+ Excerpt +

 

The doorbell rang just as I was attempting to mop up the oatmeal splatter on the wall. Lilliana gave me a toothy grin and said, "Up."

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I groaned, shifting my focus to cleaning off her face, figuring I could change her outfit as soon as the potential nanny was gone.

I lifted her into my arms, her sticky hands touching my beard. I'd forgotten to clean her fingers, but it was too late now.

The doorbell rang a second time.

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I opened it to find my brother Cooper's nanny, Blake, standing on my doorstep looking well-rested and effortlessly casual in a sundress with a white purse slung across her body.

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I resisted the urge to smell my armpits. I couldn't remember the last time I'd managed to shower. Maybe when Lilliana was with her mother.

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My stomach rumbled. Had I remembered to eat this morning?

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"We were just finishing up breakfast." I stepped away from the doorway so that she could enter the house.

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"I can see that," Blake said with a knowing smile. "Would you like some help?"

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"You're here for an interview." I hadn't decided if I should hire a nanny. It was Cooper's recommendation.

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"Dalton, let me help." She held her hands out for Lilliana, who leaned in her direction.

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"She's messy," I warned her, letting Lilliana go to Blake.

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"Did you get any oatmeal in your mouth?" Blake asked animatedly.

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Lilliana giggled, then touched Blake's face as if she was the most fascinating person on the planet.

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I couldn't blame her. Anyone who was willing to pick up my daughter after a messy breakfast was amazing.

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In the kitchen, I quickly wiped the high chair, the floor, and the walls, seeing remnants of other breakfasts there too. When I was finished, I glanced down at my shirt that had random glops of oatmeal covering it. "Do you mind if I change?"

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"Not at all." Blake balanced Lilliana on her hip to wash her little hands in the sink.

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I drew my shirt over my head and ducked into the laundry room which was just off the kitchen to throw it in the washing machine. I bit off a curse when I realized there weren't any clean clothes in here. I didn't have a choice; I'd have to go back into the kitchen without a shirt on.

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"I put my shirt in the machine." I threw a thumb over my shoulders. "I'm going to grab a clean shirt from my room."

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She swallowed hard. "Of course."

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I took the stairs two at a time, convinced Blake thought this was the most unprofessional interview she'd ever been to. I grabbed a fresh navy-blue Kingston Construction T-shirt from my dresser and pulled it on.

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I took the free time to brush my teeth and wash my face. Then I remembered to apply deodorant.

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When Lilliana was here, my hygiene suffered. But I hadn't noticed until there was a beautiful woman in my kitchen. One I had no business even thinking about in that way. My focus should be on my daughter and not incurring the wrath of her mother, Oakley.

Downstairs, Blake sat on the living room floor with Lilliana, who was playing with her pink-and purple-kitchen set.

Blake raised her gaze. "Feel better?"

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"Much," I said as I sat on the edge of the chair. A shower would be the only thing that would make me feel more like me. "Ivy said that you might be able to help me out?"

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Her lips pursed as if she was still considering whether this was a good idea. "It depends on what you need. I'm nannying part-time for Ivy and Cooper, and if you don't mind me watching both babies at once from time to time—"

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"I'm all for Henry and Lilliana spending time together. Oakley offered a set visitation schedule of every other weekend, but she’s been dropping her off whenever she needs time to run errands or to go out with friends."

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Blake's eyes widened. "That must be tough."

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My face felt hot. "I'm grateful for any time I get. It wasn't like this when Lil was born. I didn't get to see her nearly as much."

Blake tipped her head to the side. "Is this arrangement working for you?"

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"It's tough because I have a job, and it's not fair to my brothers or my crew if I'm late or don't show up." Although my family gave me flexibility, I didn't like being viewed as unreliable.

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"It doesn't sound like a good situation for you," Blake said, reminding me that she was a child psychology student.

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I ran a hand through my hair, not wanting to think too hard about the questions she was raising. "I'm just trying to get through."

"Do you want to talk to Oakley about setting a schedule that would be easier on you and Lilliana?"

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I really didn't want to. "I'm not sure how she's going to react, and I want to see my daughter."

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"You're afraid she'll block you from visitation?" Blake asked.

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I nodded as my chest tightened. I couldn't imagine missing time with Lilliana. I cherished every second I got with her. My attorney, Ashton, warned me about how protracted court cases could be. I didn't want to squander time while we fought in court over a schedule.

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"You know you have a right to visitation," Blake said softly.

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It wasn't anything I didn't already know. But negotiating anything with Oakley was a minefield. "I have an attorney on standby to file the appropriate paperwork."

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"Your schedule with Oakley isn't any of my business." Then she sighed heavily. "The problem is that I need a place to stay, and if your schedule is as unpredictable as you say, then it might be helpful if I was already living here."

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"Ivy said something about that." I wasn't sure how I felt about a woman living in the house, but it would be convenient. "Let me show you the guest room, and you can decide."

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There were four bedrooms upstairs. Lilliana's was the smallest one next to my room. One was a guest room, and one was a catchall that was supposed to be my office. With the renovations to get the house ready for Lilliana to visit, I hadn't had time to deal with that room, so it was filled with boxes.

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"This would be yours." I opened the door to the guest room. When Ivy mentioned that Blake needed a place to stay. I'd hastily thrown this room together. It had a bed, nightstand, desk, and a dresser.

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Blake let out a breath as if she'd been stressing about where she'd live. "This is nice."

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"You'd have to use the guest bathroom across the hall, but you wouldn't be sharing it with anyone other than Lilliana."

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Blake moved farther into the room, opening and closing a few drawers, before she looked inside the closet. I'd installed shelving in the closets when I'd moved in. "This is nice," she said again.

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"I bought this place before Lilliana was born, and I had some free time on my hands. I like to build things."

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She turned to face me, her brow raised. "You built the closet organizer?"

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I shrugged. "I made one for Lil's bedroom, so that I could easily organize all of her onesies and diapers. Babies need a lot of stuff. When she was born, Oakley didn't let me see her that often, so I had time on my hands."

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"You're handy with wood," she said matter-of-factly.

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"I like working with my hands. I'm supposed to be designing a maze for the senior center. It will be a challenge but will keep me busy when Lilliana isn't with me."

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"It must be tough not seeing your daughter all the time." Before I could answer, she shook her head on a laugh. "Sorry, that sounded very therapist of me."

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"It's okay. It is hard." Not being with Lilliana was the worst. I felt like something was missing.

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"I need a place to stay, and I love your little girl already, so I think this would be a good fit."

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I breathed a sigh of relief. "I really appreciate it. As much as I want to spend every minute with Lil, I have to work, or I'm going to lose my place in the business." So far, Dad and my brothers had been understanding. But I needed to have some kind of consistent work schedule, which was impossible with the way that Oakley dropped Lilliana off on a whim.

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"Of course," Blake said as she headed downstairs.

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By the door, I balanced Lilliana, who was tugging on my beard hard enough to cause a sting of pain. "Ivy said you're still going to school?"

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"I took the spring semester off to figure out what I want to do."

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"I'd appreciate it if you give me notice if you're planning on leaving to go back to school." I had no idea what her program demanded, but I wouldn't stand in the way of her finishing school.

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"I'm here for the summer. Then I'll need to make a decision."

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I narrowly avoided Lilliana sticking her finger in my mouth. "When did you want to move in?"

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Her forehead wrinkled. "As soon as possible, if it's okay. I've been living off the island, and the commute isn't the best."

"Whenever you're ready, I'm happy to help you get settled."

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"Thanks, Dalton. You're a lifesaver."

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Her words hit me in the chest. No one had needed me or expressed gratitude for anything I'd done for a long time. I'd been so wrapped up in Oakley's drama during her pregnancy, and then Lilliana was here, and I had to adjust to the demands of having a child. I felt like the opposite of dependable. My work ethic suffered because I wanted to be there for my daughter. I had to find a sustainable balance. I'd need to pursue a visitation schedule at some point.

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I was afraid of what Oakley might do. She was quick to threaten to take Lilliana away from me. That scared me down to my core. I hadn't shared the full depth of her threats with my family. They'd want to fight back, and I didn't think that was a good idea. As long as I saw Lilliana, that was all the mattered.

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"I'm happy that I could offer a solution for you, but you're helping me out more than you know."

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She headed toward the front door, grabbing her purse from the side table. "You'll figure this thing out with Oakley."

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"I hope so." But I wasn't so sure. I felt like a doormat. Oakley never considered my feelings or schedule when she did anything.

Maybe Blake was right. I needed to set some boundaries. It would be good for me and my daughter.

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I was more than a little worried about how Blake would perceive my situation, but she'd been understanding and kind.

Blake tickled the bottom of Lil's bare feet, sending her into a fit of giggles.

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"You're good with her."

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Blake shrugged. "I love kids."

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I opened the door for her.

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"I'll text you when I figure everything out. I won't start working for you until I'm moved in."

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"That works for me." I'd already talked to Ivy and Cooper about her fees.

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"It was very nice to see you again, Dalton. You're a good dad." She walked through the doorway before I could respond.

She thought I was a good dad? That meant something coming from her. She was a psychology student. Surely, she saw things others couldn't.

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I was moving in a nanny so I could work. But I wasn't immune to Blake's beauty. She was an attractive woman who'd be living in my home.

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I had a feeling Oakley wasn't going to like this new arrangement. But I needed Blake here to deal with her erratic schedule. I needed to prove to my family that I was reliable.

 

I'd need to keep things professional. My focus was on my daughter, not on the gorgeous nanny I'd just invited to move into my home.