I stared after him, telling my brain to remember the asshole version of Griffin. I couldn’t afford to see him as lost and confused. He wasn’t a man who needed saving and I was no freaking lifeguard.
Going to find Caroline, I shut that part of my brain down. I was focused on the kids. Taking care of the kids was all that mattered. I’d had some slip-ups of the male variety, but that was behind me. I was kid-centric, child-focused, damn near baby obsessed. No men, no penis, no anything else. Especially no thinking of the Phoenix men like they were mine to help.
I found Caroline and found out that she didn’t want to go see her mom because she didn’t like her outfit and she was afraid her mom would be mad at her for wearing it. That was astounding and made me want to punch Stacy even more, but it wasn’t my fight. I just had to keep reminding myself of that. I got Caroline changed and back downstairs just as Jones was stomping his way back to the car with a defeated-looking Griffin behind him.
Looking at our ragtag little group, I blew out a big sigh. I was going to have to do something to keep the kids from falling apart in the car. The last thing I wanted to do was listen to a screaming match in an enclosed space.
“Okay, so we’re running a bit late to meet your mom, but how about after we see her, we go out and get ice cream?” I was reaching and bribing, but ice cream was great. Not goodenough for rich kids, though, apparently, judging by the lack of enthusiasm as they both climbed into the car.
“Ice cream can make you fat.” Caroline sniffled and looked down at her body. “I don’t want to be fat.”
My blood boiled as I cut my eyes to Griffin, furious that he’d allowed his psycho ex-wife to infect their daughter with that bullshit. “You’re beautiful, Caroline. You’re healthy and perfect, so a scoop of ice cream won’t hurt you. You, either, Jones.”
“I don’t want ice cream.”
I reached deeper into my bribery kit and pulled out a big gun. “Okay, then, if ice cream doesn’t cheer the two of you up, I’m going to have to call in a big favor from some friends of mine. Like, a really, really big favor.”
“What kind of favor?” Caroline wiped her eyes and sat up straighter.
Griffin looked concerned. “Yeah, Autumn, what kind of favor?”
“A big one.” I pulled out my phone and sent a text to a coworker of mine who worked with several animal shelters in the area. “You’ll just have to wait and see what it is.”
Jones crossed his arms and looked out the window. “It’s probably something stupid.”
“If you still think it’s stupid when we get there, you’re more than welcome to stay in the car and sulk.” I shrugged. “We’re going to see your mom first, though. That’s exciting, right?”
When no one answered, I rolled my lips between my teeth and squeezed the bridge of my nose. It was going to be a long afternoon.
Chapter 14
***Autumn***
We drove into the city to meet Stacy. She lived in the penthouse of a high rise in Manhattan. Almost two hours in the car and I’d run out of things to say to fill the blistering silence almost right away. Music didn’t seem to be Griffin’s driver’s thing, either, so we’d just ridden in silence. I was almost glad to be at Stacy’s; it’d been so bad.
When we stopped at the curb, a pleasant-looking younger man stepped up to the car and smiled in once Griffin rolled down his window. “Mr. Phoenix. I don’t know if you remember me, but I’m Dave Millbrooks. I’ll be the supervisor of today’s visit.”
“I’ll be sending the kids’ nanny in, as well.”
Dave hesitated. “Well, I’m not sure—”
Griffin narrowed his eyes. “Is there a problem, Dave?”
“No, sir. The kids’ nanny would be a lovely addition.”
I gritted my teeth and turned to Griffin. “We’ll be back.”
He nodded and waited until Jones and Caroline were out of the car and standing with Dave to catch my hand and pull me closer. “Five hours. Not a moment more.”
I growled. “You owe me. Five hours with the woman who called me a whore the first time she met me is worth way more than you’re paying me, Griffin Phoenix.”
His eyes flashed for a second, but then he was back in control. “I’ll write you a check for your bonus tonight.”
I groaned and got out of the car. Adjusting my shirt, I resisted the urge to ask if I looked okay. It didn’t matter. Scrunching up my nose and sticking my tongue out at Griffin felt right so I did it. “I’m thinking a million should cover the pain and suffering.”
He actually laughed. The sound washed over me like cool water on a summer day. I wanted to stay and roll around in it, but Dave was checking his watch, and I got the feeling we were running late and that Stacy was going to tell me about it.
Hurrying over to the kids, I joined them in walking through the opulent lobby. We got in a special elevator, available only to the top floor occupants. Caroline took my hand as we went higher and higher, the tension in her little body growing.
