Nanny For My Brother’s Best Friend

1. Fatherhood

CHAPTER 1

FATHERHOOD

Miles

“ A re you telling me that you want me to move your little sister into my house?”

I stare at my best friend as his eyes narrow.

“No. Did you even listen to what I said? You need someone to watch Lola when the season starts, and Delilah is back from college. I’m sure she’d like a job while she’s settling in. You said your family isn’t always available.”

I hand my best friend a cold beer and sigh at the cluttered living room behind him. Choosing to ignore that, I lead him outside, where we sit in some lounge chairs with the trusty monitor ready and waiting.

“I hate the idea of anyone but family watching Lola. This single father shit is tough.”

I lean back and look at the stars in the dark Colorado sky. Since I live on the edge of a small town in the woods, the view is magnificent from here. Why can’t my mind be as clear as these stars?

“Yeah. I know. I’m trying to help, but never talk about my sister like that again.”

There’s a warning in Andrew’s tone, and I scoff at him in return.

“I’ve only met her once or twice and all she did was give you shit.” Sipping my beer, I glance at Andrew.

“That’s been happening since she could talk. Delilah is sarcastic with me, but everyone wanted her to babysit when she was younger. She’s great with kids.”

I look at the sky and play back the last six months in my head. Again. Lola’s mom got into a car accident and died in the town where she lived here in Colorado and I became a single father overnight. We had done the shared custody thing since we broke up when Lola was a baby, and it worked for the last few hockey seasons.

Then, she died, and it was all on me. My family was there for me through the last few months of the season to watch Lola, though we didn’t win the cup. I’ve been using this summer to get to know my daughter as a single father and learn to be both mother and father to Lola.

I need to learn how to balance hockey and my life with Lola, but I don’t want a stranger in my home with my daughter.

“Did I lose you, buddy?”

“What did she major in at college?” I realize I don’t know a lot about Andrew’s sister except that her name is Delilah, and she graduated from college. He’s one of my closest friends on the team, but our lives truly rotate around hockey.

“Physical therapy. She was top of her class, so she’ll get somewhere with it, but I think she wants to take the summer to not think about it. I’m sure she doesn’t want to live with my parents for too long, either.” Andrew chuckles and I glance at him.

“Your parents are great. Maybe Lola and I should move in with them.” They had been there for me through this crisis as much as my own family.

“Mom would take you both in, but especially Lola.”

“Well, they have a family business to run, and Lola’s my responsibility. This is on me.” I love my daughter to pieces and when she was born, things changed for me. I wanted to make myself the best person I could for Lola and I worked with her mom to co-parent successfully. By no means were we best friends, but Lola had parents who loved her and could have a conversation about her needs.

Now it’s just me.

“You’re a great dad, Miles. Never doubt that. I get why you’re worried, but Del is it. She’ll help you out for a while.” I look at Andrew and he smiles at me. “All I have to do is call her and we can get this in motion.”

I think back to his sister from the times we met. She is on the taller side and striking, with big green eyes and a gorgeous smile. With that mouth, Delilah could give the team a run for their money with her sass.

Maybe I remember her better than I thought.

“She’ll hold back with Lola, right? I already have to make you watch your mouth.”

“Del is classier than I am. She’ll be great. I think she reserves the sass for me.” Andrew sips his beer.

“I have a couple of weeks before we hit the ice, and I don’t want to spend that time interviewing people from an agency that I’ll probably hate.” I run a hand through my hair and sip my beer. “My mom and sister would insist on helping me out, but Mom helps her sister with the copy store. Brynn just started college and she’ll need to focus on that. I have to handle this.”

“I have all the answers for you. At least have an interview with Delilah and see how you feel about her. I trust her with my niece completely and I’m the best uncle she has.” Andrew throws his head back with a laugh and it reminds me that most of the team said the same thing when Lola was born.

I must think about the team here, too. Hockey is my career, and I would be nowhere without the guys. They are my brothers and some of them inspire me with their wives and kids and complete lives.

“Maybe one of the wives will watch her for me.” I didn’t think about this before but it’s not a bad idea. “Sean’s wife just has one kid.”

“Tyler is turning one and all over the place. You want to add a three-year-old to the mix? His wife is doing online classes while being a mom and supporting the hockey job.” Andrew knows more than I do, making me frown.

“Oh. She is?”

“Yes, and you know what? My sister is finished with school.”

“I can see you’re not going to let this rest, Andrew.” I check the monitor to see Lola is curled up underneath her blankets. “Talk to Delilah tomorrow and see what she thinks.”

Andrew whoops in celebration and I laugh, trying to tell myself I feel better about this. An interview won’t hurt anything.

“Just remember, she’s my sister, Miles. I know how ladies love you.”

“They did before I had a daughter and then became a single father. I don’t have time to think about women right now, so don’t worry.”

When did life get so complicated?

“I’ll do it for the both of us.” I smile, knowing Andrew is as much of a flirt as he is an outstanding hockey player.

“Great. Sounds good.”

We spend the rest of the night talking shop and planning for the season with our newest players. Andrew leaves in a couple of hours and I clean up the bottles on the deck before heading to bed. Lola loves to wake up before seven most mornings and it’s much later than I normally go to sleep.

Lola wakes me up at six the following morning, ready to eat and destroy the house.

“I love you, but you need to wake up a little slower, Lola.” I hand her a sippy cup with orange juice and sip my coffee, wishing to wake up. I’ll need a nanny for sure to get through the long days and I wonder if Andrew has spoken to Delilah yet.

We’re finishing breakfast when Andrew calls and I make sure Lola is busy with her toys.

“Hey. How’s it going?” I ask, pouring more coffee like it’s a lifeline.

“I talked to my sister at breakfast today about an hour ago. She says she’ll talk to you when you’re ready. Let’s set something up.”

“What’s the best idea? Lunch? Should I have Lola with me and do like a formal interview, or does Delilah come here where Lola is comfortable?” I’m clueless and Andrew covers the phone and says something to someone in the room.

“Mom says it might be best to have her come over there. It will be a place Lola is used to and she might give you more genuine reactions that way. Mom is pouting, just so you know. She wanted you to ask her.”

“Yeah, your dad wouldn’t like me being the reason the company takes a nosedive. No thanks.” I glance at Lola, oblivious as she plays with her dolls. “I’m sure she’ll help when she can.”

“I have no doubts about that,” Andrew agrees with a laugh.

We agree that he’ll come over with Delilah around dinnertime and make it seem casual to my daughter. She loves everyone and has formed attachments over the past few months, which I attribute to Lola losing her mom so young. I’m careful, so if this doesn’t pan out, it would just be some friends over and there won’t be any harm done.

I sit on the couch and watch Lola playing, wondering how the hell this all crashed down so hard. It was a shock to learn that Kim was pregnant after too brief of a relationship, but I did my best to make it work around hockey. Even after we broke up, I supported her and Lola past the point required of me. Lola and I have a great bond since I spent as much time with her as I could when I split time with Kim.

My daughter feels happy and safe, but I can’t do that on my own in a couple of weeks. The idea of someone else living here and spending time with my daughter eats away at me. I feel guilty, but I’m only twenty-nine and not ready to retire from the NHL yet. I have a few good years left in me and plan to save money for Lola’s college in several years and just set her up for a successful life.

Nannies have been around for years, and a lot of kids have them. It won’t scar Lola and if I find the right one, she can continue to grow and learn everything out there. Getting her prepared for school is a must for the person I hire.

We spend the day in and out of the house as I soak up the last of my private moments with Lola that have been so easy to enjoy during the off season. I still work out but it’s not for half the day with practices, so this summer is great. I even manage to do it after she’s sleeping, so it doesn’t cut into my time with my daughter.

Andrew told me he’d bring something over for dinner, more than likely something his mom cooked for us or maybe takeout. I spend the afternoon cleaning up the house, reminding myself to just hire someone to come in after the season starts. It’s a big place with a lot of square footage and almost impossible for me to keep up with. I have heard of nannies taking on some of the house duties when they live with the family, but Lola has a lot of energy.

How much extra time would there be and how comfortable would I be having someone see that much about my small family? It is hard enough to imagine someone living here with her when I’m not home.

I change into jeans and a blue button-up shirt, aiming for business casual. I never wear shoes in the house or on the deck when it’s nice out, so if I hire her, she’ll be free to be casual. I dress Lola in a cotton dress and some sandals, brushing her soft hair out before setting her free in the living room.

“Here goes nothing.” I glance around the spacious living room and the corner that is so far still tidy, but Lola heads over to dig through her toys. I hear the doorbell and Lola looks at me with wide eyes.

I open it with a smile, revealing my best friend and a stunning woman on the front porch, completely taking away from my picturesque front yard.

Andrew’s sister is more gorgeous than I remember, but I have to reel it in to get through this interview.