Page 15 of Merry with a Brewmaster
“She’s the best,” I agree. “She loves having Saige so close, but she hasn’t had a lot of female influence since Kim left. My ex-wife is a fucking nightmare when it comes to keeping her word, so Haven craves that feminine stability. I can make all the voices in the story and paint her nails, braid her hair, and make cookies, but she needs more.”
“I kind of want to throttle your ex-wife,” she says casually, her gaze sliding to mine, gauging my reaction.
I shrug becausesame.
“You won’t get any arguments from me on that.” Vienna’s lips twitch.
“Does she know you’re hiring a nanny?”
I nod. “She had somecomments, but I reminded her that if she’s not present, she doesn’t get an opinion.”
“How’d she take that?” Vienna asks, sounding impressed.
Lifting one shoulder and letting it drop, I give her the truth. “She told me to go fuck myself.”
She laughs, and I’d forgotten how much I love the sound. “I can’t wait to meet her.”
“Should I adddon’t get arrestedto our agreement?”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
I chuckle and then sober as I say, “Haven needs someone who’s not me all the time to tell her that her dress looks pretty and to play dress-up or hell, do that play makeup shit that took me six different cleaners to get out of her favorite blanket.”
“I didn’t think I’d be this excited,” she says honestly, her expression unguarded as she searches my gaze.
“I’m glad you are.”
“Vienna, can you come swing now?” Haven yells, and I nod.
“Thank you,” Vienna says.
“For what?”
“For not giving up on me. I know this isn’t what either of us thought would happen after that last night, but it feels right.”
I swallow hard and try not to let myself read too much into that statement.
“Me too.”
“This is gonna be fun, Wells,” Vienna calls over her shoulder as she jogs toward the swings, and I send up a silent prayer because I’m pretty sure her version offunand mine are a little different these days.
6
VIENNA
SEPTEMBER
Karma was a swift kick in the ass because apparently I was too optimistic about this arrangement.
Accidentally saw Wells naked today and had to act unaffected because I’m his nanny and even though I know how magical his penis is—I can’t have it.
0 out of 10 do not recommend.
7
WELLS
OCTOBER
