Page 30 of The Nanny and the Don
Devlan looked from him and back to me, lifting her brows as if to ask for permission. I thought for a second. It had been a struggle to get King through the nights when he had a nightmare. So far, I had let him get up and watch cartoons until we both fell out on the couch.
“Um, sure, but I don’t think we should leave Evie down here by herself,” I replied.
“Can Evie come too?” Devlan asked, looking down at King.
“She can sleep with us if she don’t pee on us.”
“I made sure she had on a pull-up,” Devlan assured him.
“She can come then,” King decided.
“Thank you, buddy,” I said, chuckling yet again. “You take him upstairs with you, Devlan. Let me grab my phone. I’ll bring her up.”
“OK, Mr. Gray,” she said, nodding slowly.
“Devy, why do you call my Uncle Steel, Mr. Gray?” King quizzed as Devlan picked him up.
I lingered to hear her answer, but she never replied as she headed to the stairs. Missing her presence already, I hurried to my office to grab my phone off the desk. This time the scream I heard came from Devlan. I knew that there was nothing wrong with her. So, I didn’t rush back to get Evie. I didn’t want to risk waking her up, so I took my time carrying her upstairs. When I made it to the upstairs apartment, Devlan stood in the middle of the room wearing the biggest grin.
“Where do you want her?” I asked.
“You can put her in the bed,” she instructed, leading the way to the bedroom.
I put Evie in bed next to her brother before turning and following Devlan back out to the living room.
“Call your mom and let her know you’re OK,” I said, extending my phone to her.
“My mom . . . I’m not in touch with my mom. Pretty sure she overdosed or something by now.”
My heart wrenched hearing her revelation. We had a similar story, and I didn’t even realize.
“Well, call whoever you need to and let them know you’re safe. Tell them you found a job as a nanny for an evil recluse. I’m sure that’s what you call me in your head,” I said, chuckling under my breath as she finally accepted the phone.
She narrowed her eyes, studying my face for a beat but never looking down at the phone in her hand. Her gaze made me feel vulnerable, or at least I thought that’s what I was feeling.I couldn’t remember the last time I felt vulnerable, but Devlan made me feel naked.
I felt like she could read my mind through my eyes and tell exactly what I was thinking. Some part of me wanted that because I was struggling with my own thoughts. There was no way I could openly express them. Finally releasing me from the scrutiny of her stare, Devlan looked down at the phone and made her call.
I wanted to let her go. I really did. At the same time, I needed her. The kids needed her. It wasn’t even that I felt like she could get Brendan to turn over my money or deliver his head on a platter, which would make me feel better than getting my money back. I just wanted her here.
Deep down I didn’t even think she knew about the money. Somewhere inside, I was ready to admit that I never thought she did. Still, I needed her here. The theft was just an excuse to get what I wanted. There was hardly ever a time when I couldn’t get what I wanted until Brendan backdoored me and stepped to a woman who I knew was meant to be with me. Every day for the past week that became more apparent.
She would be happy here too if she could only decide to stay on her own. I wasn’t ready to give her that choice. Who the hell would willingly stay in a place where they had been kept against their will? Who the hell would want to be trapped in the middle of nowhere with a grumpy ass fool who didn’t even know how to express his feelings?
“Hey, Kels. It’s me,” Devlan said once somebody answered the phone.
“Speaker,” I said as I moved closer to the couch.
I sat down on the couch, making sure that she knew there was no rush. She could take her time on her call, but that didn’t mean I was going to leave her to it alone. I wasn’t that crazy.
“Bitch, I was starting to think you were dead. Why haven’t you been answering your phone?”
“I’m sorry, girl. I broke my phone. I haven’t had time to get a new one,” she said, glancing over at me as she spoke.
“I been by the apartment looking for you. I even went by our job. I was going crazy out here. Do you know that?” the woman fussed.
“I know. I know. I haven’t even been home in a few days. I found a good ass job as a live-in nanny for this mean ass, fine ass recluse,” she explained, looking over at me with a devilish smirk.
How was she so fucking adorable? I didn’t miss the fact that she had called me fine. I definitely didn’t miss the fact that she made sure to emphasize that I was a mean ass recluse.
