Daniel’s POV
The study was quiet, save for the ticking of the antique clock on the wall. I leaned back in my chair, staring blankly at the stack of papers piled on my desk. I was supposed to be reviewing contracts for the expansion project, but my mind had wandered far from work. All I could think about was Mark.
Mark.
The kid had this way of burrowing under my skin, but not in an annoying way—more like he’d found a space there that had been empty for far too long. Every time I saw his wide, toothy grin or heard his laugh, it struck a chord deep inside me. It was unnerving.
I’d always liked kids. I had nieces and nephews back in the city, and I enjoyed spending time with them. But this—this was different. Being around Mark felt… natural. Like I was meant to be in his life. It was like
