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Chapter 9
Maxwatched Gigi walkawayfrom him,his headwarring with his body. Thebrazen wayshe’dmade demandsboth enraged himand turnedhimon.
“No,”hesnarled,hishandscurling around the handlesof Erin’sstroller. Hewouldn’tgetdrawn in byher. Whethershewasawareof itornot,thewoman wasplaying a dangerousgamewith him. He had given Chelseaeverything shehad everwanted,and thatbitch hadwalked awaywith hisballsin her hand. Nowthathe hadthem back,hewasn’tabouttoletanotherwoman doexactlythesame thing.
When she’d questioned himabouthiring someone else,the verymale,veryprimal sideofhis brain had thrown upa bighell no. Herealizedshewasn’ta qualified nanny. Heknewshewas too studioustowanttotake on a job—especially onesointense—buthe’dseen hereyeswhen he’d offered her twohundred tostaywith Erinthenightbefore.Itwasonlyashadowacrossher face,but itwasthere:need.
He’d toldherthathedidn’twantanyone else,and hehadn’tbeen lying. Hedid wanther asa nanny,buttherewasalsothis smallvoicethatsaid hewanted herin his lifein anotherwaytoo,and that’swhatmadenosense.Whateverthereason,hewasdetermined tohaveGigi asErin’snanny, and healwaysgotwhathewanted.
When hegotbacktohisapartmenthefed and changed Erin beforeputting her down for asleep. When therewasnomorenoisecoming from herroom,hestrodeintothespareroomthatGigi would be using. Therewasalreadyatwinbed setupagainst onewall,alongwith a bedsidetable. On theoppositewall wasatallboy. Itwasspartan,butitwould befine. Next,hewent intothebathroomandcleared a drawer for herin thevanity.
Hepoked hishead intoErin’sroomtoseeshewasstillsleeping beforeretreating tothekitchen tomakehimselfa snackwhilehewatchedthefootball. During half-time , hisphone started to ring. It was his mom.
“Hi,Mom. I’msorryI didn’tcall earlier.”
“Don’tbesilly,Max. You’ve had a lotgoingon.”
Herelaxed backintothecushion. “How’sDad?”
Therewassqueal likea door had been pushedopen.“He’sdoingokay,”shereplied. “Luckily hehad thepresenceofmind tocalltheparamedicsassoon ashefelt the tightnessin hischest.”
“Yeah,thatwaslucky,”hereplied,running a hand over hishair.“When dothedoctorsthinkhe’ll beabletogohome?”
“Theysaid in afewdays.”
“And howare you,Mom?”
Shesighed heavily.“I’mallright. I’vebeen spendingmydayswithyour dad,and then I getabitof restwhen I gobacktohishouseintheevening.”
Maxcouldn’thelp butbealittleenviousof thestrength of their relationship, despitethembeingdivorced. He’d asked hismomaboutitonce. She’d said thatsheand hisfather werebestfriends—theyjustshouldn’thavegottenmarried. Ithad taken themtwenty-fiveyears tofigureitout.
“How’smy darling Erin?”sheasked.“Hasshesettled in?”
“Asmuch asa seven-month-old can,” hereplied witha smallsmile.“She’sgood.I don’tthink she’seven realizedwe’reliving in a differentcity.”
“I’msorryIleft you high and drywithher. Haveyou adjusted okay?”
His mind wentbacktoGigi’sface. Shelooked likean angel,buthehad afeeling ifhepushed her toohard,shecould growhornsand atail. “I’ve managed tofind a nanny,”he heard himselfsay. It wasn’texactlytrue. He’dmanaged to potentially gethimselfa nanny—dependingon thewhimsof said nanny.
“Sosoon? Howdid youmanagethat?”
“Pureluck,really. Oneof thenewwaitresseshad a roommatewhowaslooking for work.”
“Well,don’tholdoutonme, Max. Tellmeaboutthisperson,”she urged.
“Her nameis Gianna—Gigi—and she’sacollegestudent. She’stoofocusedon herstudies togo outand party,soshereallyis theperfectperson for thejob.”
“Isshe pretty?”
Hismom’squestion lefthimspeechless. Prettydidn’tseemlikeadescriptiveenough word. Gorgeous. Beautiful. Stunning. All of thesewordsseemedmuchmorefitting. Buttheword naïvealso seemed tofitGigi—innocent,guileless,and very,very unawareofwhatshewas…ofwhatshecould be. Shewastheopposite of Chelsea ineveryway.
“Max?”
“I don’tseewhatthat hastodowithanything.” Hetried tokeep the growl fromhis voice.
Shechuckled.“I’ll takethatasayes.Whathourswill shebeworking?”
Hefrowned at hismother’swords.“Wehaven’tworked outtheparticularsyet.”
