A Bundle of Mannies

by Lorelei M. Hart

  She rambled on and on about the day of fun she had, or few hours anyways, the joy beaming off her face.

  “Is Mae sleeping?” I asked.

  Zave slowly turned around. On his back was my sleeping baby girl. How had I not seen the wrap when I came in? “You managed a miracle.” I stood there in awe. I’d even gone to a babywearing group, trying to figure out how to get her settled on my back, so I could get some things done with her close by, but even with their help, she never was on there secure and comfy enough for me to be fine with it.

  “Big family.” He shrugged.

  “But it is like YouTube perfect—your wrapping skills, I mean.” I would know. I’d watched all of the tutorials before giving up.

  “I can show you.” He took off the sunglasses, which I now realized were goggles, and started to collect the items from the table. “Maggie, what are you going to do now?” he asked, and the oddness of the question took me aback. She was a little kid. We should be telling her, not giving her freedom, right?

  “After volcano 2.0, I am to wash up and get ready to set the table,” she recited.

  I was so oblivious sometimes. Of course, he wasn’t giving her free rein. I needed to chill. Which was extremely hard to do given the combination of life events paired with his scent. Ugg.

  She bounced off to complete her task.

  “I didn’t pick up dinner.” I confessed, although I had been half tempted.

  “No worries. I wasn’t sure what you did or did not have planned, so Maggie and I made pancake batter. Figured worst case scenario, we had it for breakfast. Best case scenario—” I’d spend my entire time at HR worrying about things, and Zave more than had everything under control. He was a freaking goddess send. Now, if only I could pretend he was an old grandfatherly type instead of being Zave.

  “Breakfast for dinner.” I rubbed my belly playfully. “My favorite.”

  “I know.” He snapped his mouth shut.

  “Did Maggie show you your room?” Because why not make an already awkward conversation even more so.

  “About that...” He carried the bowl to the sink, and I grabbed a cloth to wipe down the table and not at all to make sure I kept my hands to myself. Nope. I was being helpful. “I can do that.” He reached for the cloth.

  “How about I do this, and then I can get Mae and you can cook?” She looked so completely peaceful on his back, but cooking with a baby on sounded like a horrid plan.

  “Because your pancakes are mushy in the middle?” Zave teased as he washed his hands.

  “Maggie told you my deep dark secret. I can’t make a pancake to save my existence.” They never turned out. I could make a gourmet meal that could wow the pickiest of guests, but my pancakes—not even close to edible. And goodness knew I tried.

  “She did. Let’s go into the living room, and I can give you part two of the tutorial—getting your baby girl down without waking her.”

  It sounded like voodoo, but I quickly finished wiping the table and followed him in. Sure enough, he made it look like the simplest thing in the world, and I had her back in my arms. Working was going to be hard, at least the leaving her each day part. But there was something about Zave that told me it would be okay.

  Which was why, even if he would be agreeable to the kisses that kept popping into my mind, that was no-go territory. I needed him. The girls needed him. There would be no ruining it by fulfilling the fantasies of my youthful crush.

  Zave was our manny.

  Just our manny.

  And that was more than enough.

  Maybe.

  Chapter Six

  Zave

  Manny Guide Page 3: Family mealtimes are just that. When the parents are home, eat your meals in the kitchen or your room.

  I passed the platter of pancakes across the table to Ronnie...again. He forked up two of the round ones, leaving the last unicorn shape for Maggie who eyed it with jealous zeal. Then I took it back and held it out to her. “One more, Maggie?” Because I hardly even noticed her eyes spinning in different directions.

  “Mine.” She pounced, but her daddy grabbed the hand about to stab in the general direction of her quarry but more likely to spear me.

  “Maggie, is that how we serve ourselves at the table?” he chided, and she thrust out her lower lip. Truth, the little girl had a busy day with me, and probably should have napped but had not. Something I’d make sure didn’t happen again.

  “But, Daddy, the pancake is—”

  “Maggie…”

  I recognized the warning tone. In two seconds, that unicorn was going in a Ziplock for another time. And I couldn’t bear it. Not on my first day. So I did something the manual I’d been given at the agency flat told me not to do. I interfered when a parent was disciplining their child. But I tried to be subtle.

  I dropped my fork on the floor. Now...it wasn’t that subtle because I’d picked it up to drop it. And the narrow-eyed glance I got from Ronnie told me he wasn’t fooled. But as his daughter darted under the table to help me, it gave a second for tension to abate. And...for a reset. When she was back in her chair, I held the platter out to her again, hoping she’d take advantage of the reset. “Maggie, would you care for another pancake?”

  “Yes, thank you, please, Mr. Zave.” The smart little girl gave us both her most winning smile and waited while I slid the unicorn onto her plate. She sat quietly while I added a little syrup to the pool already there because everyone needs fresh syrup with a new pancake, and then, as she dug in, I met her daddy’s gaze.

  He was trying and failing to look serious, but what really came out was relief. My old crush had circles under his eyes, and he was having a hard time even staying awake. It was a shame we hadn’t reconnected in a more social setting, preferably while I was being a successfully employed alpha, but things being what they were, I had the opportunity to help him look less tired. And I’d take that for the win.

  “Ronnie?” I stood and moved around the table to where his head drooped over his plate. “Ronnie, I think it’s time for you to go take a hot shower and get ready for bed.” I’d get them all settled then head for home. I’d come for an interview and somehow missed the “live-in” part of the job description, but it wasn’t as if I was giving up a palace to move here. My crappy apartment was a month-to-month rental and I’d just paid for the next month. So...unless my slumlord, err landlord was feeling generous, I could just write that money off. But I would be willing to bet the water here was not rusty, that if the toilet handle came off in my hand, someone would fix it, and the company was much better. Mae was adorable, Maggie was smart and sweet and a little sassy, and their daddy...well, he wasn’t the one I was here to take care of anyway. I had to remember that.

  Ronnie was my boss. Period.

  But tonight...tonight, I’d take care of him because he needed me to. He’d had to go through the loss of the love of his life, then pregnancy all alone, then a terrifyingly ill baby while also caring for a little girl who’d just lost her mommy. And who was old enough to feel the loss.

  “Mr. Zave, is Daddy okay?” Maggie paused with the last bite of the unicorn, the horn she’d saved for last on each cake, poised on her fork.

  “Shh,” I told her. “Daddy is fine but very tired.” Slipping an arm around Ronnie’s shoulders, I guided him to stand up. “Can you show me to Daddy’s room?”

  She shoveled the bit of pancake into her mouth and chewed, swallowed. Ronnie must have taught her not to speak with her mouth full, but we’d have to work on not rushing to eat for fear of choking in the rush to speak. “Are we going to tuck him in?”

  I touched my finger to my lips as a reminder. “Yes, Daddy needs his rest.” He’d fed Mae right before dinner, so she should be okay for a while then, if he was still asleep, I’d give her one of the bottles of breast milk from the fridge.

  Maggie wiped her hands and mouth on her napkin, more evidence of her good manners, and slid to the floor then went up on tiptoe and led the way. As we passed thro
ugh the living room, she scooped up a panda bear stuffie and continued on, speaking in a very low voice. “We’re going to put Daddy to bed, Mr. Panda. So we have to be very quiet.”

  Ronnie didn’t argue or protest as I helped him into his room and, sitting him on the edge of the bed, slipped off his shoes. I wanted to take off his pants, too, but, between my years of fantasy about him, and his daughter’s presence, decided the khakis would just have to get wrinkled. Pushing him gently down to lie flat, I tugged a coverlet from the foot over the bed to his chin and, without thinking, dropped a kiss on his forehead.

  Before I could react to my inappropriate employee/boss behavior, Maggie did the same then nodded. “Now Daddy will sleep nice. He needs kisses since Mama isn’t here anymore.” She turned big eyes toward me. “We miss her a lot.”

  My throat nearly closed, and tears pricked my eyes at the grief of a small child, at the fact Mae would never meet that Mama...at my omega’s loss. Rather, my old friend and new boss’s loss. I might not be their alpha, but I could make their lives easier. And for now, that would have to be enough.

  I had Maggie in the tub, splashing amid mountains of bubbles, when it occurred to me that Ronnie hadn’t even hired me, not really. Also, that I couldn’t leave, even to go home for a change of clothes. I needed to be here for the girls because their daddy was sleeping like the dead when I left him. He needed that rest.

  I’d sleep on the couch in my clothes. And I’d roll the bassinet out by me and give Ronnie one night of sleep. I turned away from the gaily singing little girl so she couldn’t see the tears roll down my cheeks. For them...for me. For the fact there’d never be an us. And if I didn’t get that through my skull right now, I’d be useless to this family I was already falling in love with.

  Chapter Seven

  Ronnie

  I rolled over to the sound of my alarm clock. The one I kept on the far dresser so I at least had to get up.

  Panic struck me, and I sat up straight. Mae had not woken up. I bounded out of bed, and as my feet hit the floor, the cool feel of the wood didn’t tickle my soles. I had socks on. Looking down…I had my pants on, too.

  And then it all started coming back to me and my heart started to slow—slightly. Zave was here. He put me to bed. He had Mae. Although the need to see she was okay had me bolting out the door and into her room, which was empty.

  No need to freak out.

  I headed to the living room, where she tended to take her naps. There she was nestled in Zave’s arms, sucking down the last of a bottle. Zave wore the same clothes as he had the night before, and the couch throw blanket was crumpled next to him.

  “You didn’t need to stay.” Although, I was glad he had. Something about the way he handled dinner had me so relaxed, I allowed my exhaustion to catch up with me. I had spent so many months on, always needing to be ready at a moment’s notice, not being able to sleep deeply for fear I’d not hear Mae when she needed me. Last night, just by his presence, I was able to let that all go and sleep sounder than I had since the day they said cancer.

  “You said this place came with a room.” He was teasing, the tone of his voice light.

  “A room is not the same as stay on the couch and tending my daughter at all hours of the night.” I came over, holding my hands out for Mae who had just finished eating.

  “Were you a good girl for Uncle Zave?” I asked as I brought her to my shoulder to burp.

  “She was really good. Only woke up twice and didn’t get too mad at the bottle once she realized that was all I had to offer.”

  I sat on the lounge chair, taking in the sight that was Zave. His eyes were a little sunken, which, given he’d probably had less sleep than normal, made sense. The rest of him was far more relaxed than he had been, even at dinner last night. True, there had been a tense moment when I’d been extra snappy with Maggie, but still, it had been nice, and at the time, I thought him relaxed. But now, seeing him still half sleepy, having just fed my little girl, he sat there looking like he belonged. Like this was his home, too.

  “Are you taking the job?” I blurted out just as Maggie decided to round the corner in her unicorn footie jams.

  “He can’t take a job, Daddy. We need him here.” Maggie had a point. She just missed out on the part where that was the work.

  “You heard her. We need you here.” I wasn’t beyond using her cuteness to convince him.

  “I was hoping I hadn’t stepped over boundaries— Maggie did you go potty yet?”

  I looked over and saw his concern. She was most definitely doing the pee-pee dance.

  Mae let out her burp, and Maggie started to giggle before running out of the room.

  “That would be a no, she didn’t, and then laughing had her need growing,” I explained to Zave who was shaking his head with a big smile, attempting not to laugh. “So, what do you say?”

  “I can’t promise forever.” His mouth snapped shut, and I just stared, trying to figure out what he felt he slipped up on. “I mean, I have an education, and I am an alpha, and I— Yes, I would like the job.” So many things were going on in his head, and from the little bit that slipped out, his being an alpha in a typically omega job was something he was less than confident about.

  “Did you know that even before Lauren was sick, we had talked about me being the one in the workforce?” My words had his eyes wide open, glued to me. “I loved Maggie and being home with her, but I really loved my work. Then, when we needed me to go back to keep our family insured, it fit. Sure, I missed not being there to take care of Lauren as much as I would have liked, and I missed seeing Maggie’s face on the last day of preschool and such, but I just fit there. And you know what?”

  He shook his head slightly.

  “Lauren confessed to me that she liked being home. Not the sick part, but the being a mom part, and doing the breakfasts and school drop-offs. We had decided that when she got better, that was how we would continue to be.” Her family would’ve lost their shit at that. They were far too traditional for my liking when it came to societal roles.

  “But she never did.” His head fell slightly.

  “No, she never did.” I got up and put Mae in her bassinet, my need to use the restroom reaching the dancing point, like Maggie’s had. “But, you see, for me, for our family, we don’t give a hoot about designations and roles, and I want that for you, too. For you to be happy with whatever place you find in this world and, for now, that place better be here.” I winked as I headed toward the hallway.

  “Are you gonna dance, omega?” He bit his lip. “I mean, boss.”

  “You mean omega, and, no, I am not. I need to bring Mae to an appointment in two hours. Can you stay until then, and we can work out details of your employ?”

  I heard him answer in the affirmative before running to my bathroom. I was just as bad as Maggie. What do they say? You plant a potato….

  Chapter Eight

  Zave

  Manny Guide Page 5: You are not the housekeeper. Aside from straightening the children’s room at naptime or loading the dishwasher, keep your focus on your charges and let someone else vacuum.

  Ronnie had tried his best to make me comfortable with my non-traditional job as his manny. And he’d done a pretty good job. I waited while he used the restroom and showered then finally showed back up in the living room, looking well-groomed in dark-indigo jeans and a pale-green polo shirt. The clean, woodsy scent of his cologne only emphasized my own less-than freshness.

  But he sat down across from me at the table—where I’d migrated to drink coffee after changing and settling Mae down for a nap—and gave me one of his prize-winning smiles.

  He had told me once, during a Friday night at the library, about how his omega dad entered him in a baby beauty contest once. He had the ribbon tucked away in a drawer somewhere at that time and probably still did. Apparently, the act of putting their child out there like that had nearly led to a divorce once his alpha dad learned of it, so his pageant career ended there
.

  Looking at him now, I thought it was a waste. He’d have won a lot of them. But then, who knows if he’d have been the sweet, kind man whose kids adored him?

  “So you’d work Monday through Friday for those hours, then, is that okay?” He looked at me expectantly, and I knew he’d given me information I probably would wish I had. Crud. “Unless you have already changed your mind? I know I think my girls are perfect, but two of them all day is a handful.”

  Oh, hell. I didn’t care what the hours were or if he wanted me to sleep in the bathtub. I’d never felt more comfortable, more at home, or more useful in my life. No, it did not use my education and was not what an alpha traditionally did. But Ronnie’s explanation of he and his late wife’s arrangement took a bit of the sting out of that. At the very least, I’d have a break from the rat race. And spend it with two gorgeous ladies who already thought I was cool.

  “I’ll stay on one condition,” I told him, winking at Maggie who lurked over by the refrigerator, pretending not to be involved in grownup talk.

  “More money? Because I can only afford what I put in the ad…” A cloud crossed over his expression, and I almost felt bad, but I felt too good to feel bad just now.

  “No, the pay is fine.” Heck, my old car was paid off and the job included room and board, so I wouldn’t need much. Hell, I hadn’t even looked at the amount. Somehow, that had seemed less important than other factors, and I hadn’t planned to take the job.

  “Then...what? Do you want me to redo your room?”

  I chuckled. “Ronnie, I don’t even know what my room looks like. I’m sure it’s very nice if it’s anything like the rest of the place. No, this is much more important than money and furniture.”

  Maggie sidled her way over to stand next to me, watching intently, but the tiniest of twinkles in her eyes told me she knew I wasn’t going anywhere. “Mr. Zave, are you going to take care of us?”