Page 9 of Protecting the Boundary
I toss the towel behind me on the counter and cross my arms. “I’m going to retire at the end of the season.”
Larissa’s eyes go wide with shock. It’s the first time I’ve said it out loud as a fact instead of a question on whether or not I should. Instead of feeling anxious or panicked about the idea of ending my career, I feel oddly settled about the whole thing.
“Are you sure?” she asks me.
“It’s time. Kay comes first. I’ll have enough saved and in investments that we’ll be covered for the rest of her life. Hell, I’ve got enough that she’ll have more money than she needs for three lifetimes. My contract is up at the end of this season, and I don’t want to keep being away from Kay. Every season gets harder on her the older she gets. I don’t want to put her through that anymore.”
She steps forward and gives me a hug that I easily return. “You’re an incredible dad, Romel,” she whispers, her voice choked as she tightens her arms around me. “Sydney chose well.”
Tears burn my eyes, but I walk to the stove and brush them away once she releases me. It wouldn’t be the first time she’s seen me cry, but I still try to keep it as private as I can. And Kay running into the kitchen gives me another reason to be glad I turned away. She’s too dang perceptive for a kid her age, and the last thing I want her to worry about is why her daddy is crying.
“Alright, Kay, want some pita pizza for dinner?”
“Yeah!” she squeals. Larissa gives us both hugs and then leaves for the night, and I spend the rest of the night making pizzas with my daughter, dancing in the kitchen to kids’ songs, and then ending the night with a couple of episodes of her favorite cartoon.
SIX
The house is just as imposing as it was the first time I was here, but I know the truth of it now. As daunting as it is on the outside, the inside is warm and inviting and there’s a little girl in there I can’t wait to see again. I grab the coloring book I bought when I saw it at the store and head toward the front door.
I ring the doorbell and hear the thud of shoes before the door swings open and Kaylee stands there with a wide smile on her adorable face. I squat down and smile back just as I hear a voice that’s filled with a mix of panic and frustration. “Kaylee Mae, what have I told you about answering the door without Daddy?”
A man walks around the corner and my smile falls.
No effing way.
This cannot be happening to me.
The hot guy I bumped into at the store—the one who had his large hands on my box of tampons—is the single dad I’ll be nannying for. I silently pray that he won’t recognize me, but my hopes are dashed when he stops in his tracks and recognition fills his dark eyes.
“You.”
Fuck my life.
I stand and give him an awkward wave. “Uh, hi. I’m Meredith, your new nanny.”
He steps forward, closing the short distance between us and wraps his hand around his daughter’s shoulder, pulling her closer to his body.
“You’rethe nanny?”
“Miss Mere,” Kay says helpfully and bless her because she totally breaks the tension.
“That’s right,” I say, smiling at her. “I brought you something.”
“What?” Romel asks gruffly, a scowl on his face.
Oh boy. A scowl should not be sexy.
I pull out the coloring book with her favorite cartoon printed on the front from where I’ve had it hidden behind my back, and Kaylee lets out a squeal of joy as she reaches for it.
I squat back down. Her dad can be a scowly grump all he wants; I’m not here for him. “Want to color it with me?”
She nods.
“Do you have stuff?” he asks, his voice deep and gruff.
I arch a brow at him and he goes on. “Like boxes or anything. Since you’ll be living here.”
I gesture with my thumb to my car. “I’ve got a few suitcases in my car.”
