12. Caroline
CHAPTER 12
Caroline
I’m hungover. Not as bad as the morning after the infamous boathouse debacle in high school, but I have a pounding headache and a roiling stomach. I don’t indulge very often and after the three glasses of wine I had three of Frannie’s beers from the fridge. I regret it wholeheartedly as Evelyn lets out a shriek that makes my brain hurt.
It’s a happy shriek of delight, which normally I find adorable, but now it makes me wince. I manage a smile though, because Evie is honestly a total sweetheart and it’s impossible not to smile back at her grin, even when my head is splitting apart.
“I know,” I tell her. “It’s a good day, isn’t it? It’s not your fault silly Caroline threw back a few too many with the girls last night. And guys.”
She gives another shriek of delight.
“Exactly,” I tell her, wryly. I roll over and flop down onto my side on the soft area rug in Grayson’s living room.
Evelyn is sitting up next to me, chewing on her hand and kicking a random block with her left foot. This position is much better. I have my giant water tumbler next to me and I tilt it so I can take a slurping sip of water.
“Hey, do you mind staying an extra few minutes?” Grayson says, suddenly appearing in the doorway of his bedroom.
It’s been a very long day.
My fault. But still, a very long day.
Grayson, unlike me, looks delightfully refreshed.
He’s wearing a soft blue button-down shirt and tan jeans that look expensive as hell with navy sneakers. He seems to have found his hygiene footing and looks showered, shaven, nary a clothing wrinkle in sight.
He looks gorgeous, and it’s annoying.
He’s responsible for my current situation.
Him and James and Cas.
All three of them.
They’re all really damn attractive and sexy and sending out pheromones or something, because I can’t stop thinking about each of them. Hell, maybe I’m ovulating and my body is taking over my mind in a quest to mate with men who are virile and masculine and sexy dads.
“Caroline?”
Grayson is staring at me expectantly, and I’m trying to justify my attraction with science.
“How long do you need me to stay?”
“Not long. I have a potential nanny dropping by for an interview.”
My first reaction is fuck that . I’d rather go home and take a much needed nap.
“Why do I have to be here for that? Shouldn’t you see how she interacts with Evelyn?”
“Oh, yes, of course. But I don’t want to overwhelm Evie. I think she’d react better if you were here. It’s the one who was formerly a senator’s nanny.”
On second thought. I remember that woman’s picture. Elegant brunette.
“Sure. Okay. I can stay for a bit.”
“Are you…unwell?” Grayson asks, eyes raking over me.
“I have the wine flu,” I admit. “Mostly I’m just tired. Glad to see I’m fooling you, though.”
He laughs. “You don’t look terrible. Just not quite yourself. Too much wine with James and Cas?”
It doesn’t sound like he cares one way or the other if I got drunk with his next-door neighbors. Nor is he offering to let me off the hook now that I’ve told him I don’t feel great.
“Yes.” I take another sip of water.
I can’t blame Cas or James or even Frannie for my head pounding. This is my fault. I know better. It’s why I don’t really drink. I also have always gone with a safety first mentality since I travel so much. It’s never wise for a woman traveling by herself to get drunk in an unfamiliar place where she doesn’t speak the language.
“I’m not going to say I’m never drinking again, but I’m going to stick to my one glass of wine policy for the foreseeable future.”
“That’s smart. I don’t see myself drinking too much either. I can’t imagine taking care of a baby with a pounding head.”
I blink. I stare. I wait for him to realize what the hell he has just said.
Nope.
He doesn’t even register the irony of that statement.
Instead, he’s clearing off the dining table of the mess from several meals. Grayson still seems to be running behind on general housekeeping, though he is taking the trash out every day.
It is hard to take care of a baby with a pounding head, like I’ve been doing all day.
But, temporary or not, I’m a hired employee, so I can’t leave him in a lurch because I don’t know my limit. Though I actually know my limit, I just ignored it and blew right past it, partly because of the man making a face at his own dirty dishes.
He’s stacking plates in the dishwasher and loading it with bottles when his phone dings. “She’s here.”
He sounds excited, which annoys me.
I touch Evelyn’s chubby leg, running my finger down over her soft skin. I’m going to miss this little girl. I feel a surge of protectiveness. This nanny better bring it.
Forcing myself to sit up, I straighten my sloppy bun and rest my back against the sofa as Grayson opens the door and enthusiastically greets the woman. All I can see is slim legs in a pencil skirt.
“Thank you for coming,” he says. “So you’re interested in the nighttime position? The hours are eleven to seven.”
“Yes, I am. Thank you for meeting with me.”
She has a nice voice. The right tone. Not too upbeat but not too flat either.
I pull Evelyn onto my lap and kiss the top of her head.
“Oh, is this little Evelyn?” she says, as Grayson leads her into the living room.
She’s hotter than she was in her picture. She’s dressed like she works in a law office. White button up shirt, navy skirt, sensible pumps. She has shiny, straight, non-frizzy hair, which reminds me just how rough my own hair is today. It’s sloppy and frizzy and my skin is dull, my face puffy from the wine.
“Hi,” she murmurs directly to Evelyn, dropping down into a squat like she’s not wearing a slender skirt and heels. “I’m Kyle.”
She glances up at me and gives a shrug. “My parents wanted a boy,” she says, rolling her eyes a little and smiling at me. “Are you the day nanny?”
“Yes,” I say, omitting that this is a temporary position for me. I’m feeling a little territorial. “I’m Caroline. It’s nice to meet you.”
Kyle gives Evelyn another smile, who is staring at her unblinkingly. Then she stands up and allows Grayson to pull a chair out for her to sit down.
“Thank you,” she tells him with a warm smile.
“What makes you interested in the nighttime position?” he asks.
“I’m in law school.”
Because of course she is. Pretty and smart.
“When are you planning to sleep?” I blurt out before I can stop myself.
Grayson gives me a what-the-fuck look.
Kyle just laughs lightly. “My classes are for working adults, so they’re compressed from six to nine every night. I’ll sleep in the morning and early afternoons. I like to stay busy.”
“I don’t mind if you study,” Grayson says. “Evelyn is a challenge to put down, but once she’s asleep, she usually only wakes up twice, around two and six. All I expect you to do when she’s sleeping is some light housekeeping. Washing bottles, doing Evelyn’s laundry.”
“That sounds perfect to me.”
I’m listening intently, so it takes me a second to realize my arm feels wet. I glance down and realize Evelyn has filled her diaper and then some. There is loose baby poop on my forearm and all up her back.
“Shoot,” I mumble, forcing myself to my feet. “We have a blowout.”
Neither of them acknowledges me. She is showing Grayson an app on her phone. “I’ll log all of Evelyn’s changes and sleep times here so you can view them at any time.”
He’s leaning very close to her. Their arms are touching.
I feel a surge of jealousy that makes me very uncomfortable.
I try to listen to their conversation from the bedroom where I’m undressing Evelyn, who is waving her arms and cooing.
God, she’s cute.
Even covered in poop.
I can’t hear Grayson and Kyle at all and Evelyn needs a bath, so I resign myself to not being able to eavesdrop as I carry Evelyn, still in her loaded diaper, to the bathroom. I fill the sink with warm water and finally remove the diaper.
Washing her off with her baby soap and a hand mitt sponge, I bend over to rest a little against the countertop. Evelyn is happily kicking and splashing.
By the time I have her squeaky clean and dressed in fresh clothes, Grayson and Kyle are best friends. They’re chuckling and smiling, heads bent together.
“We’re going to take Evelyn for a walk,” Grayson tells me. “I want to show Kyle the building and the neighborhood.”
“Why? Everything is closed at night.”
Normally I would have kept that thought to myself, but I’m tired, annoyed, and damn it, I’m jealous. I don’t want either Grayson or Evelyn to like Kyle more than me, which is ridiculous. Me and Grayson are acquaintances and nothing more and I’m Evelyn’s temporary nanny. I should be happy Grayson might have found someone who will stay long term and bond with Evelyn.
Grayson doesn’t even bother to answer me. He just ignores me and retrieves the stroller.
“We’re just getting the lay of the land,” Kyle tells me, lightly.
Grayson comes over and reaches out for his daughter. “Hangovers make you cranky,” he murmurs in my ear.
I bristle. “Maybe you make me cranky.”
The corner of his mouth turns up. He’s close to me. Too close. I can see the gold flecks surrounding his brown irises and smell his light aftershave. My gaze is drawn to his lips and I feel my cheeks grow warm.
Evelyn shoves a finger in his mouth, breaking my reverie.
“I think you need a nap,” he says to me. “Lay down on the couch.”
“Why can’t I go home?”
“I want you here,” he says simply. “I want to talk when I get back.”
I swallow hard.
I should demand an explanation. Or just refuse to stay.
Instead, I say, “Okay.”
“Good girl.” Grayson gives me a panty-dropping smile.
I’m left standing there watching him leave with the amazing Kyle, law student by day, supernanny by night.
“Ahh!” I say out loud in frustration, stomping over to the couch and flopping on it.
Pulling a soft fleece blanket over me to combat the chill of the air conditioning, I punch a throw pillow a few times and lay my head on it.
“Get it together, Caro,” I mumble. “James and Cas are married. Grayson is preoccupied. And you’re moving to Colombia.”
Keep it simple.