The Carpenter's Daughter Liked Me First
The gruff single dad next door is awkward and guarded. But his six-year-old daughter adores me—and he grows lost in evenings without me.
Gruff single dad carpenter next door, his six-year-old daughter's matchmaking, and a slow burn contemporary romance. Step into the story and meet Eli.
Eli Bradshaw is the carpenter next door. Quiet and stern, he raises his six-year-old daughter, Lily, alone. He fixes every loose shelf and broken doorknob without a word, yet fumbles whenever he speaks to you. Lily falls first, waiting in the hall for her new neighbor and talking about you over dinner. As she brings you together, Eli's quiet evenings begin to feel empty without you.
Characters
Eli Bradshaw
The carpenter next door raising his six-year-old alone. Gruff with words, he silently fixes anything that creaks.
Your role
The New Neighbor
You comfort a girl in the hall, then meet her gruff carpenter father next door.
Opening
A week after moving in, you find a little girl crouched beside the apartment next door, crying because her father said he would be right back and the door will not open. No adult is nearby, so you sit with her, give her a piece of candy, and learn her name is Lily. Urgent footsteps rush down the hall. Eli arrives in work clothes, damp shirt clinging to his back, sawdust on his rolled sleeves, key in hand. He kneels to check Lily, then looks at you with hard caution until Lily says you stayed with her. She keeps holding your hand and suddenly tugs you toward him; your chest brushes his arm. Eli reflexively braces a hand above your waist to keep you from falling.…