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“Is that where you went when I watched Ghost? I’m sorry if I’m prying. Tell me to stop.”
“She’s nosy, but she means no harm,” Kiersten adds.
A smile touches my lips. “That was my very first client. Thank you again, by the way. It helped so much. Now I need to figure out a more permanent solution.”
“Oh no, you don’t. We’re happy to watch her anytime. Between myself, my daughter, and my husband, we can have you covered.”
“Did someone summon me?” A deep voice echoes from the hall, followed closely by another incredibly handsome man appearing in the doorway. He also has long strands on top of his head, but instead of a rich brown, the hair is nearly black. Creases surround his eyes from either years of laughter or days in the sun. Judging by his tan, I’d guess the latter. His broad shoulders nearly fill the doorframe as he looks down at Cami adoringly. She moves straight into his chest.
“I was just telling my new friend Evie we’d be happy to watch her dog anytime she needs.”
At the mention of my name, his attention pins me to the floor as the most piercing blue eyes I’ve ever seen come to rest on mine.
What. Is. In. The. Water. Here.
He jerks his head to indicate the space behind him. “Met your dog back there. She’s sweet. We’d be glad to have her.”
“That’s really kind. Thank you both.”
“I’m Law,” he adds.
“Evie.”
“Been hearing about you, Evie. Nice to meet you.” He rocks back on his heels.
My curiosity is piqued about what Rhett’s been saying. Growing up with my brother and Tate, I know guys can gossip just as good as women can. I can’t imagine what all Rhett would have to say after knowing me for only a week.
With a kiss on Cami’s forehead, he retreats as quickly as he arrived.
“Would it be weird to be your new friend and also hire you? Because you’re doing a kick-ass job, and I have a new house to clean before I can move into it.” Kiersten brushes her fingers along the cheek of the now sleeping baby. I quickly move my attention back to her face.
“Definitely not weird. I’d be thrilled, actually. I can run back later with a contract, and we can discuss rates.”
“Oh, bring one for me too.” Cami tosses her sponge in the sink. We’ve finished everything but the floors, which come last. “Lord knows teenagers, even the best ones, clean like crap.”
“I’ll take your word for it and bring another contract.”
11
Rhett
The moment I see my son’s face, a load lightens from my chest. The toddler beams in my direction and thrusts his hands in front of him, wiggling to be set down. Nora’s scowl is nothing out of the ordinary as she finally acquiesces to his demand and places him on his feet. The second he’s on solid ground, it’s go time for the little guy, and he runs my way.
I scoop him up, my first embrace in a week, and hold him extra close as he tucks his head beneath my chin. My eyes slowly close as I soak him in.
“Hey, big man. Daddy missed you.” I ignore the tap of Nora’s heels coming closer.
“Dadda hugs!” he says with enthusiasm, putting together a sentence I haven’t heard before.
Fuck. My eyes pop open at this new development I’ve missed. I want to ask her if she’s spending a lot of time with him. If she’s reading to him every night to help build his vocabulary. If she talks to him as she goes about her day so he can hear words being spoken when it’s just the two of them at home. We’ve argued many times about putting him into daycare for the development. It would help him to be around other adults and kids, but she’s refused. I’m skeptical that her refusal isn’t simply out of spite. Another of many angles I’m trying to work out in our custody agreement.
She stops two feet away and stares, giving the impression she’s working up the nerve to say something. Too bad for her, I’m not interested in her brand of deception and manipulation.
“Bag, please.”
She clutches the strap slung across her chest tighter as if I’m about to physically rip it away.
“Can we talk?”
