4. James
CHAPTER 4
James
I don't know Grayson Ross well.
He’s from Honeysuckle Harbor, so I’ve known of him, of course. The town’s not big enough to have too many complete strangers. But we’ve never been more than passing acquaintances. Until now, I guess. He’s our new tenant and neighbor.
All that said, I’ve definitely had an impression of Grayson Ross, of someone in control. An impression that completely shatters when I follow Caroline into his apartment. Grayson himself looked like a mess, and I wasn’t letting her come over here by herself. But it’s not just Grayson that’s a mess. His apartment looks like a tornado hit it. A baby tornado. I don’t mean a small, baby-sized tornado, I mean a tornado of baby stuff .
His couch is draped in baby blankets, a couple of onesies, and there’s a package of diapers where throw pillows should be.
His coffee table is covered in more diapers, a canister of formula, some toys, some manila folders, and a couple of empty coffee cups. There is a baby swing, a jumper, a playpen, and a stroller sitting haphazardly around the room.
A highchair sits near the breakfast bar, covered in smears of various colored mush.
And the whole place smells like baby formula, and dirty diapers.
“Excuse the mess,” Grayson says roughly. “It’s been a hell of a few days.”
“You sure you only need help during the next thirty minutes?” Caroline asks, looking around curiously.
Grayson watches her. “Oh no, I definitely need more help than that. But right now, I’m taking life thirty minutes at a time.”
He looks at the clock on the wall, sighs heavily, and hands his baby girl to Caroline.
“This is Evelyn.”
Evelyn scowls at Caroline.
Caroline takes her. “Hi Evelyn,” she says sweetly. “I’m Caroline.”
She balances the baby on her hip, smiling at her, bouncing slightly.
Evelyn is studying her carefully but looks perturbed.
I stroke my hand over Noah’s head. He’s sleeping peacefully right now, but I have never seen my son frown other than a few times before he filled his diaper.
“I…” Grayson looks around the room. “Hell, I don’t know. Make yourselves at home, I guess. There’s water and soda in the fridge. And Evelyn’s stuff is—” He moves his arm, indicating the entire room. “Everywhere. I’d love to tell you where to find certain things, but I have no fucking idea.”
Caroline laughs lightly, a pretty sound that makes me smile in return. God, everything about this woman is pretty.
More than pretty.
She was pretty as a teenager. She was also kind and carefree and so easy to be around. I’d definitely been looking forward to seeing her again and catching up.
But it turns out I wasn’t prepared at all to see her again, given she’s not a girl anymore. She’s a woman. She’s a confident, gorgeous, smart woman who has been traveling the world and becoming even more interesting and intriguing and, yes, beautiful.
“We’ll find whatever we need. I’m not worried,” she assures Grayson.
“Well, that would make one of us.” He shakes his head. “I don’t mean I’m worried about you being here. I’m just worried in general.”
“Go do your meeting or whatever. We’ll be right here.”
He seems to want to say more but just shakes his head again, turns on his heel, and heads for the bedroom.
As soon as the door shuts behind him, Caroline turns to me. “Wow, I think he’s really in over his head.”
I cast a look around the room and chuckle. “What makes you say that?” I ask dryly.
Caroline looks down at the baby in her arms. “What do you think? Is your daddy having a hard time?”
Evelyn’s brow furrows and her bottom lip pushes out.
“I’m gonna take that as a yes,” Caroline says. She reaches up and rubs the little girl’s bottom lip. “That is quite a pout you have going.”
Evelyn’s face scrunches, and the lip begins to tremble.
Caroline looks at me. “Uh oh.”
“Don’t worry, Evie,” I say. “We’re going to help. How about we work on making your apartment smell a little better first?”
Evelyn’s pouty lip goes away as she looks at me. I step closer and turn so she can see Noah’s face. “This is Noah. Do you want to be friends?”
Evelyn studies Noah but doesn’t say anything.
“Maybe Noah can borrow your swing,” I say, moving toward the swing next to the couch. I lower Noah into it and press the button to start it gently rocking.
Evelyn is watching us with clear suspicion. Fair enough. Three total strangers are here in her space, taking over her stuff, and her dad just disappeared.
We’re lucky she’s not screaming.
Caroline carries her over to the jumpy-seat toy. “Evelyn, you sit here and watch Noah.”
She puts the little girl in the seat and twirls a couple of the toys on the tray. Evelyn isn’t impressed.
I chuckle, and Evelyn looks up at me. Then she practically knocks me over with a sudden toothless grin. I can’t do anything but grin right back at her.
“There you go,” Caroline tells her, propping her hands on her slim hips. “We’re not so bad, are we?”
Evelyn looks at her. And frowns.
Caroline’s eyebrows arch. “Say something else,” she tells me. “Talk to her.”
“What do you have to be so grumpy about at only seven months of life?” I ask Evelyn. “Or was it your past life that’s got you so down?”
Evelyn looks up at me, and sure enough, grins before putting her fist to her mouth.
Caroline laughs. “Maybe she just likes men. You little flirt,” she tells Evelyn.
That gets her another frown.
Caroline puts both hands up. “Okay girl, I got it. I’m leaving you alone.” Caroline looks at me. “I’m gonna go clean up in the kitchen. How about you do the living room? I think Evelyn would prefer you stay out here with her.”
I grin down at the little girl. “I can do that.”
We spent about fifteen minutes cleaning up Grayson’s apartment. Not only are there a ton of dishes to gather and rinse and put in the dishwasher, making a full load that we then start, but there’s just general straightening to do.
Not to mention the garbage.
In the end, we have an overflowing trash can in the kitchen and another half trash bag filled with sandwich wrappers, takeout bags from a taco place, and probably forty-seven to-go coffee cups.
“He doesn’t even make his own coffee?” Caroline asks, dropping the final cardboard cup into the bag I’m holding. “Do you think he doesn’t know how or he doesn’t have time?”
“Did you know Grayson at all when he lived here in Honeysuckle Harbor?” I ask her.
She shakes her head. “No. He’s what? Five years older than us? I know the Rosses have lived here forever. Really nice people, right?”
I nod. “Very nice. And I’ve never heard that Grayson’s not. But he’s some big-shot business prodigy who quickly moved up the ranks, became CEO, and then started his own company. I don’t know what exactly he does, but he’s very successful. It would not surprise me at all, despite how this apartment looks and the fact that he clearly has no idea what to do with a baby girl, that Grayson Ross doesn’t do anything for himself when it’s possible to order or pay someone else to do it.”
“Was he ever married?” Caroline asks, bending to pick up three socks—one man’s and two baby socks that do not match.
“No. If you’re asking about the origin of Evelyn, it was a one-night stand that showed up at my office a few weeks ago with a baby girl who she handed to my assistant and then walked out the door.”
We both spin at the sound of Grayson’s voice.
Dammit. You never gossip about a person in their apartment when they’re home. Of course, he was going to walk out and catch us.
“Grayson, I—” I start.
But Caroline doesn’t act guilty to be caught. “She just showed up and handed you the baby?”
Grayson tucks his hands into the pockets of his slacks. He’s studying Caroline with an unreadable expression. “No. It was her sister. And she handed her to my assistant. I didn’t even see her.”
“That’s very unfortunate.” Then Caroline tips her head, clearly curious. “Did you remember her?”
So I’m standing here, embarrassed that he caught us talking about him behind his back, and Caroline is not only clearly unapologetic but is also pressing on this sensitive private matter.
I also tuck my hands into my pockets and settle in to watch. This is fun.
“I remembered the short red skirt she was wearing when we met. Once she mentioned it,” Grayson says.
I’m surprised he’s answering. He could tell Caroline it’s none of her business. Because it’s really not. But I think that might actually be a tiny smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
Caroline nods. “Oh, a short red skirt. That’ll get you every time. This entire thing is so not your fault.”
“Do you have a short red skirt, Caroline?” Grayson asks.
My gaze goes quickly from Caroline to him.
Is he flirting with her? Seriously? In the midst of…all of this? In front of me?
You’re married to the man who lives in the apartment next door to this one, remember?
Right. There is no reason Grayson would think flirting with Caroline in front of me was strange.
Actually, there is no reason Grayson flirting with Caroline in front of me is strange.
What the hell are you thinking?
But him flirting with Caroline right now, considering the current circumstances, is a little weird. I mean, yes, Caroline is gorgeous, but they just met. And his apartment smells like dirty diapers.
“Actually no,” she says. “Mine’s hot pink. Oh, and I have a black one. But they basically serve the same function.”
I watch as Grayson’s gaze moves over Caroline from head to toe. Then he nods. “I bet they do.”
Yep. He’s flirting with her. Blatantly. In a stinky apartment. Despite the fact that he clearly can’t handle his life.
I am irrationally irritated by this.
I step forward and thrust a garbage bag toward him. “We cleaned up a little while you were busy.”
That pulls his gaze from Caroline, and he looks down at the trash bag. Now he at least looks a little sheepish.
“I would’ve taken all of this out, of course. But Evelyn doesn’t like when I’m not with her, and I can’t take her to the trash chute with me.”
“She seemed fine with James while you were in the other room,” Caroline pipes up.
Grayson looks over at his daughter. She’s sucking on the knuckles of her hand, watching us. Frowning. Until she sees her dad looking, then she gives him a big smile.
I grin. That is one cute little girl.
“Wait, why can’t you take her to the trash chute with you?” I ask.
“Because she might fall in,” he says in a tone that indicates this should be obvious.
I exchange a glance with Caroline.
She’s watching Grayson with a half-amused, half-puzzled look.
“You think you might drop Evelyn in the trash chute accidentally?” I ask.
“It could happen,” Grayson insists. “What if I have it open, and I’m trying to put the trash in with one hand, and I’m only holding her in one arm? Then she gets squirmy, and I lose my grip? She could tumble right in. She’s top heavy.”
“Surely you have a better grip on her than that,” I say.
“Does she wiggle that hard? And try to get away from you?” Caroline asks.
It’s clear she’s fighting a smile.
Grayson frowns, and I’m struck by how much he looks like his daughter.
“Well, no,” Grayson admits. “Evelyn prefers when I hold her and never tries to get down.”
His tone makes it clear that her never wanting to be put down is somewhat of a pain in the ass, actually.
“Well, we are happy to help you take your trash out,” Caroline says sweetly.
That might be a little flirty too, as a matter of fact.
Since when is talking about trash, or talking while surrounded by trash, flirtatious?
“Sure,” I say. “Or you could just put Evelyn in the swing or the playpen for the two minutes it takes to take the trash down the hall.”
Grayson shakes his head immediately. “She doesn’t like when I leave.”
“So you let the trash pile up rather than let little miss be upset for even two minutes?” Caroline asks, her smile breaking free this time.
Grayson is still frowning. “There’s no reason to upset her.”
Caroline shakes her head. “Wow, I wish all the men in my life were so accommodating as to keep me from being upset for even two minutes.” She looks at Evelyn. “You’re going to have to teach me your ways, baby doll.”
I roll my eyes. I am certain this woman has men tripping over themselves, trying to make her happy.
“Or you could just put Evelyn in the stroller and take her down the hall with you to take the trash out,” I suggest.
Grayson looks at me thoughtfully. “That’s actually a good idea. She does like the stroller.”
I snort. “Glad I could help.”
I shouldn’t tease the guy. Clearly, fatherhood is not something he’s taking to naturally. And it can be overwhelming. I at least have a partner helping, and Noah is an absolute ray of sunshine. He loves to be held, of course, but we can put him down when we need to do other things.
“You really need to get some help,” Caroline tells Grayson.
He runs a hand over his face and gives a heavy sigh. “I’m aware. I had help until this morning. Rose. You met her on her way out.”
Caroline’s eyes widen. “What did you do to make that sweet woman quit?”
“I needed her to work a lot. Too much. My expectations tend to be very high for lots of other people. Particularly ones who are picking up the slack in my life where I…”
“Kind of suck?” I offer.
I don’t know why I feel the need to point out that this man is drowning. I definitely get the impression that not being good at something is very unusual for Grayson Ross.
He doesn’t look pleased with my suggestion, but he doesn’t deny it either. “I’m not above asking for help, and I’m not above paying very well for it. But I do expect that help to do an exceptional job.”
“Especially for your daughter,” Caroline says.
Grayson looks over at Evelyn. “We don’t actually know that she’s mine.”
Caroline and I look at each other again, and I snort. Again.
“What?” Grayson asks. “We’re waiting on the results of the DNA test.”
“She looks just like you, man,” I tell him. There’s no way this kid isn’t his.
“So I’ve been told,” Grayson says. “But I need to be sure.”
Caroline looks around the apartment. “But you still did all of this? Even before you knew for sure?”
He shrugs. “She needed things. It’s not her fault that the woman in the red skirt dropped her off with me.”
“What was her name?” Caroline asks. She’s studying him closely. “I know you know.”
He sighs. “Lacey.”
“And you were in New York when you ‘met’ Evelyn?”
“Yes.”
“And then you picked up your life and moved here.”
“Yes. My family is here. I thought they’d help.”
“But they’re not?”
“Not as much as I need them to.”
“Why not?” Caroline asks.
“Because I’m a full-grown man who has money and brains and no excuse not to be able to do something literally millions of people around the world do every single day,” he says. It’s clear he’s quoting someone.
Caroline smiles. “Is that what your mom said?”
“My older sister. But my mom concurred.”
Caroline’s smile grows. “I?—”
“Don’t say it,” Grayson tells her.
“What?” Caroline asks, blinking with fake innocence.
“That you also concur.”
She laughs. “Why not?”
“Because I know you do.” He looks over at me. “I know you both do.”
I do. I mean, he is all of those things and there isn’t really an excuse.
But I’m annoyed by his easy camaraderie with Caroline and how comfortable she seems with him.
Which is stupid as hell.
“Do you want me to ask around? See if anyone’s available to help?” I ask.
Grayson shakes his head. “I’ve already filled out applications for a nanny agency. I’m actually looking for two. A daytime and a nighttime. I should be getting resumes soon.”
Of course, he’s going with some high-end service. The nannies probably all went to Harvard and are pediatric neurosurgeons in their free time.
His eyes are on Caroline again. “I could use help until I hire someone, though. Are you available?”
No, she’s not available. She’s…
Not anything to me but a friend, I remind myself. Sure, we were a couple in high school, but that was a decade ago.
I don’t need to feel protective of Caroline. She’s been traveling the world on her own. Teaching all over. She is quite capable of taking care of herself.
Still, there’s something almost predatory about the way Grayson studies her. Something that makes me think that, in a different circumstance, he would want much more from her.
Or hell, maybe in this exact circumstance.
“Caroline is going to be teaching some classes at my gym,” I say.
“But that’s very flexible. And Grayson said this is temporary.” She looks at Evelyn and smiles. The baby frowns back. “Sure, I can help you out. I won’t say I’m any kind of baby whisperer, but if all you need is a couple extra pair of hands—” She lifts her hands and wiggles her fingers. “I can do that.”
“That would be amazing.” Grayson’s sigh of relief is long and heavy. “I would really love to have the use of your hands, Caroline.”
And the idea of Grayson enjoying Caroline’s hands for anything at all—Should. Not. Bother. Me.
But despite the cleanup Caroline and I just did, things suddenly feel very messy in Grayson Ross’s apartment.