"No, that won't work." I pulled out my wallet and found the card I was looking for. "Just put it on this. Get whatever you think she'll need."
She laughed. "No, thanks. There's no store in this age of identity fraud that's going to let me use a credit card with someone else's name on it. That's the quickest way to see the inside of a jail cell, which I have to admit is not on my bucket list."
Dammit, a grin formed despite my best efforts. "Just call me if they give you any shit."
"Call you?" She folded her arms and stared at me. "I don't know where my phone is, and even if I did, I don't have your number."
I smiled and stood, retrieving her phone from my bedroom and joining her back in the kitchen. "I charged it and added my number. Under Xavier, not Mr. Holloway."
"Then I guess we're all set. For the record, you're paying my bail if I get arrested."
I laughed. "Deal."
"Okay." She bent and brushed a gentle hand over the baby's black curls. "I'll see you in a few hours, sweet girl. Hopefully by then, I'll have a name to call you." She stared at me pointedly when she said the last part before turning back to the baby, who smiled up at her. "Be good for your dad." With those words, she shuffled around the cabin for a few minutes, and then she was gone.
I sat there for a long time, processing her words.
Be good for your dad.
The envelope mocked me, and I knew I had no choice. I wanted answers, and some of them would be inside that thick envelope.
No time like the present.
I ripped it open and learned my fate.
Chapter 8
Rosalee
It was well after dark when the rideshare driver rolled into the long driveway that led to Xavier's cabin, and I was exhausted, bone-weary, and definitely done with shopping for the next few months, possibly ever. It had taken twice as long as anticipated at the big-box store that specialized in all things babies and kids. But I was confident I'd gotten all the things a little girl would need.
"Did you leave any money on the credit card?" Xavier's question, spoken directly in my ear in his deep, honeyed voice, tugged a laugh out of me.
I turned to face him, which was really a mistake because the combination of the jet-black hair and nearly clear gray eyes was as panty-melting as I remembered. "This is just to get us through the next few weeks. You still have a lot of shopping to do, thank you very much." I laughed again when he paled at my words.
A low groan escaped him as he motioned to all the bags with the familiar animal logo on them. "A few weeks? Tell me you're joking."
I shook my head. "While I have been known to kid around on occasion, I'm not kidding now. You'll see." Ignoring the clench ofhis strong jaw, I turned to what seemed like thousands of bags, grabbed a bunch, and headed to the front door. We had baby items, suitcases, and backpacks full of things to unload, not to mention an impatient driver ready to hurry down the mountain before another impromptu storm hit. "Let's get a move on, Holloway." I clapped my hands as I made my way back, smiling at his dark scowl.
"The name is Xavier."
"Yeah, sure. Xavier Holloway, no 'mister' anywhere in sight." The sound of his deep, rumbling laughter did things to me I refused to name. This isn't like the other women at the agency. I have no desire to start dating anyone, never mind a guy who's now my boss. He was nice eye candy, and that was it. Nothing more.
"Smart ass," he mumbled under his breath as I trekked back to the house with another load of luggage and shopping bags.
It took a few rounds, but eventually, we had everything inside the cabin, which was some type of progress, even if it wasn't the magic fairy kind that magically put everything away as well. "All right. I'll get my things tucked away in my room, and then we can tackleherstuff, one bag at a time."
Xavier grunted in response, and I paid little attention to him as I dragged my belongings up the staircase and into my room.
I could put it all away later. For now, we needed to get the crib and the changing table assembled, at least. "Are you ready?"
Xavier crossed his arms, and thankfully, he'd put on a shirt at some point since I left the cabin earlier. One black brow arched in confusion. "Ready for what?"
"To assemble the crib and changing table. The baby swing and the diaper bin, which I'm pretty sure don't require an IKEA level of assembly. So, are you ready to get started?"
"Is this part of your nanny training?"
I laughed. "No. It's just that each item comes with little pamphlets featuring words and pictures. Some people call them directions, and they guide you on how to assemble and set everything up. I think between the two of us, we can handle it. Don't you?"
