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“Trust me when I say, I cannot wait to meet whatever woman has gotten you to take a step back and start enjoying your own life outside of work. She must be something.”
My mouth twitches involuntarily. “She is.”
“Well, you get on home, and I’m going to get on with the rest of this nice brandy I’ve just poured myself.”
I chuff out a laugh. “Sounds like a fine night.”
“We’ll talk more tomorrow about your plus-one. Hurry up and ask her.”
“Yeah, yeah, I will.”
“Night, Aiden.”
“Night, Boss.”
I feel lighter after I hang up; I had no idea how that conversation might go, but I think it’s safe to say I couldn’t have imagined it going any better than that. And it really is time, I think. To start stepping back and being more present at home. When Sophie first came... everything in my life was such a mess. I didn’t know how to be her father and run the kitchen at the same time. And maybe that’s still a little true, but... I know that if Cassie hadn’t shown up, I would still have my head in the sand, too ignorant to even see how much I was making Sophie suffer. Without her... I might never have learned how to properly talk to my daughter.
Realizing this only makes me want to get home to her faster.
There’s very little that could ruin the good mood I’m in now, but when another call signals on my Bluetooth, and Iris’s name pops up on my console display, I find that it’s the one thing that comes dangerously close to doing so. I just never know how the conversation will go with her, and that’s why it always makes me so nervous.
“Hello?”
Iris sounds tired. “Hey. Sorry to call so late. I figured you’d be breaking things down.”
“I actually left early. Decided to head home.”
“That’s unlike you,” she points out.
“Yeah, well, it’s just been a long day.”
“Did Cassie tell you I drove them to the zoo today?”
This throws me. “You did?”
“Her car was acting up and she gave me a call. Even invited me to go with them.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Couldn’t get anyone to cover for me at the store.” She’s quiet for a moment. “She’s tenacious, for a nanny.”
I can’t help but laugh softly. “That’s true.”
“Listen, it’s not something I wanted to discuss around Sophie, but I did feel the need to say... that I know Cassie is very pretty and likable. Hell,I’mstarting to like her.”
I feel myself prickle, not knowing where she’s going with this. “And?”
“I’m just saying... I don’t know how any single man could live with her without something happening.”
“Iris, I don’t know what you’re implying, but I don’t think this is any of your—”
“I’m notattackingyou, Aiden,” she sighs. “Honestly.”
“Then what are you trying to say?”
“I just want to make sure that, regardless of whatever relationship may form between you and Cassie—and I do not want to know what that is—I don’t want Sophie to fall to the wayside. Just make sure she’s your number one priority, okay?”
I can’t help but get a little irritated. “I know that without you telling me.”
