Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
MADDOX
“Which tie, princess?” I held up a black one and a red one.
Violet immediately pointed to the red—no surprise.
“Red it is.” I laid it on my bed beside the suit she’d picked out, then checked the clock. I needed to get in the shower but I wanted to make sure Violet was ready for tonight first. “Let’s do your hair. Then I’ll get ready too.”
“Are there going to be any other kids there tonight?” she asked as I steered her down the hallway toward her bedroom.
“I think so. And Natalie will be there with us. Nana and Papa. Uncle Heath and Uncle Tobias. It’s usually a lot of fun.”
“Can I stay up late?”
“Definitely. And you can have extra dessert.”
“Yessss.” She clapped and skipped ahead to her room.
She was wearing a red dress with roses on the wide collar. The front hem was cut higher than the back, and she’d chosen her gold glitter shoes in place of her favorite red.
She looked beautiful .
She looked grown up.
While I’d been working my ass off, my daughter had become this young person. This incredible, smart young person. No longer a baby. No longer a toddler. She was simply... my Violet.
We’d spent the day together today and the realization that I’d missed out on too much had hit me like a freight train. A change was overdue.
When I reached the bathroom, I found her standing by the vanity, running a brush through her hair. She didn’t need me to comb out the strands anymore. She didn’t need me to prop her on the counter so she could see in the mirror. She didn’t need me to help her brush her teeth.
I choked on the lump in my throat that had been there since breakfast. “I had fun with you today.”
“Me too.” She smiled. I’d seen more of those smiles in the past twelve hours than I’d seen in twelve months.
Natalie had been right. Violet needed my attention, and I needed, well... Violet.
My daughter wasn’t the only one who’d smiled more today.
We’d gone out to breakfast at a diner on Main. We’d ventured to a few shops, braving the Christmas Eve crowds to shop for some last-minute gifts. Then we’d spent the rest of the day doing whatever Violet had wanted.
She’d showed me some of her favorite YouTube videos on the iPad. We’d devoured a dozen Christmas cookies—next week I’d have to add thirty minutes to my daily workouts to burn them off. We’d played checkers. We’d started a jigsaw puzzle. We’d hit the hot tub and played pool in the game room.
“What are we doing with your hair?” I took the brush from her hand and ran it through her tresses.
Cece had always done Violet’s hair. She’d also picked out our daughter’s clothes. Violet’s appearance was the one thing that Cece had seemed interested in when it came to our child. It was the reason Violet loved red so much. Cece had always found Violet red clothes. Even now, the rare gifts she’d send were typically red. Though the last two dresses had been in the wrong size.
But Violet hadn’t cared that they’d been too small. And every time I brought home an outfit in blue or green or pink, I’d earn a scowl and a glare.
Fucking Cece.
She hadn’t called once in the past week. I doubted she remembered that tomorrow was Christmas. There’d be no gift for Violet waiting under the tree from her mother.
For the past couple of years, I’d wrapped a present and had labeled it from Cece. I’d made sure the paper and bow were different than anything my assistant had put on the gifts I’d bought.
This year . . . I hadn’t had the energy.
I wasn’t going to keep pretending that Cece gave a shit, because in the end, I was only delaying the inevitable. Sooner than later, Violet would realize that her mother wasn’t interested in her life. I could probably put it off for a few more years, but the hurt was coming, one way or another.
Now that we were moving to Montana, it was time to stop pretending.
Cece wasn’t here to do Violet’s hair. But I was. And damn it, I’d do everything in my power to be enough.
“I could dig the curling iron out of the suitcases,” I said.
Violet’s eyes widened in the mirror.
“Okay, no curling iron.” The last time I’d tried, there’d been a near-burn incident. “How about a twist?”
In the past couple of years, I’d watched countless videos on how to do braids and twists. While curling-iron skills evaded me, I could wield a bobby pin like a pro .
“Nana bought me a tiara. Can I wear it with a twist?” she asked.
“Sure.”
Off she raced into her bedroom, coming back moments later with a smile as bright as the crystals on the tiara. I got to work with the pins, taking strands of her thick, dark hair—my hair—and twisting them up onto the crown of her head. Then when all of the pieces were secure, I placed the tiara.
“Well?”
She turned her face, looking at both sides, then gave me the nod of approval. “I like it.”
“Good.” If that hairdo lasted all night, I’d be shocked. “So before we go to the party, I have a question for you.”
“What?”
“Will you make me a deal?”
“What kind of deal?”
I picked her up and set her on the bathroom counter. “No trouble tonight. This is something Nana and Papa do every year and it means a lot to them. Please be good and listen to Natalie.”
“Okay,” she muttered.
“Thank you.” I kissed her forehead.
“Is Natalie going to be my new nanny when we move here?”
“No.” Though I’d already contemplated asking the agency if she was available. Violet had dropped her name a few times today as we’d played, which had never happened with another nanny. Violet seemed to forget them the minute they walked out the door. “She’s just hanging out with us for Christmas.”
“Oh.” She dropped her gaze to her lap.
“Do you want her to be your new nanny?”
Violet shrugged .
That shrug was the equivalent to a five-star review. Natalie had clearly made an impression. On us both.
She’d been on my mind nearly all day. The softness in her blue eyes. The sweet smile. Her musical laugh. Foolish as it was, I couldn’t wait to see her tonight.
“Daddy?” Violet peeked up at me from beneath her lashes.
“Violet.”
“Is Mommy moving here with us?”
Hell . I hated Cece for making me answer this question. “No, honey. She’s not moving here. It will just be us.”
“Hmm.” She looked to the brush on the countertop, staring at her own hairs stuck in its teeth.
“Do you like it here?” In all the months I’d been planning this, I hadn’t asked my daughter if she enjoyed Montana. Here she was, screaming for attention, and I was so busy planning a relocation that I hadn’t noticed.
“It’s okay.”
“We’ll be closer to Nana and Papa.”
She nodded. “I like their hot tub.”
“What if we didn’t have a nanny when we moved here? What if we had more days like today?”
Her eyes flew to mine and the hope in them nearly broke my heart. “Really?”
“You might have to have babysitters if I get super busy. And you might have to spend some days with Nana and Papa because they get lonely for you. But most days, it will just be me and you. What do you think?”
“Do I have to go to school?”
I chuckled. “Yes, you have to go to school.”
“I don’t have any friends here.”
“I know.” I touched a fingertip to her nose. “But you’ll make new friends. Great friends.”
“Maddox?” My mother’s voice carried from the hallway .
“In here, Mom.” I lifted Violet off the counter, then we headed out to meet my mom.
“Oh, look at you.” Mom clutched her hands to her heart when she saw Violet. “You look beautiful, darling.”
“Thanks, Nana.” Violet beamed and touched her tiara.
“You look gorgeous, Mom.” I leaned in to kiss her cheek. She was wearing a pretty green dress with a matching jacket, embroidered with a shimmery thread of the same color. Her hair was pinned back, much like Violet’s, and her makeup flawless.
“Thank you.” Mom cupped my cheek, then she realized I was wearing jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt. “You’re not dressed. Why are you not dressed? We’re leaving in thirty minutes.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be ready.” I winked at Violet, then left her with Mom while I rushed to my bathroom for a quick shower and a shave. Dressed in my black suit, I knotted my tie and made it downstairs with five minutes to spare.
“We’ll drive separately,” I told Mom and Dad.
“See you there.” Dad nodded and headed for the garage. Violet and I were close behind him, going to the Audi SUV I’d rented for this trip.
“Wait for me.” Heath appeared in the doorway, a beer in hand. He dropped the bottle in the trash can, then rounded the Audi’s hood for the passenger side. “You’re my DD tonight.”
“What’s a DD?” Violet asked from her booster seat in the back.
“Something I’ll teach you about when you’re older,” I answered.
Heath twisted in his seat, giving Violet a grin and fist bump. “Excited for tonight?”
“Yes,” she answered.
“How about you, brother?”
“I am.” This was the first time in years I was truly looking forward to a party. My family was one reason. Natalie was another.
“Heard you took a day off,” Heath said. “How’d that treat you?”
“Not bad. Thinking of making a habit of it.”
“Yeah?”
“It’s time. And someone told me about this new thing. They call it vacation.”
He chuckled. “Good advice. I bet that someone is ridiculously smart. And handsome. And hung like a?—”
I smacked his shoulder. “Young ears.”
“Sorry. In all seriousness. Are you really going to step back?”
“Yeah. I am.” I’d made billions of dollars in my short career. My team was talented and capable, but even if the wheels came off the bus, if it crashed and burned, it didn’t really matter.
My financial future was locked in. So was Violet’s.
“I can’t keep working like this,” I confessed, glancing to the rearview mirror. “It’s not fair to her.”
“Listen, I think it’s great you’re coming home. We’ve all missed you these past seven years, especially Mom and Dad. They think you know who is Satan’s mistress for trapping you in California.”
“They’re not wrong,” I muttered.
While we’d been married, Cece hadn’t enjoyed visiting Bozeman. Even after the divorce, my infrequent visits to Montana hadn’t been enough, and with Mom and Dad’s busy careers, it was hard for them to get to LA more than two or three times a year.
“But...” Heath said, his tone growing serious. “Before you come up here, I need to ask you an important question.”
“Okay,” I drawled .
“Can you get me early access to the last season of State of Ruin ?”
I chuckled. “It’s really good. I watched the final episode on the flight here.”
“I need it.” Heath groaned. “Please? I have not once played the brother card. But I’m calling it in.”
“Consider it your Christmas present. But don’t tell anyone.”
“Yes.” He grinned. “I’m binging tomorrow unless I’m too hungover to function.”
My company, Madcast, produced and distributed State of Ruin . We were the fastest growing streaming video service in the world.
My lucky break had come my senior year in college when I’d been out at a bar, drinking at some run down joint and bullshitting with the guy on a stool beside mine. He’d turned out to be one of the most famous directors in Hollywood.
He’d told me about a screenplay that he’d drafted, but no matter who he’d pitched it to, the major media companies weren’t buying. They’d wanted him as a director, not a writer, but screenwriting had been his passion.
When I’d gotten a full-ride academic scholarship to UCLA, Mom and Dad had gifted me my college tuition. Responsible kid that I’d been, I’d saved most of it.
A magazine reporter who’d interviewed me a few years ago had written that it had been divine intervention that I hadn’t spent that money. Because instead of blowing it on a car and spring-break vacations, I’d used it to buy that screenplay and the rights to the show. I’d also partnered with the director to make a low-budget version of season one.
It had gone viral and been picked up by one of my current competitors. They’d done well on it. The director and I had both made money from the sale. He’d gone on to other projects while I’d taken that money and used it as the seed for Madcast.
Fast-forward seven years from that conversation in the bar, and we’d had countless hits in all the major genres—drama, documentaries, comedy, children, romance. State of Ruin , a worldwide phenomenon, was poised to be our biggest show yet. If you wanted the best of the best film and television entertainment, you paid Madcast eleven ninety-nine a month for a subscription.
We’d become a publicly traded company three years ago and our stock price was at its highest value yet. I was the majority shareholder and CEO.
Some people said I had a gift for choosing projects. Mostly, I selected the ones that sounded like something I’d watch. I’d read books and buy the film rights because even though I loved TV, books were almost always better. That, and there was an endless supply of incredible stories waiting for the screen. My team helped fill in the gaps as they had damn good taste too.
Moving away from California was a risk. I’d miss the day-to-day happenings at headquarters, but I’d regret missing Violet’s life even more. If the board had a problem with me in this new satellite office, I’d step down as CEO and let someone else run the show.
There were countless opportunities for a man with my wealth. Leaving Madcast would be hard as hell, but I’d start something new in Bozeman if I had to.
“So, Violet.” Heath twisted in his seat to talk over his shoulder. “Nana told me that Natalie brought you a bag of secrets yesterday. Want to tell me what was in the bag?”
“No.” She stared out her window.
“Come on. Tell me,” Heath begged.
She zipped her lips closed, just like Natalie had done.
“It’s no use.” I laughed at Heath’s frown. Whatever Natalie had done to get Violet’s silence and loyalty had been ironclad. “Trust me. I asked her no less than fifty times today and she’s not talking.”
“Natalie’s a magician,” Heath said, dropping his voice.
“You’re not wrong.”
He rubbed his hands together as we approached Main Street. “I love this party.”
Glittering garlands were strung over the street. Trees glowed with their strings of white lights. Stores were decked out for the season. There was truly nothing like a Christmas in Bozeman. With any luck, we wouldn’t be missing any more.
“I wonder who will cause the drama this year,” Heath said.
“Maybe there won’t be drama.”
“There’d better be.” He scoffed. “That’s the best part of the party.”
I shook my head, smiling, and pulled into a parking lot. Then we all piled out and, with Violet’s hand in mine, headed toward the hotel.
“Excited?” I asked her.
She nodded, her eyes wide and full of wonder as she took it all in. As we walked through the hotel’s gold and glass doors, she squeezed my hand tighter.
The lobby of The Baxter was bustling with people, some going into the adjoining restaurants. Others stood at the small bar, laughing and talking with a festive cocktail in their hands.
I shrugged off my coat and helped Violet out of hers. With them draped over my arm, I stood straight, ready to head upstairs where the party was held. But when I looked up, the sight that greeted me sent my jaw to the marble floor.
Natalie was descending the grand staircase that led to the second-floor ballroom.
She was definitely not in pajamas. Her strappy heels sank into the plush maroon carpet covering each step. Her decadent body was wrapped in a fitted black gown that hugged her slight curves. A slit ran up the gown’s side, showcasing one toned leg with miles of smooth skin.
Other than that slit, the dress was simple, with long sleeves and a high neckline. On any other woman, it would have been demure.
On Natalie, it was pure sin.
My mouth went dry.
It had been a long, long time since the mere sight of a woman rendered me speechless.
“I should have paid more attention to Nat in school,” Heath whispered at my side, his eyes locked on her bare thigh. He took one step, ready to pounce, but my hand shot out and grabbed his elbow.
“Don’t even think about it. She’s mine.” The claim blurted from my mouth before my brain could engage.
A slow grin spread across his face. “Gotcha. I wondered if you might have a thing for her.”
“There’s no thing.” Shit . “She’s . . . my nanny.”
“Right. Whatever you say, brother.” He’d heard the possession in my voice. The claim. Backtracking was pointless.
“Good luck.” Heath clapped me on the shoulder, then jogged up the stairs, giving Natalie a smile and nod as he passed.
She reached the bottom step and walked toward us. It took considerable effort not to drool over the silhouette of her body and that damn leg that peeked through with every other one of her graceful strides.
The blood rushed to my cock and I shifted, holding the coats over my groin in an attempt to hide the growing bulge behind my pants. Christ .
She was the nanny. This was a business relationship only, and for my daughter’s sake, one I couldn’t afford to fuck up.
The moment we got up the stairs, I’d let her take Violet and I’d get a strong drink. Just one so I could drive us home later. Or fuck it, maybe I’d get smashed and we’d catch a ride with my parents.
Natalie smiled as she came closer, which only made my arousal grow.
Drunk. Definitely drunk. Maybe that would help me control this urge to sink my lips onto hers.
“Hello.” She waved at me, then gave her undivided attention to my daughter. “You look beautiful, Violet.”
“Thanks.” Violet did a half twirl, twisting so her skirt would sway. She looked up to me and nodded toward the enormous tree in the corner and the bowl of candy canes being pilfered by the other kids in the lobby. “Can I go look at the tree?”
“Sure. Come right back.”
Violet nodded, then darted away.
Natalie stood and took me in. Her gaze stopped on my throat, like she could see my heart stuck there.
When her hand came out to straighten the knot on my tie, I lost the battle with my will. “You look magnificent.”
“Thank you.” Her cheeks flushed. “It’s fun to get dressed up.”
“Fun is not the word I’d use for that dress.” Sexy. Stunning. Maybe fun if I was the man stripping it from her body.
Natalie tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, pulling her lips in to hide a smile. “You’re looking pretty sharp yourself, Mr. Holiday.”
Mr. Holiday. My last name had never sounded so good. “Maddox.”
“Maddox.”
God, this woman. How had she not called me by my name? Now I wanted to hear her say it over and over, preferably while she was naked in my bed .
Fuck my life. I’d just broken my own damn rule. Never in my life had I flirted with a nanny. There’d never been a desire. But Natalie didn’t fit the typical mold.
She was sassy. Smart. Sexy. And she liked my kid.
Maybe I should have felt guilty for this attraction.
I didn’t.
Instead, I waited for Violet to come back from the tree, then offered Natalie my arm. “Shall we?”