Chapter 5
five
. . .
Archer
The doorbell woke me from a sound sleep, and I sat up in bed.
Fuck.
My alarm hadn’t gone off, and I’d overslept.
I had a full day of meetings, and I couldn’t afford to be late. Not to mention Mrs. Groucher didn’t take kindly to being late, and I didn’t have time for a lecture on my lack of responsible parenting this morning.
I tugged on my sweatpants and heard Melody shouting from her bedroom, asking who was here.
“My alarm didn’t go off. Get up, angel face. We need to get moving.” I jogged to the front door and tugged it open.
Winnie stood on the other side wearing a white sweater, some baggy faded jeans, and cowboy boots. Her eyes scanned my chest, and I remembered I hadn’t pulled on a tee.
“Sorry, I uh—we overslept. Come in.” I stepped back as she walked past me. “I need to grab a shower, and get Melody dressed, and make breakfast. So you can chill on the couch or go bring your stuff into the casita if you want.”
She chuckled. “Relax. I’m the nanny, remember? You don’t need to entertain me. How about you go shower, and I get Melody dressed for school and make breakfast?”
It hit me at that moment that I hadn’t had a nanny who actually helped me with anything before now.
“Really?” I shrugged. “Yeah, that would be great.”
“Winnie? Is that you?” Melody called out from her room.
“It’s me. And I’m coming to get you ready for school, and we’re going to make a delicious breakfast together.”
And just like that, I made my way to my bathroom and shut the door. I took my time in the shower for the first time in a while. I was always hustling and in a hurry, but the fact that I didn’t need to get Melody dressed this morning or make breakfast meant I didn’t need to rush.
I dried off and slipped on some dark jeans and a dress shirt before combing my hair and getting myself ready.
When I stepped out into the hallway, I heard Melody giggling and the sound of pots and pans being moved around. Country music played softly in the background on Alexa, and the smell of bacon flooded my senses as I came around the corner.
“Daddy!” Melody ran over to me. “Good mornin’, handsome.”
I chuckled and scooped her up. “Good morning, angel face. How’d you sleep?”
“I had all the dreams, Daddy.”
I set her back down, noting that her hair was braided in a way I’d never be able to manage.
She had a bow at the end of her braid that matched one Winnie was wearing.
She had her back to me as she stood at the stove, cooking eggs and bacon.
She glanced over her shoulder and smiled.
“I hope it’s okay that I grabbed what was in the fridge to make breakfast? ”
“Yeah, of course. We don’t usually get this fancy of a breakfast unless it’s the weekend.” I walked over to where she’d made a fresh pot of coffee.
Damn. I could get used to this. I always had to make Mrs. Dowden’s coffee for her and bring it to her.
My family was right. I needed help, and this was much better than the situation I’d been in for the past two years.
Winnie and I had discussed her salary, which she seemed very pleased with. But she’d agreed to be flexible with her hours, and I needed that right now. Room and board was also included, and at the moment I was very grateful that she was going to be living here at the house.
It would make life much more manageable on mornings like this.
I poured myself a cup and held up the coffee pot, offering to top her off, and she nodded. After I filled her coffee mug, I pulled out some plates from the cupboard and asked Melody to set some forks and napkins on the table.
The three of us sat down after Winnie had plated our food, and I groaned when I took the first bite, as did my daughter.
“Daddy, Winnie’s eggs don’t taste like yours. These are so yummy.”
Winnie had just taken a sip of coffee, and she coughed over her laughter before dabbing her mouth with her napkin. The smell of lavender surrounded me as she sat in the chair beside me.
This was also a change for me.
Having a beautiful woman in my home was slightly overwhelming in a way I hadn’t expected.
I’d shake it off because this was a good fit.
She was exactly what we needed.
“Thanks,” I grumped, and they both laughed some more. “But I agree. This is delicious. You said you took some cooking classes abroad?”
“Yes. I spent a summer in Paris during college, and I took a few classes while I was there. I’ve always loved to cook.” She reached for a strip of bacon.
“Can Winnie come with us to Paris?” Melody asked for the second time in two days. Between my daughter and Bridger, they were putting both of us on the spot. “I’m the flower girl in my uncle and aunt’s wedding.”
“If she would like to come with us, she’s more than welcome. Let’s see how the first few days go. We don’t want to scare her off.” I chuckled. “Did Winnie tell you that she’s a writer?”
Melody’s eyes grew wide. “I love to write, too, Winnie. Do you write books or letters?”
“I write books. I’m working on a new one now.” She shrugged, as if it was no big deal.
“That’s impressive,” I said. “This should work out well because you’ll have your hours free to write while Melody’s at school.”
“Yeah, that sounds like the perfect schedule. And I also write a lot in the evenings before bed,” she said.
We went over the schedule, and I told her that Melody had lessons today with my brother’s fiancée, Wren, who had a horseback riding school for kids.
They could walk there from school and then walk home, since we lived close to everything.
So there was no need to drive today, though Bridger had already texted to say that he’d have a car dropped off this morning.
That would come in handy when it got colder outside.
We finished up breakfast, and Winnie loaded the dishes in the dishwasher while I got Melody’s lunch in her backpack and grabbed her jacket.
We got into my truck because I’d be going to work after we dropped Melody at school.
I introduced Winnie to Mrs. Groucher, who acted completely unimpressed to meet her.
We’d had a late start getting out of the house, so the bell rang shortly after we’d arrived, and we were hurried out the door after a quick goodbye to Melody.
“Wow, her teacher is a real delight,” Winnie said.
I laughed. “Yeah, she taught me and my brother and all of my cousins. She’s been the kindergarten teacher here since the beginning of time.”
She snorted as we made our way to the parking lot.
“All right, well, I’ll plan to be here early for pickup, and then I’ll take Melody to her horseback riding lessons. Just text me that address so I can save it in my phone.”
“That sounds great.” I shoved my hands in my pockets. “I can drop you by the house on my way to the office?”
“That’s all right. It’s nice outside, so I can walk, and that way I’ll get my bearings for the area.”
“Sounds good.” I glanced down at my phone to see a text from my cousin.
“Bridger just texted to say that he dropped a car in the driveway. The keys are under the mat on the driver’s side.
There’s an extra car seat in the front closet for Melody if for any reason you need to go anywhere in the car.
Just text me so I’ll know where you are. ”
“You got it. Thank you. I’ll see you later,” she said, holding up a hand as she started walking.
I climbed in my truck and glanced down at the endless group chat with my brother and cousins.
Rafe
I heard Archie hired the new nanny.
Bridger, I thought you were a man of few words. When did you get so gossipy.
Bridger
Fuck off. Wasn’t me, dude.
Rafe
I had breakfast at the Honey Biscuit Café this morning. Oscar told me you hired his niece.
Easton
This is great news. What’s she like?
Bridger
He likes her.
Fuck off. I don’t like her.
Axel
You hired her to take care of Melody, and you don’t like her?
Shit. No. I like her, but not the way he insinuated. And she’s young.
Clark
So you like her, but you don’t like her?
Rafe
How young could she be if she’s qualified to be a nanny?
She’s 24.
Axel
For fuck’s sake, you’re acting like you hired a teenager. News flash… 24-year-olds are adults.
Easton
I’m just happy you hired someone who can actually get around and take care of Melody.
Bridger
She walked her ass all the way to his office after her car broke down in the rain, and he almost didn’t hire her. I had to step in.
Clark
Seriously?
I didn’t know if she was qualified. She proved she was.
Easton
I mean, the fact that she can make a sandwich for Melody makes her more qualified than your last nanny.
She doesn’t have experience with kids, so I wasn’t sure that she could handle it.
Rafe
I didn’t have experience with kids before Melody came along, and you let me watch her.
You’re family.
Axel
So what happened?
She made a good argument and convinced me that she was the right person for the job.
Clark
I’m glad you came to your senses during the interview.
Bridger
He didn’t. I showed up when he was sending her out the door. I got involved. You’re welcome.
Axel
How did you even know she was qualified if you’d just walked in?
Bridger
Because she looked like she’d fought a bear to get there. Clearly, she wanted the job, which is more than I can say for Mrs. Dowden.
Rafe
So when does she start?
She started this morning.
Easton
That was a quick turnaround. You went from not hiring her, to hiring her, and she’s already working today?
Axel
When is she moving in?
Also today.
Bridger
He likes her. He’s nervous to have her in his home, that’s why he was hesitant.
Fuck off. That’s not the reason that I was hesitant.
Clark
But she’s qualified, right?
Bridger
She’s got a college degree, and she can figure out what to do when she breaks down in the middle of a rainstorm. She also doesn’t take Archie’s shit. She’s more than qualified.
Rafe
Let me get this straight. You had a nanny who barely stayed awake during the day, and you were fine having her in your home. Now you have a woman who is clearly overqualified, and very capable, and you’re nervous to have her in your home?
Bridger
You want the truth?
No.
Rafe
Yes.
Clark
Please.
Easton
Give it to us.
Axel
Absolutely.
Bridger
She’s hot. He’s horny. It’s a terrifying combination.
I didn’t notice her looks. She’s my fucking nanny.
Easton
So you can’t tell us if she’s hot?
I haven’t noticed.
Bridger
You’ve got two eyes. You definitely noticed.
I’m done with this conversation. Axel, let Wren know that Winnie will be bringing Melody to her riding lesson today after school.
Axel
Winnie. Good name.
Rafe
I love Winnie the Pooh. Speaking of Poo, I tried the turbo clean on the new toilet and let’s just say it’s equal parts fabulous and terrifying.
Bridger
I don’t fuck with the turbo setting.
Easton
He has a sensitive ass.
Axel
I’ll let Wren know Winnie’s coming today.
Clark
That’s what she said. Sorry. Couldn’t resist.
Rafe
Just wait till the new nanny sits on your fancy shitter. She’ll never want to leave.
I set my phone down and chuckled. Rafe had introduced us to the world’s best toilet several months ago, and I couldn’t deny that it had changed the whole bathroom experience for me. But we spent far too much time talking about the shitter.
My phone vibrated, and I rolled my eyes, thinking it was the group text again, but instead I saw Winnie’s name on the screen. I’d saved her number in my phone last night and asked her to do the same.
Winnie
Hey, it’s Winnie.
Yep. I’ve got you saved in my phone.
Winnie
Okay, just making sure you knew who it was.
Winnie
How do you feel about slow cookers?
In general? As a product?
Winnie
Winnie
As a form of cooking.
Never tried one. I always thought they were weird in concept.
Winnie
Weird in concept?
You asked.
Winnie
Well, I have one that I just unpacked, and since I’m taking Melody to riding lessons, I thought it might be a good idea to get dinner prepped ahead of time so it’s ready when everyone gets home.
Sure. That sounds great. I’ve got an account in my name at the Green Basket if you want to grab groceries for the next few days.
Winnie
Got it. I’ll head over there now.
Thank you. Be careful of the owners’ son, Josh. He’s a tool.
Winnie
Worried about me already, boss?
Just need to make sure you don’t run away with the grocery store douchebag.
Winnie
You need not worry. I’ve sworn off all men at the moment. Douchebags in particular.
I set my phone down, but for whatever reason, I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face.