tries to put up a brave front. Umm, I think so.

From the way the child is wiggling from foot to foot, it’s obvious that she won’t be able to wait long. The woman watches her for a moment, before wiping the special sauce off the side of her mouth with a paper napkin and asking, You really don’t want to wait, do you?

Zoey shakes her head, and gives the woman the pleading, puppy-dog gaze that I can never seem to resist. Apparently, that look even works on strangers because the woman balls and tosses down her napkin before saying, Okay, let’s go.

At my daughter’s relieved look, I give the woman a sincere, Thank you.

She ignores me as she takes Zoey’s hand to lead her to the restroom. Turning her head half-way back, she instructs me, Don’t let them take my food. I’m not done with it.

I’ll keep an eye on it, I assure her as I watch her hips sway that outstanding ass as she walks away with my daughter.

I’ve never trusted my little girl with a stranger before. Saundra, the grandmotherly woman who watches her when I have to work, is a close family friend, who practically raised me. Zoey has never been left in anyone else’s care––not even for a minute.

As soon as her mother handed the tiny, bundled infant into my arms and said that she didn’t want to be a part of