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CJ reached over and pushed a curl off my forehead. “So what happened?”
“I gave him the boot. He didn't want any part in parenting my child. He expected me to get a full-time nanny and continue living our lives the way we had up until that point.”
“So that’s why you’d been killing yourself to do it on your own and were so resistant to hiring help.”
I nodded. “My mom, Margie, and George had all been encouraging me to take her to childcare or bring someone in for a while each day, but all I could hear was my ex’s voice in my head telling me that I was wasting my life. Telling me that I couldn't do it.”
He clucked his tongue. “Well, he missed out.” He was silent for a moment. “Kevin, do you want to know the one strike you had against you when I met you that first night?”
“The ketchup?” I asked, grimacing.
“No, I actually thought the stain on your shirt made you adorable. And the sex was out of this world.” I scoffed, but he trailed a finger down my cheek, drawing my gaze back to lock with his. “The only thing that could have made you better in my eyes was if I’d known you were a single father.”
I searched his face, and all I saw was the truth. “Really?”
“Yes. I'm sorry that you had such a bad experience in the past, but believe me, there are those of us who want exactly what you have to offer. You’re kind, hard-working, loving, and the way you adore your daughter and put her first is swoon-worthy. You’re the whole package.”
I felt my face heating under his sincerity, and I wanted to lean forward and capture his lips. Did I think he’d ever treat me like Alan had? No, never. But nothing could change the ten-year age-gap between us or that I was his employer. He deserved more than the choices I’d already made. He deserved…everything.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Kevin
My nerves were on hyperdrive as I waited for someone, anyone, to get home. George and Margie had come over early this morning and swiped up Lexi to take her out for a birthday breakfast and then to Build-A-Bear so she could make her birthday present stuffed animal herself.
The second they left, CJ had gone into overdrive, pulling out all sorts of Cars-themed decorations for her third birthday. The dining room table had been transformed with a red tablecloth, black and white placemats, and plates that had Lightning McQueen on them. If that wasn't enough, there was an assortment of other fun cookies, brownies, and candy that resembled character faces, stop signs, and little mini racetracks. He'd also emerged from his room upstairs with a helium tank and proceeded to fill up red, black, and yellow balloons. He tied them in clumps and spaced them around the playroom, the chairs at the table, the front door, and the mailbox.
In the refrigerator were mini sandwiches, a vegetable platter, deviled eggs, and a bowl of assorted fruit. Of course, in the freezer were Lexi's favorite chicken nuggets and French fries, which he planned to throw in the air fryer as soon as Lexi returned. When I asked him about the cake, he'd only winked at me and said I’d see. Then he’d run out of the house like his ass was on fire. So the question was, where had he gone and when would he or Lexi be home? It was only George’s family and us, so it seemed like he’d gone to a lot of trouble, but Lexi would love it. As I looked around, I had to admit, I did, too.
I paced across the kitchen again, wondering where everyone was.
The sound of the front door crashing open sent me toward the front door. “We beat Lexi home, right?” CJ called. His long legs usually ate up the length of the hall quickly, but by the time I reached the opening, he was leaning out, holding a suitcase, and helping someone step up.
Realizing who it was hit me at the same time, she said, “Kevin.”
“Mom, what are you doing here?”
“Don't sound so happy to see me,” she said, coming toward me with open arms.
Something settled in my chest at the sight of my mother. I never realized how much I’d missed her since she moved to live the majority of her year down south. Holding her close, I inhaled the flowery perfume she'd always worn. “It's so nice to see you, Mom,” I whispered.
She gave me an extra hard squeeze and stepped back. “Yeah, about that…” She turned toward CJ.
He winked at her. “I've got this one. Your mother's moving home.” Then he disappeared with a suitcase in each hand up the stairs.
Shocked, I stared at her. “What? But you love Florida.”
She shook her head. “No, I don't. I loved the house we found and didn't mind living there to keep your father alive, but now…” She trailed off again.
CJ came running back down the stairs and wrapped a large hand around my bicep while wrapping his other arm around my mom's shoulders. “And now she hates that she lives somewhere completely different than her only grandchild.” He squeezed my bicep, kissed my mom on the temple, and then smacked his hands together. “You two catch up, but I have to finish putting everything out for the party.”
Mom scrunched her nose. “We can talk about it later, dear. I want to help CJ.” She rubbed her hands together briskly, following my sneaky manny into the kitchen. “Oh, my heaven, CJ. This looks fantastic. I can't wait for Lexi to get here. I miss that girl so much.”
Feeling dazed and confused, I shook my head, trying to figure out how my mom was here without me knowing she was coming. Where would she sleep? I’d put CJ in her room. No, he had to have taken her stuff up there, so where would he sleep? About that time, the doorbell rang. “I've got it,” I yelled, figuring it was either George and Margie bringing Lexi back or their children coming for the party.
I opened the door and stopped. Standing on the porch in front of me were two people I vaguely recognized, but I couldn't remember from where. The man gave a salute-type wave. “Hi, Kevin. I'm Eddie, and this is Joan. I know we didn't officially meet that night at Rafters, but it's good to see you again.”
Shaking off my shock, I asked, “Did you need CJ for something?”
