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“Ah, come on, man.” Declan felt the need to defend Bree’s cousin. When a guy said ‘she seems sweet’ it usually meant she looked like princes Fiona from the Shrek movie—the green version of the princes.
“I could see you two together.”
“Dec, you’re just being like Pops. You see two single people in one room together and you figure they’re meant for each other.”
Declan grinned but returned his attention to slicing another apple.
“Didn’t you tell me she got major issues with some ex? I don’t want Tommy—”
“That’s been handled. He’s in jail for at least a decade, and the divorce is almost final. I asked Donovan to keep tabs on him in jail. You know how my brother will keep on following him when the asshole gets out.”
“Well, that’s something at least. But I mean it, Dec. I need to get knocked upside the head. Get a kick in the gut. But I just didn’t feel it. So, just leave it at that.”
Declan nodded. They walked back into the dining room and the laughter from Tommy and Liv, while playing Go Fish, welcomed them. Bree sat with a big smile on her face, watching them play.
Jessie looked up at Declan but had only eyes for Keenan when he entered the room. Declan smirked at how uncomfortable Jessie’s looks made his cousin. Seeing him squirm was fun.
“Keenan, I heard from Bree that you’re looking for a nanny?” Jessie said as she placed her elbows on the table and rested her head on her clasped hands.
Keenan sat down next to Tommy and said, “Yes. Do you know of anybody who could do four weekdays?”
“My sister Ryleigh would be perfect for the job,” Jessie said, not noticing that Liv tugged on Jessie’s shirt again.
“Mom?” Liv said.
“Yes, sweetie?”
Liv leaned in and tried to whisper, but everyone could overhear her say, “I don’t want Ryleigh going to Tommy.”
Jessie stroked Liv’s long hair from her face and said, “Ooh, but you’ll still see Ryleigh, sweetie. Ryleigh is always going to be your aunt.”
“Why can’t I have Ryleigh as my nanny?” Liv said as she looked up hopefully at her mom.
“Well, we live with grandpa and grandma now, and grandma loves to help me with picking you up from school and taking you to dance classes.”
“But I want Ryleigh,” Liv said as she shoved her plate forward.
“We’ll talk about it when we get home,” Jessie said, and she gave a final nod. Liv pursed her lips and walked back to the twins. Tommy followed and Bree got up from her seat too to join them.
Jessie cleared her throat and passed a card over the table to Keenan.
“This is my sister, Ryleigh. She’s been real great with Liv. My absolute rock. I’m staying with my parents now, so my mom is eager to help with Liv. But Ryleigh is the best you could ever find as your nanny.”
Keenan perked up in his seat after picking up the card from Jessie. Declan glanced down at a postcard with a picture of Jessie sitting on a bench in the park, sitting and laughing with a younger woman.
Their faces seemed so similar, like they could have been twins. They both had wide, corn blue eyes, high cheekbones, and a pert nose. But if this was Ryleigh on the postcard, she had shiny, long red hair instead of blonde hair like Jessie.
Ryleigh’s hair wasn’t as fiery red like Bree’s sister Fianna. No, it was a more carroty red. With a copper undertone, making it more red than orange.
Keenan’s thumb caressed the side of the postcard, flicking over and over a laughing Ryleigh as he studied the card. Keenan cleared his throat. “How old is your sister?”
“She just turned twenty-one,” Jessie said.
Declan glanced over at Jessie, who studied Keenan the same way as Declan did. She held out her hand for Keenan to return the postcard. “But maybe you’re right, she’s young…”
Keenan didn’t look up from the postcard. “Could you give me her number?”
“Eh, well, I… I don’t know if she’d like that. I can give youmynumber? To eh, set up a meet?”
