Page 11 of Double Fault

With a grunt, I collect the dustpan and handheld broom from beneath the sink and sweep up all the pieces I can see.

“You’re really pretty,” Maddie tells Sabrina as I’m pulling the cordless vacuum from the pantry.

“Thank you. So are you.”

“I wish I had hair like yours. I like curls.”

Sabrina’s responding laugh is soft. Fuck. Quickly, I flip the switch on the vacuum to drown out the sound.

When I shut it off, my daughter is still sitting on the counter. She’s sporting a Band-Aid on her foot, but her face is dry of tears. She’s only known Sabrina five minutes, but she already looks at her like she hung the moon and stars.

I know right then that I’m fucked.

If Maddie likes her, I have no chance of ever getting rid of her.

“Hey.” I ruffle her dark hair. Hazel eyes, the same as her mother’s, blink up at me. “Are you okay?”

She breaks out in the sweetest smile. “Sabrina fixed me all up. Good as new.”

The woman my daughter has instantly taken a liking to smiles back at her, patting her knee. “Can I grab you a snack before I go?”

I narrow my eyes. Who is she to offer my kid a snack inmyhouse? If she’d just leave, I could tend to Maddie myself.

“I’ve got her.” The harsh words escape me just as Maddie says, “Yes, please.” She points to the pantry door. “Could I have a granola bar? It’s in a yellow and orange wrapper.”

Head lowered, I give it a shake.Now she chooses something safe and non-breakable.

Sabrina shoots me a wink as she passes. She knows she’s getting under my skin, and she likes it.

“Is she going to be my new nanny?” Maddie kicks her legs back and forth, her heels bumping the cabinet beneath her.

“No.”

“Yes,” Fisher says from the corner.

I all but jump out of my skin at the sound of his voice. I’d forgotten he was still here, watching like a goddamn creeper.

“Yay!” Maddie throws her arms up. “Sabrina, did you hear? Uncle Fisher says you’re my new nanny.”

Eyes dancing, the too beautiful for her own good woman presses her lips together like she’s trying not to laugh. She sobers quickly, though, when she sees my stone-cold expression.

“I’m not so sure that’s the case, but I would love to be. You’re a cool girl.” She tears the granola bar wrapper open and passes it to my daughter.

With a groan, I drop my head back.

Maddie tilts her head. “What do you mean?”

Sabrina shrugs. “I don’t think your dad likes me too much. You wouldn’t want me to have a mean boss, would you?”

Maddie’s bottom lip trembles like it did when she dropped the bowl of raspberries. “Daddy, you wouldn’t be mean to Sabrina, would you?”

Fisher snickers from his spot in the corner. I’m glad one of us is amused.

“Mads, let’s not talk about this right now. I’m sure Sabrina has places to be.”

“Your dad’s right. I need to go.”

My daughter’s eyes go wide and a little watery. “Will I see you again?”

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