“Yeah, this isn’t exactly little ears and picnic appropriate conversation. Let’s talk about…cookies!” He popped the lid on the plastic container to reveal piles of different cookies.
Maddox dived right in—literally—making Mallory laugh. “I guess my date likes cookies.”
“He loves Aunty Maz’s cookies.”
Smiling, she watched as Jacob lifted Maddox off the container, a cookie clenched in each tiny fist.
In spite of her guilt over not revealing who she was, Mallory found herself enjoying father and son. Especially when Maddox decided his father might take one of his cookies away and took off across the yard.
He teetered and tottered and went down a couple of times giggling while Jacob pretended to chase him. Pure joy and love radiated off them as they ran around.
Envy filled her, making her chest ache.
In front of her was everything her younger self had hoped for.
A child. A father. A family.
Something fate had snatched away before she’d been old enough to have the chance.
9
Jake leaned back on his hands and stared up into the branches of the oak tree they sat under. “So I need to hire a full-time, live-in nanny?”
“Yes. I think that is your best option.”
He frowned. “Even though I don’t want or really need one full-time?”
“It is the most likely, and maybe the only way, to cover the child care you do need. You might be able to find someone who is willing to work only the days you do and not actually live here, though if I were you I wouldn’t hold my breath.”
Jake would prefer that option over having someone—a stranger—living in his house. He only needed someone to take care of Maddox the days he worked; all the other days he’d be here to take care of him, and he didn’t understand why he couldn’t look for someone to be here every third day. Bringing his gaze back to Mallory he asked, “Why can’t I advertise for a part-time nanny?”
“Because most nannies, if not all, are going to be looking for full-time work and you need the overnights a live-in, full-time nanny would give you. Plus I have never heard of a part-time one doing the hours you require, although this is not my area of expertise so I could be wrong. You might be able to find someone who is willing to do twenty-four hours every third day without living here but I honestly don’t think you will. I definitely think it would be better to start your search for a full-time caregiver and explain what you really need once you narrow down your choices.”
“And pay whoever I chose a full-time wage with all the benefits regardless of the hours they actually do?”
“Yes. I think so.”
“Hmm…” Turning, he stared at his house and thought about someone else being in there with him and Mad,livingwith them. Someone he didn’t know. The idea of sharing his home with another adult made his skin itch. It didn’t feel right. He’d bought the place for him and Mad. He glanced at his boy.
Maddox had conked out in Mallory’s lap. He’d raced around the yard like the madman Jake had nicknamed him for for ages before finally crashing from his sugar high about fifteen minutes ago and now slept soundly, if a little awkwardly on his back, draped over Mallory’s outstretched legs.
He should have taken Mad inside and put him to bed when he’d first fallen asleep but Jake hadn’t wanted to stop talking to Mallory and feared it would be the perfect opening for her to go back to her apartment if he did.
“I can give you pointers on what to look for, what to ask for, if you like. Actually, I could probably get the numbers for a few agencies if that would help.”
Jake looked at Mallory and repeated the question he’d asked a number of times while watching her interact with Maddox. “Are you sure you don’t want a job?”
“I have a job.”
“Yeah, but this would only be part-time…”
“Jacob.” She looked away, took a deep breath that rose her chest, and straightened her shoulders before looking back. “I can’t.”
He didn’t like her answer but he liked the way she continued to use his full name even though he’d reminded her again and again over the last hour that no one called him Jacob. He shrugged. “Worth a shot. But if you’re okay with helping me find someone suitable, I’d really appreciate it. I have no idea where to start or what I should be looking for once I do.”
“Of course.” She gazed down at Maddox, skimming her fingers lightly over his cheek, and added softly, “We need to make certain this little guy is always taken care of.”
Jake jolted at her use of ‘we’. It shouldn’t shock him. He had help and support from Ry and Maz all the time, except when it came right down to it, Maddox only had him.
