“Elle needs you to watch Faith for her while she goes to work. You’ll help her out for me, won’t you, Jack?” Gabriel asked his friend.
Damn it, Dad!
It’s okay, Noelle. Nothing to worry about. Jack doesn’t want to because he wants nothing to do with you or Faith.
Jack winked at me.
“Why wouldn’t I assist you,Elle?” Jack put emphasis on my name, and I wanted to strangle him. “That’s what neighbors are for.”
He’d assist me? Oh, fuck no.
A stony, icy chill ran down my spine.
“Wonderful!” Mom chimed. “Thank you, Jack. We appreciate your help, don’t we, Elle?”
“Always.” I plastered a fake smile on my face for my parents.
NINE
Babysit
Noelle
There was a single knock at my door not even ten minutes after I ended the video call with my parents. Mom and Dad were far too excited about having helped me but had no clue they had only made the situation more unbearable. I had to leave my daughter alone with a grumpy asshole. Faith wouldn’t get along with Jack, and I couldn’t trust him with her.
I walked toward the door with an attitude. There wasn’t a chance in a million years I’d let Jack Timber watch Faith. This wasn’t happening, and I’d stick to my guns.
I yanked the door open when Jack knocked a second time.
“Go home.” I glared and went to slam the door in his face.
Jack jammed his snowy boot in between the door and its frame.
Goddamn it!
I huffed. “Fuck off, Jack.”
“No, I’m not here for you. I made your parents a promise, and I intend to keep it, young lady,” Jack insisted as his bushy eyebrows came together and his hair fell in front of his eyes. “Plus, I love how squeamish you are and the way your nose scrunches up at me.”
Those deep dark chocolate hues swirled with bitterness and determination. There was even a hint of teasing in his gaze from the wicked game he had created when he agreed to this arrangement. Jack wanted to win. He was eager to beat me and take care of Faith, who probably would be the biggest challenge of his entire life, but an eight-year-old would be his end.
Faith was on my side. We’d team up against this stubborn man who didn’t know how to take no for an answer. She’d have Jack running out of this house and never returning. My daughter might be the cutest kid on the block, but she was tough to handle. Any child was. Jack didn’t understand the responsibility of caring for a kid.
“Fine.” I exhaled a deep sigh, reached through the doorway, and grabbed Jack by the collar.
Jack let out a deep gasp when I hurled his ass inside and slammed the door behind him. I trapped him like a chilled pest wanting to come out of the cold. Frozen and bitter, with a red nose, wearing a plaid green and black shirt. It was the same flannel Jack wore outside when he chopped wood, and I swore he must have dozens of those damn shirts.
“It’s about time you came to reason,” Jack said after I released him and he fixed his collar. “You’d better get going or you’re going to be late. I’ll take it from here.”
I held up a hand. “Not so fast.”
Jack was too close; I could smell his woodsy scent. His recreational activity of being a lumberjack meant he spent a great deal of time outdoors when he wasn’t creating tall skyscrapers for an actual job. Jack was a brilliant architect, I’d give him that, but he sucked at being a good neighbor.
I hated letting Jack into my home and wanted to throw his ass back out into the snow. Instead, I told him to follow me. I’d give him a tour of the house. I’d show him where everything was and how to take care of Faith, but I still didn’t think he’d last five minutes. I had to be a responsible mother and place my daughter’s well-being first. She came before this cold war raging between us, threatening to explode into utter chaos.
Jack’s laser-sharp stare dug into my backside, and the daggers of heat nipped at my skin as he followed me through the house, but I paid no attention to him. I simply instructed him on what to do. He had no questions and remained silent, lurking, watching me and waiting.
“And here’s the kitchen...” I opened the fridge to reveal organized shelves and enough food to feed a freaking army. “There are tons of leftovers that you can pop into the microwave—if you even know how to use one, since you have a maid who does everything for you. I’m sure an eight-year-old can teach you how to—”
