by Piper Rayne
Her fists clench, the first sign of any emotion I’ve gotten from her. “I got pregnant and met Chip right after. He loved me and wanted to adopt you. It was better that way. Would you rather know that your father was a man who could never have supported you emotionally or financially? I did what was best for you. Best for us.” Her eyes narrow.
“You did what was best for you.” I stab my index finger in her direction. “If you did what was best for me, you wouldn’t have run from Lake Starlight. You would’ve allowed me to see Chip, whether he was my biological father or not. And you would’ve sat me down when I was old enough and told me the truth. All you’ve ever cared about is yourself!”
She scoffs. “What? You grew a backbone up there in Small Town, USA? He might’ve paid for some things, but Phil put a roof over your head and food on the table. He bought you designer clothes. Expensive vacations. So Chip did some stuff. So did Phil.” She crosses her arms.
“Because you never allowed Chip to do more. You were so selfish.”
I spot Phil and Bridget walking back up the pathway. Bridget holds Phil back, but his eyes are on us, and he looks concerned.
“What do you want to get out of this, Cleo? To make me feel like a bad mother?”
“You were a bad mother. Look at me, Mom. I’m messed up. I just ran away from the one place where I fit. From the first man I’ve ever…” I leave it there because she doesn’t care nor deserve to know how much Denver has changed me.
My phone dings in my purse.
“You’re always so dramatic. You think this is a hard life.” She opens her arms to indicate the house and the ranch.
It wasn’t. I’m not saying that. I always had more than enough food and clothes, but emotionally, it scarred me. She scarred me.
“You have no idea what a hard life is,” she says.
“Do you even care that I found out? Does it matter at all to you that I’m standing here and you’ve yet to apologize or talk to me about who my biological father is?”
She throws her arms in the air. “He was a drug addict who died when you were two. There. Does that make you feel better?”
I stand there, absorbing the information, because when I walk out of this house, I won’t have a parent. At least not one that I talk to. “Thank you for that. It’s the least you could do.” I turn to leave.
“Cleo!” she yells, and I spin back around.
Phil and Bridget come up onto the porch, and Bridget looks at me. My phone dings again. Mom shakes her head, but not one tear, not one apology. The woman I share blood with isn’t half as concerned as the people standing near her who don’t hold one drop of the same blood as me.
“Have a great life, Mom.”
“Hold up, Cleo!” Bridget runs after me, but I’m already through the cook’s kitchen when she catches up. “Not good, huh?” She puts her arm around me as my phone dings for a third time.
“No.” I pull out my phone.
Phoenix: Private plane. Dallas Love Field. Arrives at nine o’clock tonight.
“He’s coming,” I say.
“Who?” She looks over my shoulder then kisses my temple. “Oh, him.”
I laugh.
“Then I need to spend the day getting you ready for him.”
“No,” I say. “You’ve already done so much.”
“One last splurge on my sister before she moves away forever,” she says and opens the front door of Phil’s house.
Outside, I stare back at the house. “I’ll miss it.”
Bridget heads to the driver’s side of her car. “No, you won’t.”
We climb into the car and she pulls away. I never turn around for one last look. I’m on to the next chapter of my life now.
Thirty-Six
Denver
The plane lands and I unbuckle my seatbelt. On the way, I found Phil’s house on my phone. That has to be where she’s at.
“Rental car?” I ask the flight attendant.
“An Uber should be waiting for you when you land.”
“Okay, thanks.”
While the plane is taxiing, I pace. When it finally comes to a stop, the stairs descend and I run down and into the terminal, not stopping for anything. I follow the signs to the third-party pick-up area. It’s a small private airport, so there’s barely anyone here.
“Denver?” someone says from behind me, and I must be crazy because it sounded like Cleo.
I continue jogging and put my hands on the door to push it open.
“Denver!”
I turn, thinking I forgot something on the plane, but there she is, as if I conjured her.
“Cleo?” I say as if I could put my hand out and she’d vanish.
I can tell that she’s been crying at some point. She looks a little worse for wear but nonetheless the sight of her warms my insides and I already feel more at peace, even though I don’t know how this is gonna go.
I jog over to her. “What are you doing here?” The open expression on her face gives me hope.
She smiles. “I live here. Or I used to anyway.”
It doesn’t matter why she’s here. I can’t wait any longer to say what I need to to her. “I’m sorry. I’m such an idiot. How much time do you need down here? I can stay, or I can go back to Lake Starlight and wait for you. Whatever you want, but please, I don’t want to break up.”
She steps closer and puts her finger to my lips.
“That’s my move,” I whisper, and she laughs again.
These have to be great signs, right?
“I’m sorry. I don’t want time to think. I was stupid for blowing up. Can you forgive me?” She removes her finger from my mouth.
“No, I was wrong. That’s a lot you were handed, but I just…” The small voice inside me says it’s time. “I love you, Cleo. I fucking love you so much and I took you leaving as a rejection of me—of us. My heart was imploding while watching you pack that suitcase. I reacted badly. I should’ve let you go and given you space to come back to me.”
“No.” She takes my hands, entwining our fingers. “We’re partners. We’re in this together. I never should’ve run.”
I tighten my fingers in hers. “So you’re saying we were both wrong?”
She chuckles and nods. “I love you, Denver.”
I close my eyes, savoring the sound of the words that ignite pure bliss inside me. I imagine my heart like those Glo Worm dolls from the eighties.
“Hey.” Cleo steps forward, and I cup her face with my hands.
“What?”
“Can you do something for me?” she whispers.
“Anything.”
“Take me home.”
I bend down and my lips press to hers.
“Sorry, kiddos, but you’re not going anywhere until tomorrow morning,” Bridget interrupts.
I wave her off, sliding my tongue into Cleo’s mouth. I didn’t even realize she was here.
Turns out Bridget’s right. So Cleo and I go to a hotel, and our makeup sex is the next level. I might have to start a few fights every now and then.
The next morning, we board Griffin’s plane, and I take Cleo Dawson home where she belongs.
Epilogue
About one year later…
Denver
“That was an awesome flight. I think you can go solo next time.”
Cleo looks at me from the pilot seat of Chip’s plane. “I don’t think I ever want to go solo.”
I understand what she means. I used to love flying solo but now I prefer when she’s with me.
Our show started airing four months ago. So far ratings are good, and Selma called about another season. Lifetime Adventures is improving every day, and this year we’re starting family excursions. Yeah, Cleo got her way.
We’re still living at Savannah’s, but I actually pay her rent now. Phoenix is still there too. I couldn’t kick her out, and thankfully Cleo felt the same way. We got Phoenix a pair of AirPods for Christmas that she uses every night though. Okay, not every night.<
br />
The hangar opens and it’s pitch black.
“Did Nancy not turn on the lights?” she asks.
“Kill the engine. Maybe the circuit went bad or something.”
She stops the engine, and I jump on the wing and down to the ground. She does the same on her side. “I was eager to pull it in the hangar.”
“You can as soon as we see what’s going on.”
The minute we cross into the hangar, the lights flick on and everyone yells, “Happy birthday!”
Cleo looks at me. Most of my family is in attendance, along with Bridget, Nancy, Luther Lloyd, the guys from Smokin’ Guns. Pretty much everyone in Lake Starlight who has met Cleo, because everyone fell in love with her. Sedona is still in New York and the newest member to the family, baby Phoebe, is strapped to Rome’s chest while Dion toddles around, Calista running circles around him. Savannah is busy showing her engagement ring to everyone who hasn’t seen it yet, while Liam stands at her side taking in the praise from all the women about what a good job he did choosing the perfect ring.
Cleo makes the rounds and hugs everyone. I watch her cheeks indent further with each hug. Her eyes light up with each happy birthday.
“Sometimes it’s a long road and sometimes it’s a short road,” G’ma D says next to me, handing me a beer.
“Are those your words of wisdom?”
“She’s glowing. It took her a long time to feel what she is now. Some get it quick, but something tells me that Cleo doesn’t take it for granted.”
“I don’t either.”
G’ma Dori puts her arm behind my back to hug me. “It took a lot of loss for you to get where you are. But it’s kind of unbelievable, right?”
“Yeah.” I kiss the top of her blue hair. “Thanks for kicking me in the ass.”
“You would have realized it at some point, but this way you weren’t hurting for too long.”
I can’t believe it’s been a year with Cleo. Weren’t we just in Dallas, making up in a hotel room? I’ve had a year of sleeping next to her. A year of her laughter. A year of her smiles. A year of her kisses. And I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us.
G’ma D walks away when she sees Cleo approaching.
“Hey, you,” Cleo says, putting her arms around my body. “What are you thinking about, over here all on your own?”
I kiss the top of her head. “You.”
“Let me guess. Me naked in your bed tonight.”
“No. You naked in our bed.” She laughs, and I say, “But also how much I love you.”
She squeezes me tighter. “Love you. We could sneak into the office.” She bats her eyelashes.
“Another reason I love you.” I slide my hand in hers and we head toward the office.
Phoenix jumps in front of us. “Where is he?”
“Who?”
Cleo laughs that I’m even asking who.
“You know who,” Phoenix says.
I pat her shoulder to appease her. “Don’t worry, he’s moving here this summer, but don’t tell anyone. He doesn’t want anyone to find out.”
She rolls her eyes. “Um, I would never do that because I don’t want any competition. So you’re going to introduce me finally?”
“Once he’s settled, of course. He’s on the hunt for a nanny right now. I promise, Phoenix, I’m not bullshitting. After he’s moved in, I’m inviting him to dinner.”
“A nanny? He has a kid?” she asks.
“Yeah, now excuse us. Cleo would like to properly thank me for this great party.” I drag Cleo away.
“Um, I did most of the work,” Phoenix yells.
“Nobody likes a bragger,” I yell back.
Opening the office door, I let Cleo walk in first, then I flip the lock.
“Time for your real birthday present.”
She laughs, hopping up on her desk. “Let’s see what you got, big guy.”
“Oh, I’m going to rock your world.”
“I don’t doubt it in the least.”
I descend on her, and in the back office while everyone is drinking and eating, I discover yet another thing that drives Cleo to the brink. Never a dull moment with us. I’d say this is the good life.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE? WHAT?
Click here for a BONUS SCENE*
*Please note by downloading the bonus scene you are agreeing to join our newsletter if you’re not already a subscribed member.
Does Phoenix Bailey find herself wanting more than a nanny job in Confessions of a Naughty Nanny?
Grab CLICK HERE your copy now at the discounted price! (Scroll forward for sneak peek)
SNEAK PEEK of Confessions of a Naughty Nanny
Then Denver’s conversation with Kingston becomes my focus as they move closer.
“Griffin Thorne, the music producer?” Denver says as if Kingston is an idiot for not knowing who he’s talking about. He kinda is. “Remember when my plane went down?”
Kingston nods, picking up his second piece of cake. Little does he know what surprises might be waiting for him in that layer of frosting.
“He’s moving up here. Just built a house and he’s looking for a nanny. Anyone you went to school with still around who you think might be good?” Denver asks.
After Denver told me about Griffin Thorne’s nanny-seeking at Cleo’s birthday last week, I tried to find the agency he was using, but no one gives out client information. Apparently there’s some sort of privacy concern with stuff like that. Using the few connections I still have from high school, I found the house he built, but after stalking it for four nights in a row, there was no sign of him.
“Are you listening to me?” Sedona asks.
Without asking Denver point-blank for Griffin’s number, I’ll never find a way to reach him. And if I ask Denver, he’ll probably give Griffin a picture of me and say, “If you see this girl, call the police.” He’s so worried I’m going to embarrass him.
“I could be a nanny, right?” I ask Sedona.
“Do you like kids?”
I look at Dion with green frosting all around his face and his hands in his hair. I cringe. Harley approaches him with a wet nap, and he runs, smearing the frosting along the wall of their new house. Maybe boys are more work.
Calista has her baby doll and is pushing her around in a stroller, constantly stopping to fix the blanket or feed her a bottle. She’s sweet. Then she takes a pillow from the couch and shoves it under her shirt, patting her stomach as though she’s pregnant. The whole room laughs, and she cries.
Okay, this isn’t a good sign. I’m no good at keeping a kid clean or dealing with their emotional pitfalls. But sweet Phoebe is sleeping in her wrap, nuzzled into Rome’s chest. So content and quiet. I could handle her.
“Yeah, sure. I like them enough,” I finally answer Sedona.
“They pick their noses and eat their boogers. They have meltdowns for no reason, and if you think that cute baby in Rome’s arms doesn’t wake up every night wanting to be changed, feed, or soothed, you’re wrong. It’s work.”
Sedona knows me the best out of everyone in this family, so I’m not too happy about her pinning my exact thoughts of the scenario in front of me. And who knows, maybe Griffin Thorne’s kid is one of those gifted ones. He could be super smart and only want to play with his science kit in his room or something. I could nanny a kid like that no problem.
Now I just have to figure out a way to bump into him.
“I know it’s work, but I’m out of options. Plus, did you hear what Denver said? Griffin Thorne, the big music producer, is looking for a nanny.”
Her face pales and she shakes her head. “Don’t do it. This is not going to turn out well.”
“How can I accidently-on-purpose run into him?” I ignore her objection.
She’s used it after twenty-two years. “Go somewhere kids hang out. Parks, ice cream shops, zoos.”
I love Sedona. “I’ll look creepy if I’m at the park by myself.”
“Hence the bad idea
thing.”
“Okay, guys.” Rome claps, and everyone quiets down. “Harley and I are finally ready to go get married, but we need some amazing aunts and uncles to babysit for us while we’re away. Who’s up for some quality time with their nieces and nephew? It’ll be short since I have the restaurant, so a long weekend or five days, tops.”
“Don’t do it, Phoenix.” Sedona’s teeth look as if they’re wired shut as she speaks.
I raise my hand. “I’m in.”
Sedona sighs.
Everyone looks at me as if they’re waiting for me to say I’m joking, then Rome looks around with a plea in his eyes for someone else to volunteer.
“Come on.” I stand. “I can handle three kids.”
“Maybe we can spread out the responsibility,” Holly says. “We have to work during the day, but Austin and I can do nights.”
“This is ridiculous,” I mumble.
“Phoenix, turn up the volume for me,” Sedona says. I put the volume to the highest it can go on the iPad. “Listen, guys, give Phoenix a shot. She deserves it, and her nieces and nephew love her. She’ll be fine.”
As if we choreographed it ahead of time, my sweet niece runs over to me and raises her arms to be picked up, which I do.
Harley looks at Rome, and he nods. “Okay, Phoenix, you’ll have days, but I’m telling you right now, you better answer the phone when I call, and I want pictures of my kids every day.”
“Deal.”
I give Sedona a look of appreciation and she smiles back at me.
Obstacle one figured out. Now I have to run into Griffin Thorne so he can see what a perfect fit I’d be as a nanny. Which shouldn’t be too hard. Lake Starlight isn’t big.