14. James
CHAPTER 14
James
Caroline rushes into the gym only five minutes before class is supposed to start.
She looks a little rumpled. Still gorgeous, but definitely a bit frazzled.
I give her and Evelyn a big grin, and the baby reaches for me immediately.
“Hey, Evie girl,” I greet as I take her in my arms.
She smiles up at me, putting one hand against my cheek.
I don’t quite understand why she’s enamored with me either, but I like it. I love her grumpy side because it makes her sweet side even sweeter. She’s been through a lot, and doesn’t owe anyone smiles and giggles, dammit. And if I can be a comfort to her, something that makes her smile, then I’m all in.
I prop her on my hip and focus on her nanny.
I haven’t stopped thinking about Caroline since the other night in our apartment, and my more extended conversation about her with Cas.
I haven’t stopped fantasizing about her, either.
We haven’t had a chance to bring our idea up to her, but the more I think about it, the more I want it. Her, me, and Cas. Together. Naked.
Honestly, I’ve built it up so big in my mind that, at this point, if she says no, I’ll be crushed.
“You okay?” I ask Caroline.
She takes a deep breath and gives me a smile. “Yeah. Just kind of a crazy morning.”
“Is Evie okay?” I look down at the baby. She looks perfectly fine as she grins up at me and blows a spit bubble.
“She’s great.”
When I glance back at Caroline, she’s watching Evelyn with an affectionate smile.
“Grayson’s been interviewing nannies.”
I watch her face. Caroline doesn’t seem happy about that.
“Right. I thought that was the plan,” I say. “You were just filling in.”
She nods. “I know. Of course, that was the plan. It’s a good thing.”
She doesn’t seem to really think it’s a good thing. “Have you met any of them?” I ask.
“One. The one applying for the night shift. Kyle.”
She says the name with a touch of derision that doesn’t make sense. “A male nanny?” That would maybe be great for Grayson to see a guy interacting with Evelyn.
“Nope. A very pretty, young, single woman who Evelyn seemed fine with.”
I lift a brow. Caroline sounds irritated by all of that.
“And what did you think?”
Caroline shrugs, her eyes on the top of Evelyn’s sock. She’s running her finger over the embroidered duck on the side of the baby’s sock.
“She seemed…okay.”
Just okay. I don’t know if I believe her. Caroline’s getting attached. Of course, it’s impossible not to fall for Evelyn, in my opinion, but I love seeing Caroline sweet for her.
Caroline is a teacher, so obviously she has a soft spot for kids, but I don’t know that she’s been around a lot of babies. I love how natural she’s been with both Evelyn and Noah.
“You don’t think she’s qualified?” I ask.
I doubt that very much. Grayson Ross is not the kind of man to even bother to interview someone who doesn’t check every single box on his likely ridiculous list of qualifications for any position. Nanny for his daughter? Yeah, I’m sure to even get a meeting, these women are more than qualified.
“She’s qualified. She’s just…stiff. She was wearing a skirt. And heels. Like she was dressing for an office instead of for taking care of a baby.” Caroline runs a hand over her own rumpled clothes. “How’s she going to get on the floor and play with Evie in a pencil skirt?”
“Maybe that was just because she wanted to look professional for the interview.”
“Hmm.” She sounds less than convinced.
“I thought it was the night shift, anyway,” I say. “Won’t Evie be sleeping?”
Caroline frowns. “Whatever. I’m just saying she doesn’t seem like a nanny. Which she isn’t. She’s going to law school.”
Smart too. “Wow, that’s impressive.”
Caroline glares at me as if I’m the one who talked Kyle into being a lawyer. “Is it? Or does it mean she’ll be distracted from taking care of Evelyn? And does Grayson really need more suits in his life? Seriously? Did he even look past her uptight clothes or did he just see the button-down and think ‘well, of course, she knows what she’s doing’?”
I laugh. “I think Grayson Ross bases hiring decisions on more than wardrobe.” I look her up and down. “Look at you. You’ve got possession of his daughter right now and you look like you just rolled out of bed.”
Her cheeks suddenly flush pink. “Oh. Well…I did. And, I, um…I’m not… I mean, Grayson was…” She stammers to a stop and shrugs. “He was desperate when he hired me.”
“True,” I agree. There’s no arguing that. “But still, he trusts you completely with Evelyn, and you don’t wear pencil skirts and heels and aren’t going to law school. I think he’s basing this decision on more than all of that. Don’t worry. Evelyn will be okay.”
She runs her hand over Evelyn’s head. “Yeah. Okay. You’re right.”
But I sense there’s something more. She’s a little jealous of someone else spending time with and being important to Evelyn. But she’s also jealous of this person getting close to Grayson. This person she thinks is more his type than she is.
Dammit.
Caroline takes another breath and meets my gaze. “I don’t suppose you could keep Evelyn and start class without me?”
I frown. “Sure. But that doesn’t sound like everything’s okay.”
She waves her hand as if brushing that away. “No, I’m fine. I just really need a shower.”
“Yeah, okay. Did you oversleep this morning?”
She puts a hand up to finger her messy bun and then looks down at her clothes. “I actually slept at Grayson’s last night. I haven’t had a chance to shower and get ready, and I am definitely feeling thrown off by that. If I can just shower, do something with my hair and get into a new set of clothes, I will feel much more ready for this day.”
I know I’m staring at her like a dumbass, but I feel like she just slapped me across the face.
She’s jealous of the new girl and she slept at Grayson’s last night?
Well, fuck.
Have Cas and I missed our chance? If she’s fucking Grayson, she’s not going to go for our idea.
I clear my throat. “You, uh, slept on his couch? What happened?”
“Yes. Well, no. I mean, I did fall asleep on the couch. But then he carried me to bed.”
Yeah.
Fuck .
“So you’re okay keeping her for a bit?” she asks again.
“Of course,” I say, my mind spinning. I’m definitely disappointed. My heart is pounding like I’m panicking, in fact. I need to call Cas.
“Okay, I’ll be right back,” she says, turning for the door. She hesitates, spins back, leans in and kisses Evelyn on the cheek. “Be back soon, baby girl.” Then she heads out the door.
I immediately go for my phone.
Cas answers on the third ring. “What’s up?”
I don’t call him at work often. Usually I text if something comes up, and he calls back when he has a minute. If I call, it means I need to speak to him right away.
“Caroline slept at Grayson’s last night. And she’s jealous of one of the new nannies. I think she has feelings for him.”
Cas is quiet for a few seconds, then he says, “We need to ask her out on a date.”
I blink. “What?”
“We need to ask her out. We need to take her out on a date. A fun date where we can pitch her our idea. If she says no, we still have a good time and we can show her that we can still all spend time together while she’s in Honeysuckle Harbor. If she says yes, we head straight home.”
My cock stirs at even the mention of that idea. “She might be with Grayson,” I say.
“Then she can tell us that,” Cas says. “But we have to at least give her the chance to say no to us. If we don’t, we’ll always wonder.”
I take a deep breath, my heart rate slowing a bit.
He’s right. We have to at least tell her what we’re thinking. If she and Grayson are together, she can tell us that.
But if they’re not…
“When?” I ask. “When do we ask her, and when are we taking her out?”
“Ask her out when you see her,” Cas says. “Just say the three of us should go out. Tomorrow night.”
Yes. Tomorrow night. The sooner the better.
Before Grayson Ross can get even closer to her.