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EIGHT
THEO
This is going to be chaos, but I remind myself it’s temporary.
“This is a lot of white,” Hadley says when she walks into my condo. “And there’s a lot of glass.”
I cringe. “I wasn’t exactly looking for family-friendly when I bought this place.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “Obviously not. It seems like you were looking for a bachelor pad.”
Before I have the chance to correct her, she’s calling out to Piper and Colton, telling them to keep their hands off every visible surface. I look around, trying to picture the condo from her perspective. It’s not that bad, right? I gulp when I spot Piper pressed up against one of the windows, her face leaving smudges on it when she backs away. The floors are a mix of hardwood and marble, and all the accent rugs are sadly white. I hate admitting Hadley was right but this place really isn’t suitable for children.
It's also much smaller than the house in Seaside, which doesn’t help my growing attraction to Hadley. Last weekend, I found it difficult being around her for the weekend in a house that’s three times bigger than this place. How am I supposed to handle almost a week with her, sharing close quarters? During the week, all I focus on is on my job. I don’t have to worry about temptation because she’s out of sight, out of mind. It’s going to be hard to escape her now.
She’s my employee, I remind myself. I hired her to do a job. It would be wrong to start anything with her, especially when she’s leaving in a few months. I don’t want to hurt her, or my kids, who are obviously fond of her based on the way they cling to her and follow her around.
However, I can’t help but find the way she cares for my kids to be unbelievably sexy. I’m in awe watching her take command of them, wrangling them to the dining room table for dinner, coaxing them into the bathroom for baths, and then finally getting them settled in bed.
“You deserve this,” I say, holding out a cut-crystal tumbler in my hand.
She’s standing in front of the windows which provide the condo with a magnificent view of the city. She turns toward me and frowns at the amber liquid in the glass. “What is it?”
“Whiskey.”
She accepts it and takes a tentative sip. “That burns,” she says with a hiss.
“My father used to say it puts hair on your chest.”
“Does it?”
“You’ll have to find out for yourself,” I tease.
She sighs and takes another sip. “It’s been a long day, and we haven’t quite worked outoursleeping arrangements.”
I glance toward the large leather sectional dominating most of the living room. “There’s plenty of room for us both on the couch. You take one end, and I’ll take the other.” She eyes the couch, and I can sense her hesitation. “Just because this place seems like a bachelor pad, doesn’t mean that’s how I use it. I was faithful to Serena while we were married.”
“You don’t have to explain anything to me.” And yet, I want to. I want her to know I’m not a playboy. I never cheated on Serena, or even considered it despite meeting several clients at strip clubs. Would Hadley believe me if I told her I’m a good guy? Not if she could read my mind.
I take one step forward, one step closer to her. The air between us is thick and heavy. Something is brewing between us. Maybe it’s the heightened situation of the day, or maybe it’s something else entirely. Whatever it is needs to be stopped. “If you’re uncomfortable, I can call down to the concierge and see if there are any rooms available.”
One perk of owning this condo is its attachment to a luxury hotel. It’s come in handy a few times when I’ve entertained clients.
“No,” she murmurs. “I want to be close to the kids. Make sure they’re okay.”
“They’ll be fine without you for a few nights.”
“Are you trying to get rid of me?”
A laugh escapes my lips. “No, I’m not, but maybe I should.” I lift my glass to my lips, swallow the rest of the whiskey and leave, heading to my bedroom to check on my kids.
Colton and Piper are sleeping peacefully. They look tiny curled up on opposite sides of the king bed. I make sure to place a kiss on Piper’s cheek before heading into the attached master bathroom to change.
Today could have been the worst day of my life. Today, my world could have shattered. I look up at my reflection and wonder what kind of father I really am. I use this condo and my job to put distance between me and my family. I’m still clinging to a life I had before Colton was born, and maybe it’s time to stop.
When I return to the living room, Hadley is still in front of the window, her glass pressed against her chest. I’m not sure she’s even aware I’m watching her because she doesn’t acknowledge my presence. I take advantage of my brief anonymity and stare.
Her skin seems to glow, no doubt from spending countless hours outside with the kids, and there’s a natural wave to her chestnut brown hair. But it’s the freckles along the bridge of her nose and sprinkled across her cheeks that tempt me. I want to place soft kisses there, where the sun has touched her. I bet she even tastes like sunshine.
