Chapter 4
CHAPTER
FOUR
MONROE
“So. It’s settled then. We can ride together to the preschool or you can follow me over, whatever works for you.” Clay said as he stood and tapped his knuckles on the table.
Less than two hours ago, I walked into Sunbreak Security to formally interview for an admin coordinator position.
Sloane made it clear that I had a job either way but suggested the nanny position for one of his men might interest me more given my background and credentials.
I hadn’t even considered looking for jobs in childcare even though that was where my true passion was.
Until Kael and his bullshit got in my way.
Now, there was an ex-Marine asking me to come with him to his daughter’s preschool.
“Wait, you want me to come with you? Like…right now?”
“Kaleigh’s only in preschool for three hours. By the time we get there and you fill out the appropriate paperwork to be able to pick her up and be added to her emergency contact list, it’ll be time for her to come home. You can follow me to my place and get settled.”
“Settled? At…your place? I didn’t realize this was a live-in position.”
For the first time since Clay walked into the room the man looked genuinely confused.
That made two of us.
I glanced toward the conference room door, half expecting Sloane to stroll back in and tell me this was all one big misunderstanding. He didn’t.
“My schedule here isn’t nine to five. When that phone rings or that 808 text comes in, I won’t always have a lot of time to respond. There are going to be nights when I get called out with ten minutes' notice.”
I nodded. I knew that much.
"If you're already in the house, I don't have to wake Kaleigh up, throw her in the truck, and scramble to find childcare."
“So, this has nothing to do with a housing allowance or convenience.”
Clay raised a brow. “It is.”
I shook my head. “No. It’s about Kaleigh and what’s best for her.”
My pulse stumbled.
Rationally, I knew Sloane wouldn't suggest something unsafe. Just like I knew Sloane had run a background check on Clay, too. But, emotionally, I learned the hard way that the most dangerous men rarely looked dangerous.
“There’s a guest room right across from Kaleigh’s bedroom. You’ll have full access to the rest of the house, except for my office, of course.”
I nodded. “Right. Of course.”
The conference room door swung open and Sloane walked in. “Well. Looks like you both figured everything out.”
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Clay shot him a glare.
Sloane just laughed.
“You’re covering the first six months of her salary. Consider it my sign-on bonus.”
“If it means your ass will be here bright and early Monday morning, it’s worth it.” Sloane clapped Clay on the back.
“Would it be alright if I met Kaleigh first? And maybe checked out the house?” I spoke up, my mind still getting the best of me.
Clay immediately nodded. “Of course.”
“And if it doesn’t feel right, or Kaleigh hates me?”
“She’s not going to hate you,” Sloane chimed in.
“If it doesn’t feel right…” Clay shoved Sloane. “We’ll tell this guy, and you’ll take over the original position you applied for. Right, Sloane?”
He nodded. “Yes. Right. I can hold the position open for you for a couple of weeks, let you get your footing under you at Clay’s and make sure it’s the right fit.”
I was not going to cry.
Nope. Not going to do it.
Instead I bit the inside of my cheek and nodded. “Then let’s go meet this little angel. Shall we?”
“You taking your car or want to ride with me this time?” Clay asked when we got outside to the parking lot.
I looked at Maverick who stood between us. “That depends, can he sit up front with us?”
“He rides in the back seat,” he told me matter of factly.
But when he opened the passenger side door for me, Maverick jumped right in and sat in the middle like he belonged there.
“Maverick,” Clay warned.
I laughed when the dog didn’t budge.
“Guess he’s riding up front today,” he muttered.
Clay helped me climb up into his truck and I tried to ignore how strong, and safe, the touch of his hand felt in mine.
While I put my seatbelt on, Clay rounded the truck and climbed in the driver’s seat. The minute I was buckled, Maverick stretched out and laid his head on my lap.
"I've trusted that dog with my life." Clay started the truck. "Apparently I rank second now."
He watched Maverick for another second before putting the truck in gear. "I've never seen him take to someone that fast."
I scratched behind Maverick's ears. "I think he just feels sorry for me."
Clay snorted. "No." His eyes met mine for the briefest second before he pulled out of the parking spot. "I think he already decided you belong with us."
My chest tightened.
I came to Sunbreak Harbor to disappear. To build something new from the wreckage I'd left behind. I hadn't expected a stranger to make it sound so...possible.
I didn't know Clay Wilder.
He didn't know me.
And yet—for the first time in a very long time—I felt like I wasn't walking into another mistake.
Clay cleared his throat. “So…”
I looked over at him. Hands steady on the wheel at ten and two. Attention on the road and their surroundings, probably years of military training shining through, assessing for any threats.
“Got any questions?”
“Only a million,” I replied, honestly.
He chuckled. “I figured.”
“I’ll start with the easiest one. What’s Kaleigh like?”
The corner of his mouth softened, and I caught a glimpse of the closest thing to a smile I’d see on his face so far.
“She’s a busy girl. Constantly on the move from the time her feet hit the floor. She’s smart as a whip. Has an opinion about everything.”
“I think I like her already,” I smiled.
Sure, I was a little worried about how my energy would fare against a rambunctious toddler and pregnancy but it was a challenge I was willing to face head-on.
"According to Kaleigh, dinosaurs are reptiles," Clay said. "And technically, she's right. They belonged to a group of reptiles called archosaurs, which also includes crocodiles and birds. Since birds evolved from dinosaurs, they're technically dinosaurs...and reptiles.”
“Random, but okay.”
He quickly glanced over at me. “It’s important you know that. Because arguing with her is futile.”
“Noted.” I laughed, storing the fact about dinosaurs for later. “What’s her favorite thing to do?”
“She loves to go to the beach and stick her toes in the water. Tea parties, the girl loves tea parties. If she hands you a cup with any sort of liquid in it…do not drink it. Even if she insists ‘it’s just tea’.” He scrunched up his face and shuddered.
“Learned that one the hard way, did ya?”
“God, yes. Turns out her tea was water from Maverick’s water bowl.”
At the sound of his name, the dog looked over his shoulder at Clay, then put his head back in my lap.
"She loves making me wear fairy wings."
I laugh.
"You've worn fairy wings?"
"I've worn fairy wings."
Gosh, I would pay to see that. "Voluntarily?"
"No. I was outnumbered."
My laughter continues, “Outnumbered?”
“She already put them on Maverick, too. I couldn’t let him suffer alone. Battle buddies and all that.”
“I bet he was so glad you had his back,” I teased.
Clay sombered for a moment. “He’s always had mine.”
Oh. My heart.
I can only imagine the things these two have been through together.
“Can I…uh…ask you about her mom?” The question was out of my mouth before my filter had a chance to stop it.
Not the change in conversation I was going for. Shit.
Clay pulled into the parking lot in front of Kaleigh’s preschool and parked before he turned and looked at me. “She left after Kaleigh was born. Not something I really want to get into. I’m not proud of how it all happened, but that mistake gave me Kaleigh, and I could never regret that.”
My hand drifted to my stomach on instinct. A lump formed in my throat.
I wasn't a mother yet. But every decision I made, every mile I'd driven to get here, had been for the tiny life growing inside me. Whatever happened next, I'd spend the rest of my life making sure my baby never questioned whether they were wanted.
“She doesn’t remember her or ask about her.” Clay cleared his throat and looked out the windshield for a long moment before speaking again. “One last thing… Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” his voice changes from soft and doting father to hardened Marine. “If you tell her you’re coming back…”
I swallowed hard. “Come back.”
His eyes met mine. He gave me a single, sharp nod. “Yeah.”