“Yeah, aight. Mind ya business and take me back to court if you think you can.” I hung up on her ass. Irritated, I grumbled to myself.
Courtland and I met at a charity event my rookie year. For the past ten years, I fucked with her off and on. She was the only semi-consistent relationship I’d ever been in. Although sexy as hell, Courtland played me in the worst way. I used to think her ass was nice, sweet, and innocent. She showed me that the most innocent of them could tear a nigga to shreds. I knew it was time to call it quits for good when I found myself chest-deep in a scandal with another player, who happened to be married.
Courtland was fucking with Xavier Patrick on the low, and his wife ended up finding out. Of course, because I was attached to Courtland, I got dragged into that shit. The internet was hell on me, even though I wasn’t the one fucking someone’s spouse. Then, Courtland popped up pregnant. Once we established that I was the father, I went straight to the courts to get custody of my child. Courtland could say whatever she wanted about me stealing Whimsy. Her ass wasn’t responsible and was still out here chasing another rich nigga to put a baby in her. This wasn’t about her truly wanting Whimsy. It was about her trying to control the nigga she lost and the money that left with him.
Sighing, I cut the music up to give myself something to think about besides the stress of dealing with my family and Courtland. I had to find stable care for Whimsy.
Half an hour later, I pulled into my driveway, cut the music down, and texted the only cousin I fucked with. Legend was busy man and juggling the father role as well. He had a wife at home, though. Hopefully, he could steer me in the direction of a good nanny or something. The last nanny I hired wasn’t worth a damn, and she came highly recommended by the company she worked for. All her ass tried to do was put her mouth on my dick.
I was going to try this shit again. Hopefully, I hit the mark.
CHAPTER 2
SIENNA COOLEY
Greatcommunicator.LovesGod.Loves family. Handsome as sin. Smells good enough to pour over a biscuit and devour in two bites.
I giggled at that last one. Closing my little red journal, I sighed and ran my fingers down the red ornament donning the cover. Tiny gold foil lines made the ornament pop off the page.
Inside this book was my heart. My journal knew everything about me. It knew my fears, my concerns, and even the list of things I wanted in a partner. I was such a hopeless romantic, and at my age, I shouldn’t have been. Tucking my journal inside mydesk drawer, I stood from my desk and beamed brightly at the Christmas tree in front of me.
“Hi!” I cheerily spoke to it.
Giggling at my childish love for the holidays, I left my office and went into the showroom. It was time to open for the day.
An hour later, I did a little dance to some holiday music blasting from my boutique’s speakers. Christmas was my favorite time of the year, and the only time I truly got a break from the hustle and bustle of nanny life. While I loved my side job as a nanny, it was starting to feel like my main career. If I wasn’t being whisked off for one family, my phone blew off the hinges for another. It was time to slow down and take care of my first love.
Prince & Princess Inspired was my first love. From handsewn garments to custom jewelry, my boutique was thelittle house on the cornerinspiring boys and girls to live their dreams.
Nothing shouted holidays like decorating the entire boutique. Although Prince & Princess Inspired was in the heart of Niceville Shores, Florida, it resembled a winter wonderland inside the boutique. Sighing, I hoped the city would at least see a drop in temperatures by Christmas. The high was settling around seventy, making it impossible to even sport a light sweater. Seeing a little sign of winter would’ve been the greatest ending to the great year I had.
I couldn’t say so for the prior holiday season. The thought caused me to shudder. Thinking about anything attached to Aaron Perdue always produced the same reaction. Not even his young son made me want to give that man grace. Aaron was a pro-football player, and a single father. While working for him, I experienced the worst verbal abuse. To add to that, Aaron’s sly comments and nasty, roving eyes were just too much for me. My clients never gave me a hard time—until him.
Aaron was good at playing football but horrible at raising his son and dealing with people. After one too many times telling him to watch how he talked to me and looked at me, I was done. Between his disgusting behavior and his son’s equally rude behavior, I couldn’t take it, which I hated because I was great at dealing with children.
However, Aaron was leading his preteen down the same path he’d gone down. AJ had been more trouble in school than a little bit. Honestly, I knew it stemmed from his father’s lack of guidance, attention, and support. I was just the nanny, though, and just like his father, AJ wasn’t trying to hear shit I had to say. Every other day, I was cursed out for one reason or another. Aaron didn’t understand how much grace I’d given him. I didn’t need his money, and if I had uttered a single word to my family, his ass would’ve been somewhere sucking through a straw.
So, no… I didn’t cause a stir. I just peacefully walked away from that contract. This holiday season, I refused to spend it being cursed out by anyone. Traumatized by the entire situation, I vowed to tread lightly when it came to single, male clients. As hard as the decision was, overly aggressive behavior was an easy turn-off for me. Unfortunately, I allowed one bad apple to spoil the entire pie.
“Mind you, we haven’t had Thanksgiving dinner yet, but you’re already putting up Christmas decorations.”
Frowning, I glanced across the boutique at my sister, Ellie.
“Your energy is such a drag,” I told her. “You’re fifteen and have the attitude of a miserable old lady. Let me enjoy putting up my decorations in peace.”
Ellie chuckled. “Whatever. I’m going home. Don’t bust yo’ ass trying to put up those decorations.”
“Ellie!” I hissed. “Watch your mouth!”
She smacked her teeth. “Mind you…Ourparents let me cuss when the time calls for it.” She shrugged. “The time was fitting.”
Glaring at my sister’s back as she exited the boutique, I shook my head. One day, the holidays were going to come and show her just how magical things could be around this time.
Forgetting my sister’s negative vibes, I went back to dancing and singing. In the middle of hanging some garland over the fireplace, the boutique’s doorbell chimed, signaling a guest.
“Happy holidays!” I cheerily spoke to whoever the guest was. My short ass was on the tips of my toes, trying to get the garland attached to the hook.
“Thank you.”
