Chapter Twenty-Four
JAKE
I came home after work on Friday with grocery bags full of chips, snacks, and drinks in preparation for a night of playing Settlers of Catan with some friends. It had been a while since I’d set aside a night to hang out with the guys, and since Marjorie and George wanted to take the girls out looking at Christmas lights and have a redo sleepover after last weekend’s disaster, I had a whole Friday night to myself.
Surprisingly, Natalia was in the kitchen when I came into the house. She was sprinkling cheese over something in a baking dish.
“Hey.” I set the bags on the other end of the kitchen island.
“Hi,” she replied.
I grabbed bowls for the chips and snacks, and she placed the dish in the oven, then came to my side and started helping without being asked .
“It’s your night off,” I told her. “The girls aren’t even here.”
“I don’t mind.”
“What are you making?” I nodded toward the oven.
“I thought you and your friends might like something for tonight, so I made a creamy cheese and bean dip.” She went to the cupboard and pulled out a bag of tortilla chips.
I was blown away by her thoughtfulness, especially after all that happened last weekend. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know. My mom used to make it for parties. It took no time at all.”
I watched her grab one of the bowls I’d gotten out, open the chip bag, and pour them in. Her motions were so graceful, even doing menial tasks, and I couldn’t pull my eyes away.
Needless to say, things had been tense between us all week. We hadn’t talked any more about what happened or about her date with Dylan. In fact, we didn’t talk about much other than the girls. We didn’t joke around or talk comfortably like we had before. She was different. Stiff and closed off with me. Not with the girls, though. Her tenderness and love toward them made it harder for me to stick to my decision to stay away from her. Some days, when I looked at her, I wasn’t sure what I was doing. The need to grab her and pull her close until all her attention was on me was overwhelming at times.
The doorbell rang, a much-needed interruption to my train of thought, and I went to answer the door. My buddies, brothers Griffin and Brad stood on the other side. They were tall and brawny with dark hair and beards, and despite being three years apart in age, they could’ve been mistaken for twins.
“Jake!” Griffin gave me a bro hug and patted my back. “How’s it goin’?”
“Good, man. Come on in.”
Brad fist-bumped me as he walked in the door. “What’s to eat?”
“Junk,” I replied.
“It doesn’t smell like junk,” he replied.
“Oh, that’s the dip.”
“You made dip. I feel so special, man.”
“I didn’t make it.”
“Then who …” Brad’s words faded as his gaze caught on Natalia in the kitchen. “Who’s that?” His eyes darted to mine, and he lowered his voice. “Is that your nanny?”
“Yeah.” I motioned for them to follow before he could say what I knew he was going to. “Guys, this is Natalia Kerr. She’s the girls’ nanny.”
“Hi.” Her cheeks turned pink, and I felt bad for putting her on the spot.
“These are my buddies, Griffin and Brad.”
“Nice to meet you,” Griffin said.
“You too,” she replied.
Brad held his hand out. “Very nice to meet you, Natalia.”
She shook it, nervousness written all over her face, then instantly went back to getting the snacks ready.
The doorbell rang again. I hated to leave her alone with the guys, but I went to answer the door.
“Hey, Danny, come on in. ”
“Been a while, man.” Danny wore his signature Tigers ball cap he’d been wearing ever since his hair started getting a little thinner on top.
I gave him a hug and patted his back. “How’s life?”
He shrugged. “Hanging in there. How about you?”
“Same.”
Danny had gone through a divorce right around the time I had. His wife had left him too. Thankfully, he didn’t have children to drag through the whole nasty process.
He came inside and followed me toward the kitchen. Natalia was laughing along with the guys, and I wondered what was said in the minute I was away.
“This is my buddy, Danny,” I introduced him to Natalia.
He held out his hand. “And who might you be?”
“I’m Tally.” She shook his hand.
“She’s the nanny.” Brad gave Danny an elbow in the ribs.
“Is that so?” Danny grinned and looked at me.
“Okay, let’s get out of her hair now,” I said.
They laughed as I ushered them into the living room, where they settled in, making themselves comfortable, as they always did.
I ducked back into the kitchen. “Sorry about that.”
“It’s fine. How do you know them?”
“Griffin and I work together. That’s how I met his brother Brad.”
“I knew they were brothers. There’s a strong resemblance there.”
“Yeah, and we used to be on a bowling league with Danny.”
She chuckled .
“What?”
“Nothing. I can’t picture you on a bowling league. Did you have team uniforms and a custom bowling ball?”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “Nothing like that.”
She giggled, which was music to my ears. “Were you any good?”
“Turkeys all the way, baby.”
Her cheeks turned rosy, and she looked away.
“We haven’t played in a while, though. We stopped doing the league when I went through the divorce. Danny was going through a divorce too.”
“At least you had a friend to go through it with.”
“Yeah.” I wanted to stay there in the kitchen and keep talking to her now that she was warming up to me a little again.
“A couple more minutes for the dip to be ready. I’ll bring it to you before I go.”
“Thank you, Natalia.”
She gave me a closed-mouth smile.
I forced myself to walk out of the kitchen and was met with the exact looks I was expecting from my friends.
“Don’t say a word,” I said with lowered voice.
“We can wait until she leaves,” Danny said just as quietly.
“Or not at all.”
“Oh no,” he said, “you’re not getting away with it that easily.”
“I’m not getting away with anything.”
The timer on the oven went off, and I changed the subject, asking them about their Christmas plans. That kept them talking until Natalia walked into the room with the dip and the chips and set it down on the coffee table for us .
“Enjoy,” she said.
“Thanks. Have a good night,” I replied.
“It was lovely meeting you,” Danny said.
“You’re welcome to stay and hang out with us,” Brad said in that flirtatious way of his.
“I have other plans,” she replied, “but thanks for the invite.”
Her mention of other plans made my stomach drop, and I wondered if those plans were with Dylan.
“Remember what I told you about him,” Griffin said with a wave.
She laughed. “I will. Nice meeting you guys.”
I watched her walk out of the room. We all did. And the second the back door clicked shut, the guys burst into laughter.
“Oh man, I can’t believe you didn’t tell us about her,” Brad said. “She is fine .”
“Hey, don’t be crass.” I punched his arm.
“I’m not. I’m speaking the truth.” He grabbed a chip and scooped up some of Natalia’s homemade dip.
“Yeah, she’s pretty,” I agreed.
“And she lives with you?” Danny shook his head.
“No, she lives in the guest house. I barely see her except when she comes to take the girls to school in the mornings and when I get home at night.”
“Sounds like marriage to me.” Griffin helped himself to the chips and dip too.
“Very funny.” I thought for a second. “Although, now that you mention it, that’s pretty much how it was with me and Kate for a long time.”
“See.” Griffin chuckled.
“And what did you tell her about me?” I asked him with worry .
“Ha! That’s between me and her.”
I groaned.
“Is something going on with you two?” he asked.
“What? No. She’s the nanny.”
“So.”
“So, she’s the nanny.”
“Well,” Brad cut in, “she’s not my nanny.”
I pointed at him. “You stay away from her.”
Brad was a thirty-nine-year-old bachelor and happy to remain so. He wasn’t interested in finding someone to settle down with. Too many women out there. Which was exactly why he needed to stay far away from Natalia.
“You’re pretty protective of her for someone who isn’t interested,” Brad said.
“She’s a nice girl, and you are not a nice guy.”
“You wound me.” He pretended to stab a knife in his chest and twist it.
“I’m speaking the truth.” I echoed his earlier words.
He shrugged and gave a cocky grin.
“Are we gonna play or what?” I was anxious to stop talking about this.
“Let’s do it!” Griffin said.
We headed toward the kitchen.
“Somebody help me bring the food to the table,” I said.
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” Griffin grabbed a couple bowls. “I never get junk food at home. The wife is on a health food kick again, and I’m tired of tofu and vegetables 24-7.”
“I’m here to save the day then, because I got all the junk and more. ”
We set up the game and got it rolling, then devoured the snacks.
Natalia’s dip was a huge hit, and I felt proud when the guys sang its praises. She was so thoughtful and considerate. And sweet and beautiful.
“Hey.” Griffin waved a hand in front of my face. “It’s your turn.”
“Sorry.” I rolled the dice, and then Griffin passed out the resource cards to those who needed them.
Out the kitchen window, I spotted a figure walking along the sidewalk toward the guest house.
“Do you have anything to play?” Griffin asked.
I stared at my cards, barely paying attention, and waved a hand. “I got nothin.”
“What’s with you?” he asked.
“What? Nothing.”
I kept watching as Natalia came out of the house and walked away with Dylan.
“What are you looking at?” Brad turned around to see what I was seeing. “Is the nanny going on a date?”
I shrugged and turned my attention back to my cards as the other two got up to look.
“Come on, guys. Sit down,” I said. “We’re playing a game.”
“Oh, man, you should see your face right now,” Danny said.
“What’s wrong with my face?”
“The nanny’s leaving with a guy, and you can’t stand it,” he said.
“She can do whatever she wants in her off hours.”
The guys exchanged glances and started laughing, and each took turns slapping my back or shoulder on their way back to their seats .
“You’ve never been able to hide how you’re feeling. Your face totally gives you away,” Griffin said.
“You are gone for her,” Brad teased.
“Shut it,” I said.
“Why didn’t you tell us you had a thing for the nanny?” Griffin asked as he took his seat.
“If you guys don’t knock it off, I’ll use one of my development cards and steal resources from you.”
“Steal away. This is much more interesting than our game,” Danny said.
“It’s not interesting at all. She’s the nanny. Nothing more.”
“But you want it to be more.” Griffin looked at me seriously.
I laid my cards face down on the table, frustrated they were pressing me on this. But they were my closest friends. They’d been there for me through the divorce. If I couldn’t confide in them, who could I confide in?
“Fine,” I admitted.
“Ohhh!” Brad bellowed.
“I didn’t think you’d crack so fast,” Danny said with a laugh.
“You actually like her?” Griffin’s brows lifted.
“There’s an attraction there,” I explained, “but it can’t go anywhere.”
“Any interest on her side?” Griffin asked.
“Yeah, but I made the situation clear to her.”
“What situation is that?”
“I’m her boss. She’s twelve years younger than me. This is solely a professional relationship.”
“Sexy.” Danny smirked .
“You probably don’t want to hear this,” Griffin said, “but I saw the two of you in the kitchen earlier. The way you looked at each other. Are you sure this isn’t something worth pursuing?”
I shook my head. “I can’t. I have to think about the girls. I’m not sure how they’d feel about it. They aren’t exactly fans of their mom having a boyfriend. And what if it doesn’t work out? The girls are getting attached to her, and they’re already upset enough about their mom leaving. I can’t be responsible for causing them more pain.”
“But what if it does work out?” he asked.
“I can’t take that chance. Too risky.”
The guys exchanged looks again.
“What? I’m being smart about this.”
“Or stupid,” Brad said.
“Says the guy who’s never had a relationship last longer than a month.”
“I prefer it that way. Single life for the win.”
I rolled my eyes. “Maybe I will too.”
Danny shook his head. “That’s not you.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I’ve known you a long time, and you’re happiest when you’re in a relationship, when you have a partner.”
“He’s right,” Griffin chimed in. “You’re meant to find someone to spend your life with, Jake.”
“Maybe so. But that someone can’t be my nanny.”