Park Avenue Player

by Ward, Penelope

  Her comment made my pulse race a little. Any implication of sex reminded me how hard up I was.

  “I’m out of breath because you’re making me late for a meeting.”

  Except now for some reason I was imagining Elodie splayed out on my desk naked. Maybe that contributed to my breathing a little, too.

  ***

  A couple of hours later, my meeting was still going when Elodie called again. I almost let it go to voicemail, but then I remembered she and Hailey were traveling to Connecticut. I worried maybe something had happened.

  I held my index finger up and left the room to take the call.

  Speaking low, I picked up. “Everything okay?”

  “Yes. We actually just arrived. But there’s a problem.”

  “What?”

  “Dr. Gottlieb’s office called. Huey recovered faster than they expected. They want us to pick him up and take him home today. I’m here with Hailey, so I can’t go get him.”

  “Can’t he spend the night there? I can get him in the morning.”

  “I asked that, but they were insistent that we pick him up now. Something about a shortage of space.”

  “Crap.” I ran my hand through my hair. “So, I’m supposed to go pick up Huey, bring him all the way back to my place, then jet out to Connecticut?”

  “Unless you want me to leave Hailey here and go back to the city to pick him up.”

  I sighed and grumbled, “No. I’ll get him.”

  “Boy, you’re just loving me today, aren’t you?”

  If she only knew the thoughts in my head when it came to her.

  “Goodbye, Elodie.”

  “You can’t say hello properly, but you certainly have no problem saying goodbye.” She laughed.

  ***

  Later that afternoon, as I attempted to finish my work so I could get out in time for my chauffeuring duties, Addison walked into my office.

  “What?” I snapped before she could even speak.

  “What the hell has gotten into you? You’re even crabbier than usual today.”

  I stopped typing and swiveled my chair toward her. “If you must know, Addison, I can’t seem to get through the day without people interrupting me—my nanny being at the top of that list. First, she asks me to go pick them up tonight in Connecticut, which is fine, except now because she’s there and I’m here, I have to go pick up the damn bird from an animal hospital he shouldn’t even be in.”

  “What’s wrong with Huey?”

  “Puffy feathers and an alleged infection that probably would’ve gone away on its own. Elodie insisted on taking him there. She’s a pain in my ass. So infuriating... So...” My words trailed off.

  Addison smirked. “Oh my God.”

  “What?”

  “You totally have a thing for her.”

  My jaw ticked. “What are you talking about?”

  “You never let women get under your skin like this. And I’ve seen her—she’s gorgeous. I think you’re starting to fall for Elodie. And it’s pissing you off. That’s why you’re so crabby.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “Ridiculous? I’d be willing to bet my car that you two will end up in bed in three months’ time—if that long.”

  “You’re insane. Your Bentley?”

  “Yes. My precious Bentley. I have nothing to worry about, so I can safely say that if you haven’t slept with her in three months, I’ll give it to you.”

  “That’s your prized possession.”

  “That’s right.”

  I returned to the email I’d been working on. I banged on the keyboard and spoke at the same time. “I don’t want your car, Addison.”

  “Well, you won’t be getting it.”

  I stopped typing. “I’m not going to sleep with Elodie. Not only does she drive me nuts, but Hailey loves her. I would never jeopardize that relationship by inserting myself into it.”

  “Oh, you’ll be inserting something, alright.”

  I laughed. “Get the fuck out of here.”

  I did love my relationship with my business partner. We could talk to each other like two guys hanging out at the bar.

  I looked down at my phone. “Shit. I still have to call Davidson.”

  “I’ll handle the call with Davidson. You’re all wound up, and from what you told me, you have a lot of shit to do tonight. Why don’t you leave early for the first time in your career?”

  “Not my style, Addison. You know that.”

  She intentionally pushed my buttons. “Yeah, well neither is driving around birds or trekking up to Connecticut on a Friday night. This nanny sure has you wrapped around her finger.”

  “And you sure know how to fucking annoy me.” I was sweating. “On second thought, maybe I do need a breather.” I stood up. “Take the call with Davidson.”

  ***

  The vet’s office was mobbed. There were four people in line in front of me before I could even tell them I was there to pick up my damn bird.

  About the time it was going to be my turn, everyone’s attention went to a man who waltzed in with a goat. A fucking goat!

  He cut in line.

  “Excuse me, gorgeous,” he said to the woman at the desk. He had an Australian accent. “I have a bit of an emergency. The family and I are in the city visiting my sister who just moved here. We drove all the way from California. Anyway, we were walking down the street when a loud popping sound came from under the ground. Still don’t understand what it was—an explosion of some kind. Everyone’s alright. But Pixy here…well, he fainted. He does that from time to time when he’s startled. But this time, he hit his head pretty badly on the pavement. Ever since, he’s seemed a bit disoriented. So, I want to get his head checked.”

  I was pretty sure this guy was the one who needed his head checked.

  The woman came around from behind the desk and bent down. “He’s so cute.”

  Everyone in this damn office was now swooning over a goat. Wait. Not just a goat—a goat in a damn diaper.

  “He’s normally potty trained,” the man added. “But when he’s nervous, he gets the shits. Thus, the diaper.”

  Thanks a lot, Elodie. Thanks a lot for getting me into this clusterfuck.

  “Excuse me,” I finally interrupted. “Shits aside, I’m just here to pick up my bird. Can someone please bring him out?”

  “You’ll have to wait your turn, sir.”

  “Technically, it is my turn. This gentleman and his goat cut in front of me.”

  “I’m sorry, mate. No harm intended. Just trying to make sure my boy is okay.”

  “Let’s take him back to see the doctor,” the woman said. She then ushered the man and his goat straight through.

  Baaa. I could hear from down the hall.

  By the time they brought Huey out, I felt ready to kill someone. My bird looked completely normal. A little hospital tag affixed to his cage read: Huey B. LaCroix.

  B? What the hell does that stand for?

  “He’s going to be just fine,” the nurse said. “Thank you for coming to get him. I know it was earlier than expected.”

  I looked over at Huey and felt a little bad for doubting his need to come here, because he did look a lot better than the morning Elodie had brought him in. As much as I talked shit about him, I never actually wanted anything bad to happen. Some days I just wished he’d fly away to a happier place.

  We were almost out the door when I heard it again. Baaa.

  That damn goat was loud.

  And again... Baaa.

  Wait a minute.

  It wasn’t coming from down the hall. It was coming from...Huey.

  He opened his beak. Baaa.

  What. The. Fuck?

  I carried him back to the desk. “Excuse me. My bird has only ever said one thing his entire life. He’s hardly made another peep besides that one sentence, and now he’s making goat sounds because apparently he thinks it’s funny to mimic that…animal…back there. You want to tell me how I’m supp
osed to live with this?”

  She shrugged. “Isn’t that typical of birds like him? They mimic things? It’s not really a problem.”

  “It’s not? He comes here a bird and comes out a fucking goat, and it’s not a problem?” It felt like a vein had popped in my head.

  I was losing my mind. I just needed to leave.

  The Australian guy emerged from down the hall. “Hey, mate. I couldn’t help but overhear you yelling. Imitation is the finest form of flattery. And Pixy is very flattered.”

  ***

  The baa sounds drove me bonkers the entire way home.

  When I dropped Huey off, I jumped in the shower and whacked one off real quick to calm myself down before getting changed into some casual clothes.

  As expected, traffic was bumper to bumper almost the entire way to Greenwich. Thank goodness, I’d left work early.

  By the time I pulled up to Hailey’s friend’s house, I was ravenous. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast.

  The smell of barbecue filled the air. My stomach growled.

  The sun hadn’t set yet. There was probably at least another hour of daylight left.

  A woman spotted me approaching the property and opened a gate leading into the pool area.

  “You must be Hailey’s uncle?”

  “Yes.” I held out my hand. “Hollis LaCroix.”

  She took it, giving me a once-over. “Lindsey Branson, Megan’s mother.”

  “Thank you for having Hailey.”

  “It’s been an absolute pleasure. And your Elodie is such a hoot, too.”

  My Elodie?

  I couldn’t wait to get to Elodie and give her a piece of my mind about what happened with Huey. I still wanted to blame her for the whole thing, even though deep down I knew it wasn’t her fault. I just enjoyed directing my anger toward her for some reason.

  But when I got through that gate and took a look at her, I couldn’t remember anything I had to say. Elodie was lying on a lounge chair wearing a bikini top that displayed her taut stomach—and cutoff denim shorts. Fuck. That diamond belly ring was glimmering in what sunlight was left, her supple tits pushed up somewhat. I’d never seen her so exposed. Given the environment, it wasn’t even inappropriate. Just sexy.

  When she spotted me, she hopped up from her seat and walked over.

  “There you are.” She smiled. “You made it. Everything work out okay?”

  The entire car ride here I’d been intent on reaming her out. For what exactly? I didn’t even know. Now, all I wanted to do was look at her. Well, I wanted to do more than look at her, but I knew that wouldn’t be happening.

  Instead of barking at her, I said, “Everything is great.”

  “Good.” She smiled. “Hungry?”

  My eyes scrolled down the length of her body. Fucking starving.

  “I could eat.”

  “Let me make you a plate.”

  “You really don’t have to do that.”

  “I know. I want to. You had a long day.”

  As I followed her toward the smell of the grill, I said, “You know, you’re kind of an anomaly.”

  “How so?”

  “Well, you hate men for the most part. You’re quite independent. Yet any chance you get, you’re trying to serve me or feed me. I’m not sure I understand it.”

  “It’s simple,” she said as she grabbed a burger and started making my plate.

  “Yeah? Enlighten me.”

  “You don’t expect it. You’re not the type of guy who assumes a woman’s role is in the kitchen or that you’re superior just because you’re a man. Hailey has told me what you’ve taught her about being a strong woman and not taking shit from people. Because you don’t expect to be served, it’s my pleasure to do it.” She handed me the plate. “Here you go.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  We walked back to the lounge chairs, and Hailey finally noticed me.

  “Hi, Uncle Hollsy!” she yelled from the pool.

  I waved and spoke with my mouth full. “Hey, Hailey.”

  “Can we stay longer?” she asked.

  “Yeah. A little while,” I said.

  I sure as hell wasn’t going to push going home early when here I could gaze at Elodie’s body in that getup.

  Yeah, it was official. Addison was right.

  I do have a thing for Elodie.

  Chapter 14

  * * *

  Elodie

  Yeah. Pretty sure he has a thing for me. At least the way he was sneaking glances at my breasts and navel indicated that. Or maybe it was wishful thinking because I found him so attractive.

  Hollis wore a gray polo shirt and khakis, his shades tucked into the opening of his shirt. I loved when he dressed down.

  “I actually don’t live very far from here,” I said.

  “That’s right. I keep forgetting you’re all the way out in the boonies.”

  “I like living outside the city. It’s peaceful. My ex-husband and I had a very active social life in town. That got me nowhere. I’d much rather wake up to birds chirping than honking and yelling any day.” I smiled. “And that was just in our apartment.”

  “Your ex seems to influence a lot of the decisions you’ve made.”

  “Yes. But the experience only made me stronger.”

  “Stronger or guarded?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Two years, Elodie? And the only man you’re spending time with is on some Turkish soap opera with subtitles?”

  “How did you know about that?”

  “You had YouTube on the TV when I walked in and woke you up last night.”

  “Oh...well, yeah... That guy is…pretty nice.” I grinned sheepishly.

  “And he can’t hurt you.”

  “What are you getting at?”

  “He can’t hurt you, like your ex-husband did—the guy who inspired you to become a man trap. The guy behind the TV screen is safe.”

  “You think you have me all figured out, huh?”

  His brow lifted. “Don’t I?”

  “I don’t exactly see you in a healthy relationship. You can barely look at your bird because he reminds you of some broad who dumped you. I think you have a little bit of a history with heartbreak yourself.”

  Before he could address my comment, Hailey interrupted. She was dripping from the pool and shivering.

  “Can I spend the night here?” she asked.

  “No,” Hollis said. “I came all the way out here to pick you up. That means you’re coming home with me.”

  She pouted, then ran back to the pool and jumped in the water.

  “I can pick her up tomorrow morning and bring her back to the city if you want,” I offered.

  While I’d been taking the train into the city most days to save on gas, I still used my car on my days off.

  “No. She has to learn that sometimes the answer is no.”

  “Okay.”

  “Plus, you shouldn’t have to work tomorrow.”

  “I don’t have anything else going on. I actually like my job for once in my life. I look forward to Mondays.”

  “What do you typically do on the weekends?”

  “I sleep in. Sometimes I’ll go out and get breakfast and take it over to my friend Bree’s house. Later in the day, I’ll food shop for the week or maybe work on some of my art. I never really have plans.”

  “Given your two-year hiatus from men, I take it you stay in at night and curl up with Turkish Fabio?”

  “He’s the perfect man, right? Handsome, funny, charming, and not a cheat.”

  “He needs a haircut.”

  “Don’t knock my show until you watch it, Hollsy. There’s some pretty eye candy for you on there, too, considering you don’t have much of a weekend nightlife, either.” I winked.

  ***

  During the ride to my house, Hollis told us the story of what happened to Huey at the vet. Hailey and I were cracking up. He wasn’t amused.

  “He sa
ys nothing but ‘Anna’s home’ for years, and this is how he decides to branch out?” Hollis snapped.

  “I think he knew just the thing to drive you over the edge,” I said.

  “And what the hell does the B stand for in his name? Did you give him a middle name?” he asked.

  I half-laughed. “It stands for bird.”

  “Creative.” He chuckled.

  “Well, there was a spot for a middle name on the admission form, so…”

  Hailey interrupted the conversation when she suddenly asked, “What’s a DILF?”

  Hollis and I looked at each other, unsure how to respond.

  “Why?” I asked.

  “Megan heard her mom call Uncle Hollis that. Is a DILF like a doofus?”

  I bent my head back in laughter. “Nice assumption.”

  Hollis clearly didn’t know how to answer her question.

  I was quickly learning that one of my regular duties as Hailey’s nanny was to save Hollis’s ass when it came to addressing certain things.

  “DILF stands for Dad I’d Like to Friend,” I said.

  She scrunched her nose. “Like on Facebook?”

  I nodded. “Exactly.”

  “Oh. That’s not that bad. But weird that she said that because he’s not even my dad.” She shrugged. “You’re a nanny I’d like to friend, Elodie. Does that makes you a…NILF?”

  Hollis glanced over at me, and it gave me chills when he muttered under his breath, “Elodie is definitely a NILF.”

  ***

  “This is me.” I pointed to my little house, and Hollis pulled to the curb.

  He put the car in park and looked around. “There’s really not much going on out here. I wouldn’t have taken you for a country girl.”

  “I’m not. I’m originally from Queens. I moved out here when I married Tobias. He wanted to get out of the city, and his dad had just retired and moved to a new fifty-five-and-over community nearby. He liked the area, so we rented this little bungalow to give it a shot. Except our lease lasted longer than the marriage.”

  “But you stayed.”

  I shrugged. “I like being closer to nature. Although lately I’ve been missing the city, and living there would certainly be more convenient.”