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We were each other’s support system and protectors. Mom couldn’t protect me this time, and I knew it killed her.
“So anyway,” I said. “I start my new job tomorrow, and I’m excited. It’s beautiful here, and the father already gave me permission to take Gio out. He’s six. I’m hoping to go swimming, and to the park and be outside as much as possible.”
“Will the dad be going with you on any of these adventures?”
“Let it go, Mom.”
“I’m just saying, if he’s single, of course, maybe this is fate, like Scott and I.”
“You and Scott met at a speed dating event. I know you think that’s fate, but let’s be real. You were there with the intent of meeting someone.”
“It could have been anyone who sat across from me that night, but he was the first, and after that, our eyes kept traveling back to each other. It didn’t matter if fifty other men sat in that seat. I only had eyes for one. And deny it all you want, but I know fate brought us there that night.”
Or Scott’s buddy, but I didn’t say that. Mom liked her fantasies, and after everything we had been through, letting her hold on to them was the least I could do.
“You and Scott may have been fate, but I am telling you, there is absolutely no way in hell I am getting involved with Franc Grasso.”
The doorbell rang, sounding through the house.
“She’s here. You better be dressed!” I had left Gio’s clothes out for him; all he had to do was put them on. I hurried down the stairs, yanking the polo with the company logo over my head. Normally I’d wear a t-shirt to work, but today the interns started, and Chardonnay insisted I dress like a professional. My sister didn’t like my argument that she and Laurent dressed professional enough for the entire family. She told me to stop being difficult before burying her nose into her to-do list and spinning away on her heels.
I adjusted the hem of the shirt, then flung the door open. Sunlight burst into the house, highlighting Quinn St. Clair like an angel who was sent to rescue me. Her long red hair fell in waves over her shoulders, and the lipstick she sported had me wondering what it would look like stained across…
What the…?
No. The minute she walked through that door, she was Gio’s nanny. Sex thoughts were inappropriate and wrong. Besides, according to her application, she was only twenty-seven. I was twelve years older than her, for crying out loud. Granted, age was only a number the older you got, but still, if she could manage my son, and not quit on the first day, I’d do anything to keep her employed. Sex would complicate everything. And it could only ever be sex since I’d sworn off relationships when Gio’s mom left.
“Hi,” she said with an awkward wave and a smile.
I tore my gaze away from her plump lips and focused on her eyes. Though they were just as sultry. Dark brown with specks of amber that looked as if they held an entire universe in their depths.
A hard bang to my legs caused me to jolt forward. I caught my balance and placed my hand on Gio’s back. My finger grazed over the tag at the collar, and I shook my head. So what if the shirt was inside out? At least it was on.
“Hi, Quinn,” I finally managed. “This is Gio.” I went to step aside, but Gio clung to my leg, hiding behind me and only poking his head out. He squeezed my leg tighter, giggled, and hid his face in my thigh. “He’s usually not this shy. Like ever.”
Usually he was jumping to be the center of attention, at least for as long as his attention span allowed him before he tore off like a tornado to wreak havoc elsewhere.
Quinn’s lip curled at the corner, and she bent down to Gio’s level which also put her at the perfect height of my…Oh for fuck's sake. I ignored the million dirty thoughts trying to force their way into my mind and focused on my son.
“Hi, Gio. It’s nice to meet you. Your dad has told me so much about you.”
Gio’s hold loosened. “You’re pretty.” My son, ladies and gentleman, Mr. Casanova himself. That was more like him.
Quinn’s hand landed on her chest. “And you’re adorable.”
His head rammed into my thigh, and I had to use all of my core muscles to keep from toppling onto Quinn.
“I’m Quinn, and I’m going to be hanging out with you this summer, if that’s okay with you. I think we’re going to have a lot of fun. We’ll go to the park and the pool and the lake.”
An excited gasp escaped Gio. It hadn’t dawned on me until Margie stormed out of the house. I had just been looking for someone to stay with Gio. Margie would have kept him cooped up in this house. That was no way for a kid to spend the summer, especially not Gio when he was one big bag of uncontrollable energy.
I felt a familiar claw on my pant leg, but before I could react, Gio stepped out from behind me and thrust Sally into Quinn’s face. I braced myself for the scream, and even bent my legs to catch her if she fell backward, but she didn’t.
Instead, a smile spread across her face, and she gave Sally’s head a stroke. “Isn’t she beautiful?”
“What?” Gio and I both said at the same time. Most people reacted like Margie, and I think Gio had come to expect that. He wanted to scare people off, but Quinn didn’t even flinch.
“You’re not scared of her?” Gio asked.
