Page 20 of This Baby Business
He sat on an empty stool. “Give me a coffee. Black.”
“Like your mood?” Sarah poured coffee into a mug.
He fixed her with a look he hoped choreographed that even beautiful and sweet brunette fiancées of best friends weren’t safe today.
“Hand it to me and I’ll pour it all over his head.” Cassie had finally caught up to him.
“Uh-oh,” Sarah said, holding the mug out as if unsure of whom to hand the coffee to. “What did he do?”
“He’s being ornery.” Cassie took a seat on a stool next to him.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” He grabbed the coffee from Sarah and took a long gulp.
“Oh, boy,” Sarah said and exchanged a look with Cassie.
“What?” Levi said.
“It’s a woman,” they both said at once.
But they were wrong. Carly wasn’t the problem. She was his happy place right now. A happy place he didn’t want to share with anyone. She was driving him crazy, but in all the good ways. Who would have known a good girl could kiss him like his hottest wet dream? When she’d had her tongue halfway down his throat, his favorite organ had wanted to RSVP to the party. He didn’t know if it was the somewhat forbidden nature of their nanny/boss relationship, but he couldn’t stop thinking about her. She was right, though. The whole idea was stupid, and this confrontation with Cassie and Sarah was only one reason why. He didn’t need to drag all this drama into Carly’s life when she was still dealing with her own. And he could clearly see it in those lost eyes of hers. She was still hurting. Still reeling from her mother’s death and the business mess she’d left in her wake.
“Said I’m not talking about it.”
“That means yes,” Sarah said, then, possibly at the glower he gave her, went back to wiping the countertop.
“Wrong,” he said with his scary calm. “It’s nothing you can help me with.”
“It’s the grandparents again, isn’t it?” Cassie scowled.
He shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. Point is they’re not giving up. I see that now.”
“Listen, Levi,” Sarah said. “If you need money to hire a lawyer, Matt and I can—”
“No.” His friends had done enough, and Sarah and Matt were getting married next year. Saving money was their goal, not bailing him out. “I’m not taking your money. This is my problem.”
Cassie patted his shoulder. “You’ll figure it out.”
“It’s crazy.” Levi took another swig of coffee then set it down. “But sometimes I catch myself thinking that maybe Gracewouldbe better off with Sandy’s parents.”
He didn’t voice that thought often, but what did he know about raising a little girl? The only thing he knew about what parenting was whatnotto do. Don’t leave your kids every summer. Don’t make them feel that the only way you’ll love them is if they’re on the principal’s honor roll. A parent’s love should never be conditional. And beyond everything else, don’t abandon them, whatever the reasons.
Cassie picked up the newspaper Sarah kept on the counter for customers, rolled it up and swatted him over the head with it.
“How could you possibly think that little baby girl would be better off without you?”
“They have more resources than I do. And Sandy’s stepmother already raised two other daughters.”
Besides, what the hell would Grace learn from him, other than stats for the Dallas Cowboys or how to keep her emotional distance from the people who loved her?
“All I know is that this isn’t the first time in my life I’ve had to face that the right thing to do isn’t always the easiest one.”
Cassie pointed at him. “Do not try that with me, young man. I know that better than anyone. So now I have to ask you a question. What makes you think it’s going to beeasyto raise her?”
“I didn’t say—”
“Exactly. It’s the hardest thing you’ll ever do. Believe me.”
“No. The hardest thing would be losing her when she’s older and she realizes what’s happening.”
