“That she did,” a sulking Liam grumbles, and April elbows him in the ribs.
“I trusted you with my position at the hospital, with whom to leave my kid with.” I glance at Mia, still not fully trusting. “Sorry, Mia. You used to be Liam’s PA, right?”
“Yeah,” she answers, sounding suspicious as hell.
“And before that, did you used to be a nanny?”
She glances at Liam and April for backup. I cut the moment dead before either of them can jump in.
“And yet, April thought you’d be perfect for the job.” I stare at April again. “You’re going to look me in the eyes, and honestly say you didn’t choose her so she could keep an eye on me while she watches over my daughter? Don’t bullshit me. I don’t have the patience for it today.” I put down my water glass, afraid I’ll break the delicate crystal.
Mia’s hand lands on my arm, and a jolt shoots straight through me. I pull away on instinct. I slide my chair an inch back, creating space without making a bigger scene. She shakes out her hand and recovers faster than I do. “I practically raised my little brother, if that helps.”
Of course, Trouble would step in. Of course, Trouble would defend April with that smile and her fucking hand on my arm, that sent me over the edge.
“Oh yeah? And how did he turn out?”
She shrugs, sheepish. “He’s alive?” She giggles at herself, but I’m a resentful son of a bitch, and it’s my turn not to laugh at her lousy joke.
April interjects to defend both herself and Mia. “Jett, I chose Mia because she’s been working for Liam for years, and if she could tolerate his sour ass, she can survive you too.”
Liam and I exchange acknowledging looks. We’re not the easiest men, I’ll give April that. “You’ve fired the last three nannies Calista and I chose, none for a legitimate reason.” She lifts a brow, daring me to challenge her. I won’t give her the pleasure, no matter if she has a point or not. “Mia is someone we can trust. I’m sure Lily will love her, and at the end of the day, those are the things that matter. So, suck it up and deal with the cards you’ve been dealt. They’re the results of your actions, of your poor choices.”
Leave it to April to come up with reasonable, sound arguments. I hate her brain right now. So inconvenient.
April carries on loudly, “We’re going to order food, have a wonderful time, and that will be it. Everyone got it?” Liam and I do a poor job at suppressing our laughter at the tiny human bossing everyone around. At leastIpretend to cough.
“Excuse me, get your hands off me.”
I hear Callie before I see her—storming through the restaurant, a woman on a mission. Loud, dramatic, and absolutely loving it.
“Calista is joining us?” I ask.
Just kill me now. With that butter knife. It will be less painful than this dinner.
CHAPTER NINE
preston
Her lips curl into a smirk,eyes glinting with bad intentions as she makes an entrance the whole restaurant hears. Behind her, a wide-eyed busser scrambles to keep up, tripping over his own feet, his face a mashup of panic, mortification, and puberty. “Ma’am, if you could just wait a second…” he pants, reaching toward her coat.
Callie gasps, spinning to face him. “My God.Do I need a restraining order?” She clutches her chest, mock-offended, then drops it in a blink and grins. “Kidding, babe. Relax.”
The poor kid freezes, torn between terror and confusion, and she takes full advantage, giving him a wink and a pinch to the cheek. “Damn, you’re adorable. What are they feeding you back there?”
He turns a spectacular shade of crimson, and I lean on the chair for a better view of the young man’s soul leaving his body.
“I’m with the owner.” She jerks her chin toward us. “Big guy, billionaire energy flashing in neon? That one, right there.” She’s almost at our table now, half the restaurantwatching, and I know two things for certain: one, she hasn’t noticed; two, she wouldn’t give a single fuck if she had.
She reaches us with a self-satisfied grin. “Babes, what’s going on? I could hear you from the damn door.” She plants a hand on her hip. “If you’re going to cause a scene, the least you could do is wait for me, the ringmaster.” Naturally, she’d want a privileged view of my public humiliation.
Liam smothers a grin, pretending he isn’t thoroughly entertained. “Calista, dear. Lovely to see you. But I don’t own this restaurant.”
“Yeah.” She laughs. “Emphasis onthis. But hey, I played the odds, and they were in my favor.”
The waiter, who looks like he could use a moment to recover, pulls out a chair for her.
“Aren’t you a sweetie?” She winks at her latest victim. “Thanks, babes.” She pats his cheek, light and teasing, and instead of taking it as an insult the way most men would if a woman did this to them, the kid beams, as though she’s just knighted him. I call it the ‘Callie effect’.
