Chapter 21
CHAPTER
TWENTY-ONE
DAMON
Iwould never tell Adeline now because there’s no point and it would just upset her, but Astrid did make her interest in me obvious more than once after she found out from Adeline that we aren’t a couple.
And while I was trying to bathe Clover, she was pushing her wet tits on my arm.
If Adeline hadn’t broached the subject, I would have that night anyway. I want someone here only for Clover.
Because of the short notice, we had to use Adeline’s mom for a week again. Clover went back and forth every day, with Adeline’s mom picking her up at the middle school when Adeline got there.
We had another away game and Adeline slept in my bed again, and now my sheets all smell like her.
She must have moved to my side last night because her scent is on my pillow.
I told her she could sleep in my bed every night, but she got earplugs instead.
What was I going to say? I want you to sleep with me.
I like having your body next to mine. It’s comforting except for the part where it’s a major cock tease.
Fuck, my dick is eventually going to screw up this situation for me, I just know it.
I’m not a relationship kind of guy. What happened with Greta made me swear off them, and that will never change. I’ll never put myself in that position again, no matter how much I want the woman.
When morning arrives, I’ve barely had any sleep. I have to go in and watch film, so I climb out of my warm bed to shower.
Hearing Adeline and Clover already up, I peek my head out of my bedroom first. “New nanny should be here within a half hour.”
“I still don’t know how I feel about you picking someone on your own,” Adeline says.
Adeline was in the classroom when the interviews had to be done by phone, so I took the lead on this one.
“We didn’t have a lot of choices. I picked the best candidate of all the ones I talked to.”
“Oh, I see how this goes.” She must’ve had a rough night too, but she’ll be happy when she sees who I hired because there will be no need to worry about who the nanny is here for.
I shower, dress to go in, and pack my bag, placing it by the door before going to the kitchen to fix myself breakfast.
“How’s my girl this morning?” I bend down and kiss Clover, who is sitting on Adeline’s lap, and now my head is dangerously close to Adeline’s breast. It’s covered, but damn, it’s pillowy soft, and I just wish I could burrow my face in there.
“She’s not taking her bottle well, and I swear she still seems hungry after she finishes. I think this weekend we might have to start introducing baby food. Remember Dr. Gregory brought it up last time?”
Vaguely. I’m usually really attentive at our pediatrician visits, but Dr. Gregory was the fill-in for our actual pediatrician, Dr. Bennett.
And Dr. Gregory seemed more into Adeline than Clover.
He got a little too excited when Adeline told him we’re coparents, not a couple.
I don’t see why we have to tell people that anyway.
It’s none of their business. I didn’t tell the new nanny, and I don’t plan to.
The doorbell rings, so I go open the door.
“Glad you were able to make it,” I say, shaking the nanny’s hand.
“Same. I’m Haze.”
“Good to know. Let me introduce you to Adeline and Clover.” I walk him into the family room.
Adeline stares at us, still trying to get Clover interested in her bottle.
“Adeline, this is Haze, our new nanny.” I clap him on the back, and he tilts forward slightly. Note to self: do not do that again.
“Oh, hi.” She stands and puts out her hand.
They shake hands.
“You’re lucky I just finished another job.
All the kids are in school now. I was with them for eight years.
” The guy looks as though he might cry over it.
“May I?” Haze asks, nodding toward Clover.
Adeline prepares to hand her over, but Haze stops her.
“I almost forgot. Let me get all the city germs off of me.”
He walks into the kitchen area and washes his hands. Adeline smiles as if she likes that he’s so good with that stuff. Whatever. He washed his hands, not solved world famine.
When he returns, he sits on the leather sofa and cradles Clover in his arms, teasing her lips with the bottle. Adeline and I stare at him from behind the couch.
“Sometimes I play a game,” Haze tells us.
“And Adeline, a little history about me since we’re just talking for the first time…
I worked with a family on the Northshore for eight years.
Saw three of their kids, from newborn to the last one, who just went to kindergarten this year, which is why I’m available for you guys.
I was told that your identities would be kept confidential until I arrived, so I assume one of you must be in the public eye. Which one of you is it?”
Adeline makes a sound, then purses her lips to hold in her laugh.
“I already signed the NDA you sent to the office, plus I would never,” Haze says.
“It’s Damon!” Adeline says. “He’s the wide receiver for the Chicago Grizzlies.” She hits me in the arm and points at Haze because the fucker got Clover to take the bottle.
I have to remind myself that it’s his job. I can’t be jealous. It’s his first damn day.
“I don’t follow football. Sorry, Damon, no offense.” He cringes a little.
I shrug. “None taken.”
“And what about you, Adeline?” Haze looks up at her expectantly.
She rounds the back of the couch and sits on the chair, crossing her legs. She’s wearing a dress today, and her bare legs look silky smooth. “I teach middle school.”
“Oh, a much more honorable career.”
I roll my eyes and go to the kitchen to make my breakfast while Adeline thinks it’s comedy hour, barely holding in her laughter.
“No offense, Damon, it just seems like football is all ‘I hit you, you hit me,’” Haze calls.
That actually does piss me off. I pop my head out of the kitchen. “Maybe you can come down to the stadium sometime. I’ll have Cooper Rice throw you a ball and can dodge Miles Cavanaugh to try to catch it.”
Adeline loses the battle with her laughter and fails to recover many times over. It’s actually cute, but I’m not telling her that.
“I assume those are other players?” Haze whispers to Adeline.
She nods. “They live in the building too.”
“Adeline,” I snipe.
“He signed an NDA,” she says to me over her shoulder.
“Okay, so I’m usually home around five thirty.
You never know with Damon. Sometimes he beats me home.
Everything in her room is pretty much where you’d expect.
She’s on formula, and I wrote down the amounts over by the bottles.
I left both of our cell phone numbers, as well as my mom’s, in case you can’t get a hold of either of us.
The stroller and carrier are by the front door. There’s a park not too far away.”
“Maybe just stay in today,” I say.
“Actually, there’s a group I host that I would love to take Clover to for a little interaction,” Haze says.
I narrow my eyes. “She’s five months old. What interaction does she need?”
“Oh, it’s for the adults.”
Clover fidgets in his arms.
“Yeah, no.” I hope he can tell I’m not joking.
“Maybe if you give us more specifics, Damon and I can discuss it later, Haze.” She looks at him sweetly. “I gotta go before I’m late.” She stands and goes over to give Clover a kiss goodbye.
Haze raises one hand. “She’s feeding so well. She knows you love her.”
“What?” I step out of the kitchen.
Adeline straightens and walks over to me, putting her hand on my chest. “It’s fine. Honestly. Have a great day.” She rises on her toes and is about to kiss me on the lips, but she freezes, and we lock eyes. “Shoot, sorry. Not sure where that came from.”
She grabs her bags and walks out the door with another goodbye, leaving me standing there wondering what that was and why it didn’t feel weird to me.
I should go too. I finish eating my breakfast in the kitchen, listening to Haze talk to Clover about all the adventures they’re going to have and how he’s so happy to be her host. What the hell?
When there’s a knock on the door, I assume it’s Miles since we’re driving in together. I open the door and grab my bag. Of course, Miles can’t stay outside. He has to come on in.
“Shit, this place is crazy different. Where are all the G-strings and bowls of condoms?” Miles stops when he sees Haze with Clover on the couch. His head whips in my direction, clearly questioning who he is.
“Miles Cavanaugh, meet Haze, our new nanny. And no worries, he doesn’t know who you are.”
Miles offers his hand, but Haze scrunches up his nose, shaking his head. “Germs and babies don’t mix.”
Miles nods. “Good to meet you. Let’s go.” He heads out the door.
I say goodbye to Haze, then my baby girl. I don’t care if he doesn’t like it.
Once we’re walking down the stairs, we knock on Cooper’s door. He screams that he’ll be right out.
“A male nanny, huh? I’m surprised,” Miles says.
“The other one hit on me, but we’re not telling Adeline that. Plus, she wasn’t respecting Adeline’s place in our family, so we got rid of her. This is good, because Haze’s attention will be on Clover only.”
“Why do you say that?” Miles’s head tilts to the side.
Cooper’s door opens, and he files out with Ellery right behind him. We both raise our eyebrows because she obviously spent the night.
“I fell asleep watching a movie. I’m late. See you guys.” She kisses Cooper’s cheek, runs down the stairs, and hops on her bike, heading in the direction of the hospital.
“What’s up?” Cooper says, seeming his usual self. I swear I don’t get those two.
Miles thumbs in my direction. “Siska got a male nanny.”
“A manny?” Cooper laughs.
I shrug and start down the stairs. “I guess.”
“But he thinks this solves the problem of their caretaker being attracted to one of them and not putting Clover’s needs first. Do you agree, Cooper?”
Miles really pisses me off sometimes, and he’s succeeding right now.
“Is Haze gay?” Cooper asks.
Miles’s eyes widen.
“I don’t know. That has nothing to do with whether he’s qualified or not,” I say.
“Agreed. But you never thought that maybe a male nanny might be into Adeline? You do realize the woman who had your baby is hot, right?” Cooper asks. “There’re a lot of guys who would give their right nut to be with her.”
Does he think I’m blind? I see the looks she gets when we’re out together. Though the majority of them are from me lately because I’m constantly undressing her in my mind.
“And if Haze was gay, he could still be into you,” Miles says.
“I hate you both.” I walk out of the building and cross the street as their laughter rings out behind me.
“Well, you better be prepared for her to get some male attention because Bryce is taking her out Saturday night. And no worries about that ticket to our games. I did some digging and got the seat next to Bryce and Ellery for Adeline for the rest of the season.”
“Shit, Cavanaugh, I was going to do it, but I wanted to make sure she even wanted to go.”
“Sorry, Bryce wanted her there, and it’s my job to give my fiancée what she wants.”
“Remind me not to get whipped like you two,” Cooper says, nodding at someone we pass who gives us a double-take, obviously recognizing us.
I press the button on my fob to unlock my Mercedes. “You’re already whipped, you’re just not getting the pussy.”
Miles laughs. “Neither are you, Siska. I’m the only one getting laid on the regular. No wonder you’re both grumpy pricks.”
“Fuck you,” Cooper and I say at the same time.
I start my SUV and pull out of the parking garage. Hell, I was thinking that Adeline would feel more comfortable with a male nanny, but I can’t have him flirting with her. There’s no fucking way I’ll be able to tolerate that, which means at this point, who will we find to be our nanny?
The line between us is blurring more and more every fucking day.