Page 49 of Playing with Fire

My shoulders relaxed a hair. I guess she had a point, but I hadn't really thought of that. Was it weird that his ex was the one telling me this?

I shook my head. “You guys have a strange relationship.”

“Yes, we've been told that.” She sighed. “But we were friends growing up before we ever dated. Just because we weren't good together doesn't mean I don't want him to be happy with someone else.”

Nothing in her posture or expression said she wasn't being totally honest. I didn't want this thing with Logan to affect being the girls’ nanny. But... if things with Logan became serious, which I hoped was the direction we were going, Maggie was right. They would need to find another nanny, or at least Maggie would.

It all felt so complicated. But my gut said Logan was worth it, and I had to trust in that.

Chapter Twenty-Five

LOGAN

I smiledas I heard the front door open and the girls ran that way.

“Guess what, Izzy?” Alice asked excitedly.

“What?”

“Mom's coming to soccer practice.”

“That's awesome. I bet she can't wait to watch you guys.”

I sighed, thinking about my conversation with Maggie on the phone a little bit ago. She apologized and explained what she had said to Izzy. I didn't blame her. It was one of the things being together would mean. Maggie would need to find her own nanny, and that meant Izzy would lose half the hours. She took this job because she needed the money, so I understood that might be an issue for her.

Of course, my first reaction was to fix the situation. But there really wasn’t anything I could do to fix this. I’m no idiot. I knew offering to move her in here or pay her bills would not go over well. Izzy was too independent to even consider that. And while I hoped that was where our relationship would eventually lead, I knew it was too soon to start thinking that way. At the moment, the best I could offer waswe'll figure it out.

The minute she appeared with a smile directed at me, my body relaxed. She didn't seem upset or unsure. Just Izzy. Bright and full of life. It was amazing how her presence could make me feel instantly calm. Ironic, given how a few weeks ago I found her very existence frustrating as hell.

“Alright, girls.” I kept my eyes trained on Izzy. “Grab your waters and go get buckled up.”

Alice and Nikki snatched their bottles off the kitchen island and headed to the side door that led out to the driveway.

The door shut behind them and I took three steps, stopping in front of Izzy. I tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “You good?”

She angled her head and studied me.

“Still want to go with us?” I clarified.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, and I bit back a smirk. Damn, she was cute. It was that same glare she sent me when I told her to go home that night I'd changed her tire.

“I already told you I want to.”

I nodded and opened my mouth to respond, but she spoke again before I could.

“I rarely change my mind when I decide I want something.” Her eyebrows rose slightly before she added, “Or want to do something.”

I gathered she wasn't only talking about going to soccer practice. I couldn't stop the smile that lifted my lips.

“Alright. Let's go then, sweetheart.”

I followed her out the door, trying and failing to not stare at her ass in another pair of tiny cutoffs. The ride to the field was torture. I wanted to reach over and hold her hand, or rest my hand on her thigh. I settled for resting my arm on the center console so my pinkie could brush along her arm.

Soccer practice went smoothly. The girls did well, and Maggie and Izzy spent most of it chatting. It was nice that they got along. Most people who got divorced rarely got along, let alone with their exes’ significant others.

What sucked was when we got back to the house and I had to gather my stuff and head to work. I hugged both of my girls and waited until they disappeared into the great room before I nodded toward the front foyer.

Izzy followed behind me, and I turned to her once we were alone in the small space at the front of the house. She let out a giggle as I pulled her into a hug and buried my nose in her hair. Strawberries were quickly becoming my favorite scent.

---