Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
Leonard
Grumbling, I move the mouse on my desktop and click on my calendar. Kathy added an appointment to the end of the day, something she knows I hate, but when someone needs me, they need me.
Hopefully, it’s something simple, and I can be home in the next thirty minutes. I’ve been anxious since leaving Riley with Sarah this morning. I glance at my phone lying next to my computer, but there’s still no update on my daughter and her day so far.
The girl is not my favorite babysitter, but with my regular nanny moving away to be closer to her grandchildren, I didn’t have many options.
Besides, I’ve used Sarah before, and it worked out fine.
Did she clean up after their messy play?
No. Did she give me updates throughout the day?
Also no. But beggars can’t be choosers, and everyone can’t be Mrs. Mears.
Hopefully, she and her son drive each other mad, and the older lady rushes back to town by New Year’s.
I chuckle at the thought and turn back to work.
“Shelby,” I whisper, confused. Why is my woman making another appointment? Not that I mind seeing her twice in one day. Clicking on the notes, I read the comment. Pain in the rear.
Fuck! I hurt her! Fuck, fuck, fuck!
I should have been gentler for her first time. I didn’t stretch her out. I’d wanted her to feel it in the moment, but I didn’t want her injured. She’d seemed fine earlier.
The door to my office starts to open, and I stand to greet her, to reassure her that whatever the issue is, I’ll sort it. But the words die when a giggle floats in.
I know that cute sound anywhere.
“Hi, baby.” I grin before I even see her.
Riley pushes in, stumbling when the door moves quicker than she does.
“Careful, muffin.”
My gaze snaps back to the doorway where Shelby steps in with a timid “forgive me” smile.
Stepping out from behind my desk, I crouch, enveloping my sweet girl into a bear hug. Squeezing tight, I rock us side to side.
Framing her face, I ask, “You hungry?” I don’t ask why she’s with the woman I’m obsessed with because whatever the reason, I already know I’m about to be furious, and that’s not my baby’s fault.
She’s with Shelby, so I know she’s safe and unharmed, and that’s the most important thing. I’ll deal with Sarah later.
“Uh-huh.” She nods.
“How do you ladies feel about Soul of Italy for dinner tonight?”
“Yes!” Riley yells, jumping up and down, waving the doll in her hand.
Shelby pauses. Before she can decline the offer, I push forward.
“It’s the least I can do,” I insist, gesturing to Riley.
Standing, I use my full height to crowd Shelby. At six foot, the height difference is just enough that she needs to strain her neck back.
“Carbs sound good,” she breathes.
Good. I don’t want to have to strong-arm her in front of Riley, especially if I’m about to get mad.
Stepping away, I retreat just long enough to grab my suit jacket, briefcase, and cell phone.
“Ladies first.” I gesture with my left hand.
Switching my briefcase to the other hand, I place my right palm on Shelby’s lower back. Together, we pause for Riley to skip ahead, then follow.
“Kathy, I’m finished for the day. Please close everything down. I’ll be back in a minute to lock up, and then you can go on and head home.”
My receptionist frowns. “Wasting an appointment that someone else needed is impolite.”
I feel Shelby’s back straighten beneath my hand. “Did someone else call needing to see the doctor?”
“No.”
“Then it wasn’t wasted.”
I look back and forth between the two normally polite women, clearly missing something. But it doesn’t matter, nor does it matter that Kathy has worked for me since we moved to town. I’ll always side with Shelby.
“You can call and make an appointment anytime,” I approve, rubbing my thumb back and forth.
She shivers under my touch.
Shelby opens her mouth to explain, but I shake my head. “Not here.”
I walk my girls to my car parked out front. Opening the back door, I turn my attention to Shelby as Riley climbs into the back seat. “Wait for me.”
Buckling my little girl in safely, I close the back to find Shelby closing the front passenger door behind herself.
Tutting, I pull the door handle. Grasping the seat belt, I lean over Shellby to buckle her into place. Happy she’s secure, I drop to a crouch in the open doorway. “What was I unclear about?”
Shelby’s cheeks flush.
“When I say wait, I mean wait.” I pause, watching her features shroud in confusion. “You don’t open a door when I’m here to do it for you. It’s bad manners on my part.”
Shelby frowns. “I can open a door.”
“I know.” I nod. “But I’d rather do it.”
She stares at me for a moment before nodding. “Okay.”
“Okay?” I check.
“Okay,” she agrees with an easy shrug.
Happy that she’s not fighting me on this, I knock her under the chin with my forefinger as I stand. “Good girl.”
Carefully, I close the door, then head to the office to lock up just as Kathy leaves the building.