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She swallows hard as she carries a mug of coffee and nods. “Once I got Hailee settled and had a stern talk with Kyle, it was a fairly quiet weekend. I spent Sunday with my parents.”
I raise my chin. “You close with them?”
A genuine smile lights her face. “Very. I’d be lost without them. They help a lot with Hailee, especially when Kyle is being particularly unhelpful.”
I let out some sort of snort thing but catch myself. “I can imagine that would be more often than not.”
Zoey places her mug on her desk and rolls her eyes. “You havenoidea.”
A surge of contempt rolls through me. “I think I have some idea… so what’s the deal with him anyway? Why is he still around when he is clearly such a bad influence on Hailee?”
Zoey sighs, her entire body sagging like she is sad to even discuss the situation. “Honestly? I need him to help me pay for things. I want to be able to give Hailee everything she wants and needs, and without him, I’d be struggling.”
Narrowing my eyes, I’m shocked. “I don’t understand. I thought we supplied a reasonable salary. I can talk to Nash about upping your wage—”
“No, you give me a great wage. You guys are amazing, and I couldn’t possibly ask for more. The problem lies in my past and when I was together with Kyle. I was stupid and let him take out a heap of loans in my name. He wanted them for silly things, but I was the idiot who let him do everything in my name because he was building his business and needed a clear credit rating to get his business off the ground. So now he is sitting pretty while I flounder in debt up to my eyeballs while trying to make rent payments, school fees, Little League fees, and everything else—” She stops, closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, then reopens them. “Aaandnow I have said too much and am boring you with my sob story. I’m sorry, Mr. Branson, I should have never said all of tha—”
“No. You should have come to me sooner. But whatever you need, Zoey, just let me know, and I will help with Hailee. I don’t want you or her to be without anything,” I offer.
Her eyes widen, and I realize I may be giving away my obsession with her.
She shakes her head. “I couldn’t possibly. But thank you. Thanks for offering. But it is why I have to have Kyle in our lives. His business has taken off, and he earns a lot. So he pays for most of Hailee’s things so I can keep the rent paid and food on the table.”
I scrunch my brows. “If the ass is so rich, why the fuck isn’thepaying off the debts thatheincurred in your name?”
Zoey tilts her head, a hurt fake smile crossing her face. “Because he says they’re in my name, and it’s my signature on the loan paperwork, so it’s my responsibility to pay the debts.”
“Jesus, this guy’s a real piece of fucking work.”
“You’re telling me. I can’t believe I ever thought I wanted to marry the bastard.”
I jerk my head back. “Zoey, you’re so much smarter than that.”
She chuckles. “Exactly why I’m not with him now. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize it soon enough and fell pregnant. But, I wouldn’t give up Hailee for anything, so…” she trails off, but the look on her face tells me everything about how she feels regarding her child.
“She’s a sweet kid.”
Zoey lights up, her crystal blue eyes shining so bright, making her even more beautiful. “She’s the most amazing little girl I’ve ever known. She is fierce and brave and damn loyal… it’s just when she gets around her father that she begins to break down and hide inside her shell, and I really hate seeing that happening to her. She was good with you, though. She liked that you took the time to talk to her and make her feel better. Honestly, she wouldn’t shut up about you. I think you’re her new favorite person.”
My chest squeezes. I hate hearing that the dear little girl recoils at the thought of her father, but I do like that I brought her out of her shell. “Well, I think Hailee is my new favorite person too. She’s got it tough with a father like Kyle. I mean… I’ve only met him once, and that was enough for me. You’ve had to deal with him for years, so I feel for you and Hailee.”
Zoey nods. “It’s tough… I won’t lie. But Hailee more than makes up for it.”
“Well, if you ever need me, just call me, okay?”
Her eyes drop from mine like maybe she is embarrassed. “That’s not necessary, but thank you for offering.”
“Zoey, I mean it. If you or Hailee ever need help…” I leave it open-ended, and her eyes finally flick back up to mine from the floor.
Something unspoken is being said between us.
My chest feels heavy with the weight of the moment as we continue to stare at each other. The air around us feels electric, and all I want to do is lean forward just a smidgen further and kiss the fuck out of her.
Maybe I should?
No one is here.
Would Nash even have to know?
