“Then… that’s great.”
Calla stares at me for a moment. “Why don’t you pop to the showroom and see her?”
I force a smile. “Maybe I will.”
“Uh, Tommy?” Connie appears behind Calla, and Max jumps up from his seat at the sound of her voice.
“Hey, Connie. I’m glad you’re here. I’ve got to go out for a little while after I’ve finished with the guys.”
She seems a little flustered and her cheeks flush again. It could be because she’s in the same room as the band. Eventhough she’s been around them so many times before, she’s still a little starstruck. It’s cute.
“No problem. Actually, I wanted to check if you’re okay with me taking Ozzie to the beach today. He’s desperate to build a sandcastle with the new bucket and spade you bought him and he hasn’t stopped talking about the giant castles you made with him yesterday.”
I look out the window. “Really? It’s pretty wet out there.”
“I’ll wrap him up and take an umbrella. He told me this morning that wet sand is better for building. Honestly, he’s so desperate, and I don’t want to let him down. I promised.”
I huff out a laugh. “You must be mad, but okay. If you’re sure.”
“Great. Thank you.” She nods. “I’ll see you later then,” she says, keeping her chin dipped as she leaves the room.
Well, that was not Connie’s usual smiley approach, but what’s even weirder is the way Max keeps his eyes on her until she’s fully out of the room. Okay, I’m nipping that one in the bud.
“Forget it, man,” I warn.
His focus turns to me. “What?”
“Any ideas about tapping my nanny are a fantasy. She has a boyfriend.”
“She does, huh?”
His cocky smile tells me he sees her as a challenge. He can get used to disappointment where she’s concerned. “That’s right, so you have no chance, my friend, and even if you did, you’d have to get through me first.”
“Whatever you say, Dad.” Max smirks. I don’t care if he takes the piss. He can do whatever he wants as long as it’s not going after Connie. She’s too young for him anyway.
“So, who’s the guy she’s with?” Max asks.
“No idea, but from what I know, he’s an arsehole.”
“Did she say that?”
“Not in so many words. I just put a lot of stuff together and made my mind up, but I will tell you this, she doesn’t need more hassle. That girl is as precious as gold dust to me and Oz. We can’t do without her, so knock any ideas you have out of your head. It ain’t happening, man.”
He laughs, slipping his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “As if I would, Tom.”
Max is the best friend a guy could have, but when it comes to women, he’s a fucking nightmare. I can’t have him drooling over my nanny. He’d finish with her after a week and break her heart. It’s a chance I couldn't let her take. Anyway, I have enough on my mind right now. Even though I know I have to let it go, I just can’t stop thinking about Angie and her dates with that guy.
ANGIE
“I think you need some rest.” Chris, my business partner, leans over my desk while he tries to reason with me. “It’s not that I think you’re doing a bad job. You’re amazing, but you’re burning yourself out. Your family is worried about you.”
“My family?” I question him with suspicious eyes. “You’re talking about Calla, aren’t you?”
“She’s one person, yes.”
“She’s the only person apart from my five-year-old son. My parents couldn’t care less, so it’s not them. You know, I can’t remember the last time they came to see Josh.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Angie. You’re obviously under a lot of pressure at work and home,” Chris says gently.
