by Stacy Eaton
“You do?”
“Yeah, she lives downstairs. She’s retired, and she watched Devon for me when I had to go to meetings at the office.”
“Do you think she’d be willing to help me out for a little while until I find a nanny for him? I mean, I have to go to work. I have a training class next week that I need to teach. I have no idea how to find a babysitter.”
“We can stop by her place and ask. I don’t see why not. She has five grandchildren, and she’s great with babies. Lucy is a sweet woman. I’ll introduce you to her once we get all this stuff in your truck.”
“That would be great.” He smiled at me, his eyes bright, and I returned it quickly and then walked over to the mountain of baby stuff. “Carol didn’t unpack any of it, just kept buying things for him and stacking them here.”
He laughed. “Yeah, I see that. Anything that she didn’t buy?”
“I don’t think she has clothes for him to start school in, but everything else you might need for the next few years is here,” I joked back to him.
“I have no idea where I’m going to put all this.”
“You’re going to need a bigger apartment, that’s for sure.”
“Do you know any real estate agents? I was thinking on the way over that it might be time to buy a house.”
“Really?” I turned toward him.
“Yeah, only makes sense. He is going to need his own room, and I’ll need another bedroom for a nanny to stay in while I’m away.”
Why did the thought of a young woman living in his home, taking care of Devon, and him, bother me? I had no right to be bothered by that. “Makes sense,” I finally replied.
He paused. “How do you find a nanny?”
I shrugged. “I have no idea, but I am sure there are services around here that can help you.”
“Would you help me with that?”
“Me? I have no clue what to do.”
“Yeah, well, that makes two of us, but I’d be more comfortable if I had a second opinion. I’m dangling by my fingernails here on what to do.”
I snorted. “I hear you. I’ll help if I can.”
He was quiet for a moment as he sifted through the boxes of baby paraphernalia. “You know, you could always be his nanny.”
I barked out a laugh. “Are you high?”
He looked at me in surprise. “No, I most definitely am not. I’m serious, though. I’m not sure how comfortable I’d be with having a stranger with him while I’m overseas. I think I would feel much better if I knew he was with someone that had a vested interest in him, other than a paycheck.”
“Who says I have a vested interest in him?”
He glanced around the apartment, pointing to something. I turned to see a picture of Carol and me on the wall. “Just because we were best friends—”
His brows rose, and he looked at me pointedly.
I frowned. “Okay, fine. I will miss him, but I can’t be his nanny, Trevor. I have a job and classes.”
“Yes, I know that, but at least consider it. It would be good for Devon. He knows you, and I trust you.”
“You don’t even know me; how can you trust me?”
“Because you took care of my son for almost two weeks. You’ve helped me. You’re a good woman, Davina. I can feel it in my bones.”
I’m not sure why his words made me do it, but my gaze slipped down to his hips, and an image of him naked appeared before me. I quickly looked away. “Yeah, well, I am a good person.”
“See, I told you. Just think about it. I’m not traveling for a few weeks, and I have a lot to get figured out in that time, but at least don’t shut down the idea yet. Let’s see how things go between us.”
I had no intention of being his nanny, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. I was afraid that if I did, he’d try to persuade me again into being something more than friends. I wasn’t sure my body was up to another round of wild kissing. Although he had promised me that he wouldn’t kiss me again. Wishful thinking on my part, maybe. Ugh!
Trevor and I carried things down to his truck. It took us over an hour to get it all packed inside, and my legs were tired from climbing the stairs so many times. He didn’t seem the least bit bothered by the physical activity, and I admired him for that.
On the final trip up, we stopped on the second floor, and I told him to follow me. I knocked on a door a couple away from mine and waited.
Lucy opened the door, smiling widely when she saw me. “Davina, how is that precious bundle?”
“Hi, Lucy, he’s good. This is Trevor Vaughn, Devon’s father. Trevor, this is Lucy Stiles, the one that helped me out with Devon a few times.”
Trevor put his hand out. “Thank you so very much, ma’am. I can’t thank you enough for helping out with my son.”
“It was my pleasure. Won’t you two come in?” She shook his hand and held the door open as we stepped around her and into her apartment. Trevor was glancing around as we entered the living room, and I saw his gaze stop in the corner where a small children-sized table and a bunch of toys were neatly piled.
“Where is Devon?” she asked as she joined us and motioned for us to take a seat.
“Devon is with some friends of mine while I collected all his things from Carol’s place.”
“I’m so sorry about Carol. It is going to be so hard for him to grow up without a mother, and tough on you, that’s for sure.”
“Thank you; I’m sure we’ll manage,” Trevor answered.
“Well, what can I do for you two?”
Trevor seemed to pause, unsure what to say, so I jumped in. “Lucy, Trevor was wondering if you might be able to help out with Devon a little while he gets things settled. Of course, he works during the day, and he is going to need someone to watch him until he can make other arrangements. I told him that you had helped me out.”
“I’d love to,” she said immediately. “When would you need me?”
For a few minutes, Trevor and Lucy discussed times and days, and I sat quietly listening to the conversation. Lucy was excited to babysit Devon again, saying that her grandchildren were busy with school and sports right now, and she didn’t get to see them enough. Other than one afternoon this next week, she was available.
“I can try to get someone to cover my class that day,” Trevor stated.
“I can watch him that afternoon if you want me to or you can’t get off,” I offered.
Trevor looked relieved. “Thanks, I might have to take you up on that.”
They traded contact information, and then we said our goodbyes. As we walked down the hallway, we paused at the steps. “Well, I guess that’s it,” I said.
“What are you going to do now?”
“Go back to Carol’s apartment and start packing,” I replied.
“Do you want help?”
I shook my head. “No, I think I need to do this alone, but thank you, Trevor.”
He nodded thoughtfully and then glanced down the hallway. “Which apartment is yours?”
“Why?”
“Because I want to know where to pick you up for our date,” he answered with a grin.
I rolled my eyes at him. “It’s two-twenty-seven. Down at the end, and you don’t need to pick me up. I can meet you someplace.” I mean, that was what he did, right? He met people places.
“I’ll pick you up,” he stated, and then the two of us were staring at one another. Every cell of my being wanted to kiss him again, but I refused to let them have control.
Trevor leaned toward me, and I froze, his lips coming close to mine, but at the last second, he veered off and brushed them over my cheek. “See, no kissing. I’ll talk to you later, Davina. Thank you for everything.”
His knuckle caressed the side of my face before he turned and took the stairs down, and I swear every one of those cells that had begged for a kiss were sighing at his gentle touch.
Chapter Thirteen
Trevor
No kissing, no kissing, no kissing. That’s wha
t I told myself as I leaned down. I wanted so badly to kiss her again, but I refrained and planted a chaste kiss on her cheek. I had promised her I wouldn’t, but as I had stared down at her, I saw it in her eyes; she wanted me to.
I went out to my packed-to-the-hilt truck and climbed in. If Davina wanted a kiss, then she could initiate one. I had made a promise, and I kept my promises.
As I drove back to my place, I dwelled over the last few hours. Davina and I had come to an understanding, and I had to honor her wishes. She didn’t want to get involved with me, and as much as I didn’t like that, I had to respect it. What was it about her that made me want more? I’d never wanted more, but all day being with her had been good. It wasn’t about sex. Although god knew, I would have taken her to my bed in a heartbeat, if only to learn up close and personal about all of her sexy curves.
I shifted in my seat as my pants started to get a little uncomfortable. I needed to change that train of thought. Davina didn’t want me that way, and as much as I did, I wouldn’t cross that line.
I was glad that she had offered to help and happy that I had someone to watch Devon this next week while I worked and as I tried to get things settled in my life. Hopefully, Lexi and Alex would be able to give me some advice about house-hunting and nannies.
A chuckle tore out of my throat. Damn, how much had changed in my life in only a few short days? I had never thought I would be ready to buy a house or have a kid. Yet, here I was.
I carried all the stuff up the steps to my apartment, piling it all against the far wall. It took much longer without help, and once I got done, I grabbed a beer and sank onto my couch, staring at the enormous pile of stuff. Did people really need all of that shit for a baby? There were three different kinds of chairs: one that rocked, one that was stationary, another one that bounced. Plus more toys than I’d ever seen for one kid, and enough clothes that he could change three times a day and still never wear everything.
I finished my beer while I was unpacking one of the chairs and a few of the toys. Until I knew where we were going to be living, I didn’t want to open it all. I doubted the kid would need too much in the next few weeks until I found us a house.
Once I’d finished that, I grabbed my tablet and did a few searches for houses in the area. There were more than I had expected, and I skimmed through a few of the listings. Wow, there was so much that I didn’t understand. It was going to be better to tell someone what I was looking for and let them find places. I jotted down one of the names of an agent I saw who was local and copied the phone number.
Then I did another search on nannies and was rather surprised at the number of services in the area. I clicked on one and read about how they background check everyone thoroughly. Jesus, I hadn’t even thought about that. Did you need to do a background check on a babysitter? Should I do one on Lucy?
I set the tablet aside when I noticed the time and sent Alex a message that I was on my way over. I would ask him what he thought about all of this when I got to his house.
It was as I was driving over to his new house that I began to think about Devon. Was he alright? Had he had fun with Lexi and Alex? Would he sleep tonight? Or was it going to be another one of those long nights with him crying?
I winced; I sure hoped that it wasn’t. Even though I had gotten some sleep, I was still tired. I could use another good night’s sleep. I wondered if Davina would want to come over again. I nixed that thought quickly. I had already asked enough of her, but hey, we were friends, right? Couldn’t friends ask each other for favors?
Too bad one of the favors I wanted to ask her was if she’d get naked in my bed and let me ravage her. I snorted to myself as I pulled onto Alex’s street. I realized as I parked out front that I was looking forward to seeing Devon again. How had it happened? How was it possible to bond with someone in such a short amount of time?
I sat in the seat, staring out the windshield. I had known this little person barely more than a day, and I was already committing to change my entire life for him. How was that possible?
Suddenly, I felt anxiety rip through me. What if I did things wrong? What if something happened to me? What if I wasn’t a good father or the kid hated me?
The anxiety crippled me as I sat there, strangling the steering wheel, and I was preparing to put the car back in drive and zoom away. I could go back to my place, call the adoption agency, have them get him. I could terminate my rights, and he’d have a good life. Or would he? Would someone else be able to make him happy? Give him what he needed?
A knock on the side window grabbed my attention, and my face whipped that way. Alex stood there and then pointed at the door. I hit the unlock, and he opened the door and climbed in.
My heart was racing in my chest faster than I’d ever had it beat. Not even in a firefight had my heart pumped at the speed it was now.
“You look like you’re ready to run for the hills.”
“That obvious?” I said through parched lips.
He nodded. “Yeah. Where’s your head?”
“All over the place, Alex. Damn, it’s like it just hit me again. I’m a father, and right now, I’m trying to figure out if that’s what I want.”
“I guess it doesn’t matter if you want it or not. You’re a father.” He paused. “I think a better question is, are you ready to be that father? Are you ready to put someone else before you?”
“How do you know if you’re ready?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess a part of you just knows.”
“Did you? When you found out you were having a child, were you ready?”
“Yeah, I guess. Not at first. I was scared, just like you. I think that makes you a better parent. You constantly worry if what you’re doing is right or if you are going to screw the kid up forever. I was lucky; Veronica was a great mother, and well, Patrick is a decent enough man. I know he loves Nica and wants what’s best for her.”
“What about this baby? Are you ready for that?”
He grinned. “Yeah, I’m more than ready. I’m in a better place in my life. I’m ready to share every moment of this baby’s life. The ups and downs, the sleepless nights, the tons of diapers, and everything else that goes with that.”
I felt the tension in my gut begin to lessen. “I’m happy for you, Alex. I know I’ve said that before, but I really am.”
He slapped my shoulder. “I appreciate that. Now, are you ready to see your son? He’s been asking for you all afternoon.”
I laughed. “He has not.”
“Oh, yeah, he said it most definitely; I want my dada.”
I chuckled. “No, he didn’t. Even I know it’s too soon for the kid to say words.”
He snickered. “You’re right, he didn’t, but he will be happy to see you. Kids bond quickly. Enjoy the time, Trevor, because believe it or not, this is the easy part of raising a kid.”
“Easy? Is there an easy part?”
“Not really, but don’t tell Lexi I said that,” he joked and reached for the door handle but paused. “You good? You aren’t going to take up and hide someplace?”
“No, I’m good, and thanks.”
“Anytime.” The two of us headed into the house, and as I stepped inside, I heard a squeal and then a laugh. I followed the sounds and found Nica leaning over Devon on the floor. He was waving his arms around wildly.
Nica looked up. “I just told him daddy was here, and he let out this big squeal.”
Alex slapped my back. “See, I told you he missed you.”
I laughed softly. “How was he? Everything okay?” I asked Lexi as she joined us, a plate of cake in her hands with several small pieces of different varieties.
“He was the perfect baby.” She shoved a plate toward me. “Now, which one of these do you like?”
“Excuse me?”
“I need to decide on the filling and icing flavor, but Alex and I are in a stalemate.”
“Wait, I picked the same one as you, Lexi,” Nica said quickly.
“Yes, I know that, but I need another opinion to prove to your father that we’re not wrong.”
Alex shook his head. “Just taste them, and pick the lemon one.”
“Hey, don’t tell him that!” Lexi smacked his arm playfully as I took the plate.
“Is that the one you picked?” I asked Alex as I lifted the first piece.
Lexi glared at him. “Keep your mouth shut. Let him decide on his own.”
Alex zipped his lip and walked away as I enjoyed the bite of cake. “Lemon is nice,” I told her as I picked up the next one and popped it into my mouth. I chewed. “Not a fan of that one; what is it?”
“Caramel.”
I shook my head. “No.” I finished it and reached for the next bite, slipping it into my mouth. It was a touch sweeter than the first two, and I wasn’t sure I was crazy about it, but it did have a nice flavor.
“Well?”
“That last one was a bit too sweet; I think I liked the lemon the best.”
“Ha! I told you, Alex.”
I glanced at Alex as he laughed. “Lemon was the right answer? I thought you picked lemon.”
“No, I told you to say lemon because that’s what she wants. I liked the raspberry, but she said it was too sweet.”
“I’m gonna agree with Lex on that,” I said. Lexi walked away, looking smug. “So, is it still alright if I bring a plus one to the wedding?”
Lex spun around mid-step. “Davina?”
“Does it matter?”
She pursed her lips. “It might.”
I chuckled. “Yeah, Davina.”
She giggled and danced in her spot. “See, I was right about that, too!”
“Hey, don’t get your hopes up on that. She just wants to be friends. She is only coming because I forced her to.”
“Yeah, okay,” she said as she went into the kitchen. “I saw how she was checking you out earlier today. That woman does not want to be just friends.”
I glanced at Alex, and he just shook his head, leaning toward me and whispering, “Just let it go.”
“It’s alright, then?”
“Yes,” Lexi called from the other room. “It’s perfect.”