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TWELVE
THEO
Life turned upside down when Serena left. I shifted my work to my home office and sacrificed some of my coveted work-life balance to take care of my children. Hiring a nanny to take care of Piper and Colton was supposed to be a return to normalcy. All that changed the minute I hired Hadley.
Now all I can think about is myself. Call me selfish, I really don’t give a fuck. Sending the kids to my parents’ house is the greediest thing I’ve done in a year, and I don’t fucking care. I need to figure out this thing with Hadley. Is the chemistry and desire bubbling between us is nothing more than a summer fling, or can a fling be forever? I need those answers before I drag her into my life, into my mess, into my bed. My gut tells me she’s special, something I’ve been looking for, but I’ve been wrong about women before.
When the kids are gone, buckled into the back seat of my dad’s trusty Subaru, I return to the condo and find Hadley leaning over the island, her phone in her hand, a frown marring her beautiful face.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s my brother, Curtis,” she says. “He’s being an asshole.”
I wait for her to elaborate but when she doesn’t, I decide not to pry. When she’s ready, she’ll tell me. “We have to get going to meet the inspector,” I tell her.
She nods and says she’s ready, but her mood is off. Whatever her brother said to her must be bothering her. I take her hand and keep it firmly in mine as we walk to the elevator. When it arrives, we step inside, but I don’t let go. In fact, I don’t relinquish my hold until we get to the car.
“I want you to know you can talk to me,” I say, bringing our joined hands to my lips and brushing a kiss across her knuckles. I know it must seem hypocritical and unfair of me to ask her to share her secrets when I’m fiercely holding onto my own, but seeing her worried like this makes me want to slay all of her dragons.
“I know,” she murmurs.
She’s quiet as we drive and still, I hold on to her hand, brushing my thumb against the back of hers, glancing over every now and then to send her a reassuring smile.
The weather seems to match her mood with a sky full of fat, gray clouds no doubt heavy with rain. So much for a bonfire on the beach tonight.
“I have a contractor lined up for tomorrow. I’m sorry we can’t stay in Seaside for the whole week, but I have a few critical meetings this week with high-profile clients,” I explain. “And then Saturday is the big company dinner.”
She breathes in deeply before exhaling. Is she nervous? “Curtis wants me to fly back to Georgia.”
So this is the issue souring her mood. “When?”
“Friday. He thinks I’ll back out of our agreement and wants me to start working for the company as soon as possible.”
“No.” The word falls quicky and easy from my tongue. “Absolutely not. I need you here. The kids need you here. You promised us the entire summer.”
Anger builds inside me. She can’t leave. I won’t let her.
“He says since there’s no contract between us I don’t have to stay.”
“Fuck that. I’ll draw up a contract right now. You’re not leaving.” I glance over at her and notice her glassy eyes. “Please don’t cry. I’ll handle this.”
“You don’t even know him.” She turns her head toward the window and murmurs, “Or me.”
“I want to know you, Hadley. That’s why Colton and Piper are with my parents this week. I want to be with you as a woman, and not as my children’s nanny. I want to figure out what’s going on between us. You’re staying put. Got it?”
She nods.
“And let me handle Curtis too.”
“Good luck,” she mumbles.
When we arrive back home in Seaside, I’m thankful the house doesn’t reek of smoke. The electrical inspector compliments Hadley on acting so quickly. Her cheeks turn pink from his compliment, and I recall the conversation we had a few days ago.
“I was doing my job,” she repeats.
“You saved the house,” the inspector says.
“Is it safe to stay in?” I ask. I managed to reserve a room at The Seaside Hotel in the event we can’t stay in the house, but I don’t want to make Hadley uncomfortable.
