Fuck, now I want to kiss her.
No. No. No. No kissing Sloane.
“Thank you,” I croak, my voice raspy with emotion and the need to taste those sweet lips that uttered such sweet, meaningful words.
I don’t know what’s wrong with me. It’s like a switch has been flipped, but I need to turn it back off. This can’t happen. We can’t happen. Sloane has always been sexy to me, but she’s always just been Sloane. I never wanted to kiss her, but seeing her here in my space, knowing her kind heart, the way she automatically stepped in to help me and my son, it’s fucking with me.
“What time should I be here on Monday?”
“Whenever is fine. Cam is usually up by seven and ready to party.” I chuckle.
“Oh, I love a good party,” she teases. Placing the pillow back on the couch, she untucks her feet from beneath her and stands. “I’ll get out of your hair, and I’ll see you on Monday. If you need me before then, you have my number.”
“That’s great.” I stand, bringing us closer together. She’s got long-ass legs, but she still only comes to my shoulders in height. “Thank you again.” I don’t know why I do it, but I open my arms, and she doesn’t hesitate to step into my embrace.
“It’s all going to work out, Baker.”
“I know.” Reluctantly, I let her go and walk her to the door. “Drive safely.”
“Always.” She smiles before climbing behind the wheel and driving away.
It’s hot as fuck outside, but I still dash back in for the baby monitor and a bottle of water, then sit out on the porch steps, staring up at the night sky, and try like hell not to think about my new nanny. I’m sure Natasha will have something to say about my choice, but I don’t give a fuck. She isn’t here. She’s never fucking here. And I did what I needed to do for our son. He loves Sloane, he knows her, and that’s the best we could have asked for in this situation. I don’t have to leave him with a stranger. Sloane is giving me precious time for interviews, background checks, and fingerprinting that will be necessary for the permanent replacement of Mrs. Ward.
I just have to keep my hands to myself.
Easy, right?
Chapter Six
Sloane
* * *
I’m barely backed out of the driveway when my phone rings. I smile when I see Corie’s name flash on the dashboard. “Hello, my bestie,” I greet after hitting the Answer button.
“Morning. Are you on your way to Baker’s?”
“I am. Shouldn’t you be at work already?”
“Yeah. I had some morning sickness, so I told them I was going to be a little late.”
“You okay?”
“Of course. This little one was just letting me know he or she was in there.” I don’t have to see her smile to know it’s there. I can hear the happiness in her voice.
“I’m so happy for you, Core.”
“Thank you. You know your forever guy is out there, right?” she asks.
“I’m sure he is, but it’s finding him that’s the issue.” I laugh. My dating history has given us lots to laugh about over the years.
“Are you ready for today?”
“Are you kidding me? One kid compared to twenty-plus, this will be a piece of cake.” It’s true. Wrangling twenty-plus five-year-olds is exhausting. One two-year-old will seem like a simple walk in the park, so to speak.
“Cam is such a sweetie,” she says with affection.
“He is. It’s a hell of a lot better than waiting tables and having drunk assholes grope me all night for measly tips. I mean, he’s paying me well, so even if Camden were a holy terror, I’d suck it up.”
