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“I saw you two days ago, Snot-face,” he rumbles, a gorgeous smile on his handsome face. My mouth gapes wide open, and when CJ lifts my chin back up, I slap his hand away. This can’t be real. I scrub my eyes and blink. Nope, he’s still smiling, and fuck, it’s a sight to see. I’m almost sad he’ll turn broody once again when he realises he has an audience, but I can’t lie and say his normal attitude and mysterious personality isn’t sexy as all hell too, because it is.
“I don’t have snot on my face anymore, Liam. I’m alllll grown up,” she huffs, folding her arms across her chest with what I’m sure is supposed to be a mean look. She just looks more adorable if you ask me.
Cole puts her down, scuffing her hair with his large hands.
“No… Stop. Liam, my hair,” she screams, then suddenly, her tone changes to one I’ve not heard from her. It’s like wonder mixed with eagerness. “Oh my god,” I hear her breathe, before she’s screaming it. My eyes glance away from Cole’s handsome face long enough to see her eyeing me.
“Hey, kid.” CJ grins, pushing me to the side like I’m in the way. A small, amused smile reaches my lips as I watch the two bulky lads be so smitten with the tiny girl. It’s a sight to behold.
“You brought a girl,” she squeals back at Cole, before turning back to me to make sure I’m real. From the corner of my eye, I notice CJ looking at me with disbelief. “Do you want to see my room?” she squeaks out, looking up at me in awe before she starts clapping her hands, a joyful expression on her face.
My face lights up. “I’d love to but…” I stop midsentence when a beautiful woman walks out from another doorway, in the middle of a call. She has raven black hair, big hazel eyes just like Mia’s, and one of the kindest faces I’ve ever seen. I can tell immediately that she has a heart of gold and would give the shirt off her back to another. I like her already.
It’s not until I see her wearing scrubs, a coat hanging off her arm, that I remember Cole mentioning she’s a nurse. I can’t exactly remember where he said she worked, but wherever it is, they must be short-staffed because she seems to be in a rush.
“I’m so sorry, Liam. Maggie hasn’t answered her phone and I’m running late. I’ve fired her now. We’ll find someone else so you won’t need to come in all the time,” she sighs, not seeming happy about calling her son to babysit. “Your father has too many procedures booked in right now to cancel,” she rushes out. She leans up, kissing him on the cheek in greeting before turning towards CJ. “CJ.” She smiles warmly, and then her kind, gentle eyes find mine, and her smile brightens. “Who do we have here?”
“Hi, I’m Willow,” I greet, before Cole can introduce us. I reach out to shake her hand but she waves it away with an amused smirk and brings me in for a hug. Her arms embrace me and it’s hard not to hug her back. She has this presence that makes you instantly trust her.
“Willow wants to see my room,” Mia tells her mum, taking my hand in hers.
“Mum,” Cole calls before she has the chance to grab her bag. “Willow was looking for a job to fit around her courses,” he starts, and I begin to wonder if he’s been spying on me or if he just took a well-educated guess. My guess is the latter. “CJ suggested Willow babysit Mia.”
His mum gives him a warm, kind smile, her hand reaching out to cup his cheek. His eyes soften at her touch, and I see the little boy behind his hard, dangerous exterior.
She nods before turning to me. “Do you have any experience?” she asks, turning into mum mode.
“I used to babysit for my mum’s friends’ kids,” I admit. Being an only child, I wasn’t needed to babysit for my mum, so most parents would ask me to babysit for them.
She nods, smiling. “I’ll see how you get on for today. I’ll talk to my husband and Mia when I’m back, and if everything’s okay, I guess I can’t see why not.”
“Sounds good.” I look down at Mia, who is currently trying to pull my arm out of its socket.
“C’mon, I want to show you the new bear Liam bought me,” she begs impatiently.
“Hold on a second. Let’s say goodbye to your mum first,” I gently order, ignoring the intense stare Cole is sending my way, causing goosebumps to break out all over my skin. I shiver.
“Bye, Mummy.” Mia waves, full of energy.
Her mum chuckles, shaking her head down at her little girl like she’s used to her antics. “Give me some love first,” she teases, tapping her cheek. When Mia lets go of my hand and takes a step forward, her mum grabs her, pulling her in for a hug and raining kisses all over her face.
Mia giggles and tries to get away from her mum, but she doesn’t let go. “Mercy! Stop! I’m going to pee,” she squeals. When she’s finally free, she runs behind Cole’s large, muscular leg, peeping around him to stick her tongue out at her mum.
“Can you be here after practise to show Willow where everything is? I don’t have time right now and I won’t get a break until at least four,” she sighs.
“Yes,” he agrees, his eyes softening. “She’ll be fine. Willow lives on our floor so we’ll know where she lives if she takes the kid,” he teases, and my eyes widen in shock.
He joked.
He just made a freaking joke.
A laugh bubbles out before I can stop it. I cover my mouth with my hand, snickering. “Sorry,” I choke out, not wanting to come across as rude. After all, I haven’t gotten the job for sure yet.
She laughs at my expense. “It’s fine. He’s not one to joke or crack a smile, so when he does, it can be quite the shock,” she teases me.
I nod, loving how easy she is to talk to. She’s the complete opposite to Cole. It makes me wonder if he gets his bright personality from his dad.
“Mum,” he growls, giving her a warning look that has me biting my lip.
