CHAPTER EIGHT #2
“All right, I have a solution.” Nash’s deep voice made butterflies swarm in my belly. “My housekeeper Marta has a daughter, Carmena. She’s twenty, studies education at NYU, and she has some babysitting clients. She’s available for tonight. What do you think?”
Relief flooded through me so suddenly I nearly started crying. “And you know Carmena personally?”
“I’ve known her for years. Great girl.”
I swallowed hard, my overprotective-single-mom side kicking in. “That makes me feel better. I usually like to vet my babysitters and get to know them over time. It helps Mia too. I don’t think I really have that option tonight though.”
“Why don’t we install some cameras? That way you can check in on Mia whenever you want.”
The suggestion landed softly inside me, immediately wiping away all my anxieties. I hadn’t even considered something like that. Because I was so used to the impossible logistics and cost.
Now I had money, and someone to help me do these things…and think of them in the first place.
Tears returned, but for a different reason this time.
“Yeah. That sounds like a great idea.”
“I’ll have someone come over to set something up for you. And you’ll be getting another delivery within the hour. Some extras I think you’ll love.”
“It’s a busy day at my apartment,” I cracked. “I’ve never had so much activity at my front door, not even that one time I got food delivered for both lunch and dinner.”
“It’s about to get a lot busier. Let me know when you get the next delivery. I’ll plan to pick you up around six. Sound good?”
I glanced at the clock. I had six hours to turn myself from a mediocre mom into a stunning companion worthy of being on Nash’s arm. The pressure was mounting, but the worst part was I didn’t know what awaited me on the other side.
“Who all is going to be at the event tonight?” I blurted. “I mean, should I be expecting celebrities? Commissioners?”
“You’ll probably recognize some people from your previous work in the city planning department,” Nash said. “Beyond that, it’s going to be a mix of realtors, venture capitalists, investors, and other developers like me.”
“But is there really anyone else like Nash Nightingale?” I asked coyly. It was only once the words had left my lips that I realized how flirtatious I’d sounded.
“Some of the attendees tonight hope not.” I could hear the smile in his voice.
“Will any of tonight end up on Page Six?”
“Mmm, doubtful. Though you can never say never. There will be cameras, so be ready for that.”
“I guess we’re hard launching this tonight, Nash.” Excitement fluttered through my chest.
“We are. I only ever bring my brother to these sorts of things, so the few people who don’t want to set me on fire and chase me out of the building will certainly have questions.”
With every word he uttered, I had ten follow-up questions.
I could have stayed on the phone with him for hours, prodding him for more details about his life, his career, his everything.
But I had things to do. Nails to manicure.
Hairstyles to perfect. I was Nash Nightingale’s convenient girlfriend now, which meant I needed to get moving.
Time flies when you’re paying for everything with your boyfriend’s black card.
I repeated that smugly to myself no fewer than ten times as I moved through the rest of my day.
Blowout, updo, full makeup, setting spray, manicure, pedicure, daycare pickup, and then back home to receive the never-ending deliveries: interior camera installation, followed by the arrival of a sapphire earring and necklace set that stole my breath.
I hadn’t yet changed into my stunning dress du jour when Carmena arrived. She was exactly what Nash had promised—a college-aged girl with big brown eyes and a genuine smile. She shook my hand and then got down on Mia's level to introduce herself.
"Hi there! I'm Carmena, a new friend. Your mommy told me you like to color. Do you want to show me your pictures?"
Mia loved any chance to show off her drawings, so she was smitten with Carmena from the start. Within minutes, they were sprawled on the floor together, coloring in Mia's princess book while I hovered nearby, testing out the camera system Nash had installed.
“I hope this doesn’t freak you out,” I said nervously as I pulled up the live feed on my phone. “I have one for out here and in her bedroom.”
“Plenty of the parents I babysit for have cameras,” she said nonchalantly. “It’s no big deal. Just more peace of mind for you, right?”
Carmena was young, but she understood the demographic she served.
Nash could not have recommended a better emergency replacement to a mom with nerves as frayed as mine.
I tested the waters by leaving the two of them in the living room to play while I returned to my bedroom to get ready.
I propped my phone on top of my dresser, watching the live feed as I got ready, still not used to the idea of a camera inside my own home.
Once I’d squeezed myself into my shapewear and then back into the midnight blue dress, I was stunned by the woman looking at me in the mirror. With my hair and makeup done, the dress looked next level.
Holy shit. Maybe you really will pull this off.
Nash texted just as I was putting the finishing touches on my lipstick.
NASH: Outside.
CLARA: OK! Grabbing my things, be out ASAP.
Excitement gripped me, almost paralyzing me. The time was now. I grabbed my handbag, double checked it for all the necessities of the night, then hurried into the living room. Just as I was explaining to Mia that mommy had to leave, a knock sounded on my door.
I froze. It had to be Nash. Fuck.
Mia looked toward the door. “Who’s there, Mommy?”
“Uhh…probably just the…driver.” I stood, ushering Mia toward her bedroom. “Honey, did you show Carmena your dragons and princesses yet? I think she’s going to want to see that.”
Mia gasped, grinning up at Carmena. “Come see!”
The two of them disappeared into her bedroom. I opened the front door, and my breath caught in my throat.
Nash stood in the hallway wearing a perfectly tailored black tuxedo that made his blue eyes even more striking. He looked like he'd stepped off the cover of GQ—broad shouldered, confident, entirely fucking edible. When his gaze swept over me, something heated flickered in his expression.
"You didn't have to come up," I said, suddenly self-conscious. "I was trying to hurry—"
"Why wouldn't I want to come pick up my girlfriend?" he asked.
His words burned through me. Right. The facade. Even here, even now, we were performing.
“I wanted to avoid you running into Mia,” I explained softly, checking over my shoulder. “I didn’t prepare her to meet you. It’s just…easier this way.”
He nodded, something unreadable in his gaze. “I didn’t even think about that. I’ll go wait in the car.”
I pressed my hand to his chest, sending him a meaningful look. “Thank you.”
His gaze flicked down to where I touched him. Energy surged between us. Nash winked and stepped away just as Mia and Carmena returned from her bedroom.
“All right honey. It’s time for Mommy to leave.” I wrapped my baby girl into a big hug, answered Carmena’s last questions, and then hurried outside to find my Prince Convenient.
Nash’s intense gaze was on me as soon as I stepped out of the building. He leaned against the side of the SUV, a smile curling at his lips as I approached.
“There you are.”
“Sorry. Everything’s all squared away now.
” A nervous laugh fluttered out of me. His posture was so effortlessly sexy that I could barely look at him.
He leaned with the kind of casual dominance that went viral on social media.
He opened the door and as I passed him, he said in a low voice, “You look incredible.”
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I replied, my cheeks flaming from the compliment. I scooted into the backseat, treading carefully with my new heels and all the expensive accessories I wasn’t used to wearing. “Hi, Marco.”
Nash joined me in the backseat, his gaze never wavering from me, which sent the butterflies in my belly into a tizzy.
We were just in the backseat—he didn’t have to act so obsessed already.
His attention pushed me off-balance, threatened to pull me into that space where maybe I’d forget this was just for show.
I hurried to fill the quiet with conversation.
“Who are you most excited to see tonight?” I asked, batting my eyelashes.
“You know the answer. You.”
I felt my cheeks heat up again. That was definitely a lie, probably for the driver’s sake. “Okay. Besides me.”
“No one. I don’t like going to this event. I’d even had Marina shred the invitation when I got it.”
“So why are we going?”
“Because Archer and I need to make a good impression.” He sent me a calculating smile. “We had a not-so-great run-in with Sebastian Cross the other day—”
“Sebastian Cross?” I blurted.
Nash’s cool and collected expression fell slightly. “Yes. I take it you know him?”
“I’ve never met him,” I hurried to clarify.
“I’ve only heard of him, because his name is on practically everything.
” I bit my tongue before adding more, because I didn’t need to.
The truth was, Cross Developments in New York City was as ubiquitous as yellow taxis.
Everybody knew about Cross, even if they’d never seen Sebastian or his family.
Nash looked annoyed. “Right. Well, Cross is probably one of those people who’d be happy to see me set myself on fire and jump out the tenth story window, so don’t expect me to be kissing his ass like the rest of the city does.
I disliked him before I met him, but now that I’ve met him, I can truthfully say that I detest him. ”
“Sounds like a wonderful colleague,” I joked.
“Unfortunately, he’s the reason we’re here tonight. He thinks my brother and I are inconsequential players. I’m here to remind him he’s wrong.”