Chapter 5
CHAPTER
FIVE
CLAY
“Wilder!” Miss Rosa smiled at me the moment I stepped inside Sunbreak Preschool with Monroe, and Maverick, by my side. She glances at Monroe and raises a brow. “I see you brought a friend. Who do we have here?”
“I’m Monroe. Monroe Hayes,” she offers Rosa her hand without hesitation.
"It's lovely to meet you." Rosa extended her hand before leaning closer to me with a teasing smile. "You finally found someone brave enough to put up with the two of you?"
I groan. “Rosa. Monroe is here to meet Kaleigh. Potential nanny.”
Miss Rosa's smile only grew. "Mmm-hmm. I see."
“Daddy!” Kaleigh squealed and ran full force in my direction. The minute she was within arms reach, I leaned down and scooped her up in my arms.
She snuggled into my neck and smothered me in kisses like she always does before even noticing Monroe.
“Who are you?” she asked, her tiny face scrunched up in confusion.
So much for social niceties.
Monroe doesn’t even flinch. In fact, she just laughs and kneels down to Kaleigh’s height as I set her feet back on the floor.
“My name is Monroe. Your Daddy was hoping that you and I could be friends.”
Kaleigh studied her, really studied her.
I knew that look on her face. It was the same one she gave vegetables, new shoes, and anything else she wasn't immediately convinced she needed. At least she wasn’t hiding behind my legs this time.
Maverick walked over and shoved his nose against Monroe’s hand.
As much as I wanted to call him a traitor, I couldn't ignore what I was seeing.
Maverick didn't trust easily. He never had.
That dog had followed me into places most people wouldn't survive, and I trusted his instincts with my life.
If he thought Monroe Hayes was safe...then maybe I needed to pay attention.
“Aww. Mavy likes you,” Kaleigh announced.
Monroe glanced at the dog, then back at her. “Does he?”
Kaleigh nodded her little head. “He doesn’t like lots of people.”
“Hm. How about that?” Monroe scratched Mav behind the ears.
“Do you like dinosaurs Monwoah?”
I hid a smile. She couldn't say Monroe correctly, but she was already asking questions.
“I love all sorts of reptiles,” Monroe replied with a quick glance and a smile in my direction. “I have to say though, the Psittacosaurus is probably my favorite!”
St-uh-kuh-sawr, what? What the hell was that?
“That one looks like a lizard!” Kaleigh said, excitedly. Apparently the four-year-old knew what Monroe was talking about.
I looked at Monroe. "How do you know that?"
"I like learning random things."
Somehow, that didn't surprise me.
Kaleigh stood on her tiptoes and leaned in to whisper in Monroe’s ear. “But Daddy says we can’t have a lizard and I have to leave them outside. Mavy eats dem!”
“I heard that,” I chuckled.
“It’s true.” Kaleigh just shrugged. “Daddy, can Monwoah come to our house now?”
Well. Shit.
I couldn't remember the last time someone new had gotten past Kaleigh's walls that quickly.
What was worse, was that the hopeful expression on Monroe’s face practically mimicked Kaleigh’s.
I didn’t think it made any difference which choice I made, I was fucked either way.
“Hm. I don’t know. Do you think Mornoe should be your new sitter when Daddy has to work?”
Kaleigh wiggled her pointer finger for me to come closer. “I really like her Daddy. She knows dinosaurs!”
And I guess that made her more qualified than anyone else for the job.
“Let Daddy and Monroe take care of a few things here and then I guess we can have her over for a playdate,” I said, trying to remain as nonchalant as possible.
“YESSSSS!” Kaleigh squealed. “I’m going to go tell my friends!”
Before either of us could stop her, she spun on her heel and disappeared back into the classroom, proudly announcing to anyone who would listen that she had a playdate.
Miss Rosa chuckled, "I'd say you've been approved."
Monroe laughed softly while I rubbed the back of my neck.
"Looks that way."
The next fifteen minutes disappeared in a blur of signatures, emergency contact forms, and Miss Rosa walking Monroe through the pickup procedures. By the time we'd finished, Kaleigh was waiting patiently beside Maverick with her tiny backpack hanging from one shoulder.
The second Monroe stepped out of the office, Kaleigh slipped her little hand into hers like it was the most natural thing in the world.
It looked like I had two traitors on my hands today.
Kaleigh chatted Monroe’s ear off the entire drive back to SBS so she could pick up her car. And Monroe listened, hanging on to every word my little girl had to say.
I couldn’t fight the smile on my face. I felt a hell of a lot lighter knowing that they were getting along so well already.
“So, I’ll just follow you back,” Monroe stated, reaching for the door handle.
“Wait! Monwoah! Don’t leave. You promised!”
I looked over my shoulder to find my daughter’s bottom lip trembling and tears filling her eyes.
Monroe turned in her seat and reached back so Kaleigh could hold her hand for a minute. “You’re right. I promised I was coming to your house. And I am. I just need to get my car so I have all of my things. I’ll be right behind Daddy’s truck the whole time.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
“Ooootay,” Kaleigh sighed.
My chest tightened. This woman must be a fucking miracle worker. Before my brain had a chance to catch up, Monroe had already opened her door and hopped out. I should have gotten out and opened the door for her. Instead, I felt like a jackass.
“I’ll see you in just a little bit, okay?”
Kaleigh nodded.
Monroe crossed the parking lot and was just about to get in her car when Kaleigh rolled the back window down and shouted at her. “Don’t forget, Monwoah. You promised! 644 Breezy Drive!”
“Kaleigh!” I try to keep a straight face as a few of the employees standing outside look our way.
Rafe is nearly doubled over in laughter at my expense no doubt.
“We don’t yell our address out in public like that.”
“I wasn’t yelling. I was talking to Monwoe,” she said back, very matter of factly.
Sloane walked out of the building, brow raised as he looked at me then Monroe and back to me. “Well, I think that worked out better than I expected.”
“Not a single word,” I called out, before discreetly flipping him off.