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“You can trust me. I swear. I would never do anything to hurt Amelie.” She paused. “Or you.”
He took a few more steps, only a breath away now. “I know you wouldn’t. I see that now. I work from nine to five. I can pay you—”
“I don’t want your money. I’m not doing it for that.”
“It’s a long day and you wouldn’t be working your own job much.” He couldn’t imagine yoga classes going that late.
“It’ll work out. Don’t worry about it.”
Yet, he would. He was worrying about her too much when she wasn’t with him. He didn’t know when that started. The worry. The wondering what she was doing and whom she was doing it with.
“Okay, let’s do it.”
Her eyes flashed with desire.
Oh, yeah, he wanted to do that, too.
But if they were going to have this kind of relationship where she was in his life a lot more than she already was, watching his daughter, he had to tread carefully. He didn’t want to lose her completely. For Amelie’s sake, of course. And messing with her between the sheets could do that.
It would hurt her.
Just like she said she didn’t want to hurt him, he didn’t want to do the same.
11
“Aren’t you the cutest thing ever? Yes, you are. Give your Uncle Brock a kiss.”
Genevieve chuckled, popping the lid off the baby food she was about to feed Amelie. She didn’t like peas, but today was pea day and she’d have to suffer through it.
She had a feeding chart on her wall, labeled with what day it was for which food. Corey teased her she was way too anal about the schedule, but she wanted Amelie to have variety and not the same thing over and over. Like mangos that Corey enjoyed giving her too much. Although, he was a sport and let her hang a schedule at his place like she had one at hers. Whether he followed it when she wasn’t around was another story.
It’d been over a month since they started their new routine. He dropped off Amelie at her apartment at eight-thirty every morning, and around five-thirty she dropped Amelie back at his. She had purchased everything she’d need, like a pack-n-play, high chair, burp cloths, diapers, formula, bottles. You name it, she had it. It’s like she had her own mini daycare. She watched her Wednesday through Sunday, getting Monday and Tuesdays off.
At first, Corey felt bad about the schedule and worried she wasn’t getting enough work at her job. He insisted on paying her. She kept insisting she didn’t want his money. She finally confessed she wasn’tjusta yoga instructor. She owned the yoga place. There was a reason why her brother, Alexander, had asked her to help open his gym in Florida. Because she had opened her own business first. It was thriving and successful, and if she wasn’t there to teach a class, it wasn’t the end of the world.
She’d seen the surprise in his eyes. For a few days, he had looked at her differently. As if she was more untouchable than before. As if he was a loser compared to her. She hated it every time she saw it flash in his eyes.
Hell, he owned his own business. How come he couldn’t see he was just as amazing as her? As successful?
That sexual tension that floated between them since the beginning still churned like choppy waters. Neither did anything about it. Because they knew if they did, this thing they had going on would end. Their entire dynamic would fall and who knew what would happen. Nothing good.
She pushed her brother out of the way and made plane noises as the spoon made its way to Amelie’s mouth. She made a sour face but ate her peas like a good girl.
“Nobody likes peas. Why do you torture her so?”
“I like peas. She’ll learn to like them, too.”
“Yeah, but you’re weird.” Brock laughed and grabbed his coat. “You got her all night?”
She nodded. “It’s Saint Patrick’s Day. The bar will be crazy tonight. He’ll pick her up tomorrow.”
“Well, you ladies don’t get too wild tonight. I have to get ready for work.” Brock kissed her on the cheek, then kissed Amelie. “Be good for Auntie ‘Vieve.”
Amelie was always good for her. Since she started watching her every day, at her place, her brothers came over more often to see her. They’d started to call themselves her uncle and treated her like family. Like they had with Melanie.
Her brother left, leaving her and Amelie alone until Oliver showed up several hours later.
“You know, this messes with my plans. Again.” Oliver bounced Amelie on his knee, making silly faces. The giggles that she let loose made Genevieve smile as she washed the bottles.
