Chapter 4 #3
Carolina snaps her towel on the counter in front of her.
“Well, heck. She must be something if you hired her on the spot like that,” she says as she directs her gaze to Elodie.
“If he gets to be too hard of a boss, come work for me. I could always use help, and the blueberry-filled donuts will be on the house.”
Elodie twists to face me, an impressed look on her face. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Now, now… No one needs to jump the gun here. Elodie, I’ll buy you all the donuts you want. And Carolina?” I say, leaning over the counter, “Stop trying to poach my nanny.”
There’s a sentence I never thought I’d say.
Elodie’s laugh bursts from her lips. “Never thought I’d see the day when people would be fighting over me. Hell, at my last job, I was just grateful if someone remembered my name.”
“Well, at least you’ll be working for someone who will appreciate you now,” Carolina says, winking at me. This type of repartee is normal anytime I pop into the bakery, but I don’t want to make Elodie uncomfortable.
I can’t lose her. Not yet, at least.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Elodie’s smile fall as she registers Carolina’s implication. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
Hating to see her frown and alarmed by my own reaction, I return my focus to why we stopped here in the first place. “All right, I think we obviously know what Elodie wants, and I’ll take a breakfast croissant. Do you want a coffee too, El?”
“Yes, please.” She bites her bottom lip between her teeth. “Is it possible to get a coconut cream cupcake for later as well?” Shrugging, she explains, “I have a bit of a sweet tooth.”
“You and me both, hun,” Carolina says, smacking her ass. “Where do you think all this junk in my trunk came from?”
“Nothing you make is junk, Carolina,” I quip before leaning over and whispering, “Your frosting is the best I’ve ever had.”
It’s Carolina’s turn for her cheeks to turn pink. “Oh, Henley. You know just what to say to the ladies, don’t you?”
Staring down at the baby sleeping in the carrier in my hand, it dawns on me that my sister was right—apparently my flirting skills are part of the reason I’m in this predicament in the first place.
After Carolina fills our order, we take a seat at one of the empty tables. Carolina takes Remy in her arms, parading her around like she’s a proud auntie. The boys and I have frequented the bakery since we were in high school, so Carolina is an extension of our family-of-choice.
“Oh my God,” Elodie moans, closing her eyes as she savors the first bite of her donut. “These taste even better than I remember.”
My dick stirs in my shorts at that, but I divert my focus to what she said instead. “I honestly think Carolina has gotten better with age.”
“I have,” Carolina agrees as she bounces Remy in her arms, moving right past us.
Laughing, I take a bite out of my egg, bacon, and cheese croissant before asking Elodie, “So, what are your plans today?”
“I thought I’d go out and explore a bit with Remy. Is that okay?”
The idea of leaving Remy makes me nervous, but this is why I hired Elodie—so I could go to work and continue my life as normally as possible. I mean, I know nothing will be exactly the same, but suddenly leaving my kid seems difficult.
How did that fear creep up on me so fast?
“Yeah, that’s fine. I should be home around four today, so I guess I’ll just meet you there later?” We drove separately because I knew I’d be leaving from here to go to the lodge, but I guess it just hit me that Elodie wouldn’t be coming with me.
“Sounds good.” As if she could sense my apprehension, she reaches out and places her hand over mine. “She’s going to be okay, Henley. I promise, I know what I’m doing.”
Nervous laughter leaves my lips. “Honestly, you know more than I do, which is why I don’t understand why it’s so hard to leave her.”
“It’s actually really sweet,” Elodie says.
“You’ve barely just become a dad and you’re already worried about leaving your daughter.
” She squeezes my hand again, her warmth actually soothing me, which makes me more nervous, but for an entirely different reason.
“The fact that you’re already worried lets me know you’ll be just fine once I’m gone. ”
As soon as she says the words, that invisible clock on our time together starts ticking louder and louder.
But Carolina returns with Remy, snapping me out of it. “If you don’t get going, you’re gonna lose your daughter and your nanny to me.”
“You’d better watch it, Carolina.”
Laughing, she kisses Remy’s cheek and hands her back to me.
“Henley, I know kids weren’t on your radar, but this one is a doll.
Just remember, everything happens for a reason.
You may have limited time with your nanny, but this little girl isn’t going anywhere for the rest of your life.
That’s a huge responsibility, and if there’s one man I know can handle it, it’s you. ”
Emotion clogs my throat. “Thanks, Carolina.”
She squeezes my shoulder. “Anytime. And Elodie? You know where to come if you need some sugar or a place to enjoy the view.” Fanning her arms out toward the window, she smiles.
“Thank you. I’ll definitely be back.”
I place Remy back in the carrier and then walk her and Elodie out to her car. “All right. Text or call if you need anything. The lodge isn’t too far, so if you need me…”
“Henley, it’s going to be fine.”
I lean down and kiss Remy’s cheek, breathing in that faint powdery scent clinging to her skin. “Bye, baby girl.”
And with one last glance at the two women who just crashed into my life, I hop into my truck, knowing that nothing will ever go back to the way it was.