Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15
TOBIAS BARRETT
I finish the dishes and wipe the dining room table. As I’m wiping the counters off in the kitchen, Levi enters. He slips onto a barstool. “I want you to know I plan on paying you back the tuition money.”
I turn to look at him. His shoulders slump, and he looks defeated. Guilt worms its way into my chest. I’ve never told my brothers how much money I’ve been able to grow from our inheritance. And I haven’t told them about the trust funds I’ve set up for them. Each one of them will inherit about fifty million dollars. “You don’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I do.” He exhales and I can see the weight of it on his shoulders. “I’ll get a job and get the money to you somehow.”
“I don’t need your money. I need you to be stable. It’s not about the money.” I grip the washcloth in my hand, hoping he understands what I’m saying.
“I can be stable without finishing college. Noah only went two years. He’s got a great career.” He looks at me, desperation in his eyes. “I can find something that doesn’t require a college degree. There’s lots of things these days.”
“I know.” I clap my hand on his back. “You’ll find something. I know you’re a good kid.”
“I’m twenty-two. Not really a kid anymore.”
I want to say to him that he should stop acting like one, but I bite my tongue. He doesn’t need to hear that from me right now. I go back to wiping the counter down. “You’ve grown into a good man. That’s why I know you’ll be okay.”
Levi swivels on his stool like Skyler does, proving that even at twenty-two there’s still some kid left in him. “Can I ask you something?”
The way he says it makes me stiffen. “Sure.”
“What’s going on with you and the nanny?” He raises one eyebrow.
“Nothing.” I hit something sticky on the counter, and I take my washcloth to the sink to get more warm water on it.
Levi shoots me a “you’re kidding” look. “Come on. You’ve got it bad for her. Admit it.”
I rinse the rag out, squeeze it, then take it back to the sticky spot. “We’re friends. It’s inappropriate for it to be anything more. She’s my employee.”
“Seriously? All you did was hire her to watch Skyler. And have you seen how she is with her? She’s amazing. I’ve noticed the way she looks at you. Why wouldn’t you want to see if something sparks between you?”
My chest constricts as I think about the castle Kiki built and how Skyler adores her. I lower my voice in case Skyler can hear. “She’s great with Skyler. But that’s the problem. I can’t start anything with her. If it doesn’t work out, Sky would be devastated.”
“Why are you assuming it won’t work out?” He narrows his eyes at me. “Are you still hung up on Courtney?”
I scrub harder at the counter. “No. Absolutely not.”
“Then, what’s the problem?” He looks at me like he can see right through me. He’s grown to be quite perceptive.
“I told you. I’m afraid of hurting Skyler.”
“Sky. Right.” He shakes his head. “Sure you’re not more afraid of you getting hurt?”
I scoff. “I’m not the one that matters here. I only want to do what’s best for my daughter.”
“So, your plan is to just never date? You’ll what? Stay single the rest of your life?” Levi gives me a challenging look.
I raise my chin. “I don’t need a woman. I’ve gotten along fine without one.”
He shakes his head. “You call this getting along fine? You’ve been moody and cranky since Courtney left.”
I shoot him a dirty look.
“Fine. You don’t want to hurt Sky. But why don’t you just admit you like Kiki? I don’t get it. You obviously do.”
I scrub harder at the counter. “I don’t.”
“Then you won’t mind if I ask her out.” He sets his jaw.
“You’re too young for her.”
“Noah’s not. What if he asked her out? I saw the way he looks at her. You’d have no issues with that?”
I swallow, knowing he’s baiting me. The thought of Noah and Kiki together makes me want to punch the wall. But I can’t tell Levi. “No. I’d have no issues with that.”
He lowers his gaze to the counter. “Then why are you scrubbing that same spot over and over?” He smirks at me.
I huff and back away. “There was a sticky spot.”
Skyler comes rushing into the kitchen. “Uncle Levi, can we bake something?”
He looks to me for approval. I check my watch, and it’s not too late yet. I nod at Levi.
“How about we make cranberry muffins? I’ve been trying to perfect my recipe.” Levi scoops Skyler up and plops her down on the counter where Kiki had her the other day.
“Yum!” Skyler claps her hands. “I love muffins.”
“You can stir the batter. Would you like that?” Levi ruffles her hair.
“Yes.”
Levi gets a bowl out of the cupboard. “And you can tell your daddy how much you like playing with Kiki.”
Skyler nods her little head, the curled ends of her hair bouncing. “I do.”
Levi hands Skyler the bowl and leans against the counter. “Your daddy likes playing with Kiki, too, doesn’t he?”
I shoot Levi a warning glance. I don’t want him getting Skyler involved in this conversation.
“Yes!” Skyler shouts. “He defeated the dragon.”
Levi grins at me. “I saw him defeat the dragon. It looked like he wanted to do more than defeat the dragon, didn’t it?”
Heat rises to my face. Levi saw me chasing Kiki? And holding her? I tug on my shirt. It’s too tight around my neck. I wonder how much of that he saw.
Skyler giggles, and I’m sure she has no idea what my brother is implying.
“That’s enough,” I ground out. I toss the washcloth over the side of the sink so it can dry.
Levi grabs the muffin tin and the flour. “Daddy’s a little grumpy. I bet Kiki could make him happy again. What do you think?” He boops Skyler’s nose with his index finger.
“Yes!” She hugs the large glass bowl to her chest.
Levi’s pushing me too far, so I toss him a scowl and leave the room. He may have caught me in a vulnerable moment, but he has no idea what he’s talking about. I do not have a thing for the nanny.