“Why the nanny job?”
“I couldn’t afford my apartment. The rent has been going up every year, and this year, with the tourism finally reaching Montauk, it jumped up like crazy. So, here I am.”
“I’m not sure you want to hear this, Autumn, but I’ve thought about you so often over the years. I always wanted to find you and make things right. Then, you just showed up here. So, as sorry as I am about your apartment, I’m still glad you ended up here.”
I looked over at him and frowned. “You expect me to believe you spent any of your precious time thinking about me?”
A flash of annoyance crossed his face as he turned into me. “Believe what you want, Auti, but you’ve haunted my dreams since the last time I saw you. I wake up, still tasting you on my lips at least a couple of times a week. It’s been fucking torture.”
“Don’t.”
“Too late. I am.” He leaned over and captured the back of my head, pulling my face forward so he could kiss me. Soft, yet hungry, his kiss hadn’t changed. It was still so fresh in my mind that I almost moaned when he pulled away. I was leaning into him, wanting more of that kiss that promised such sweetness to come. “I’m not going to pass up a chance to convince you that I’ve changed. I’ve got at least the summer to show you.”
I leaned back into my own space and touched my fingers to my lips. That kiss made it hard to forget the nights Con had spent loving my body and convincing me to love it, too. He’d been my first and best in his own right. Sweet and passionate, making love to Con was just that.
He stood up and bent over to kiss the top of my head. “See you in the morning, Auti.”
I stayed there for a long time after he left, wondering what the hell I was doing, entertaining a pursuit from three brothers. It was insane. I should’ve just packed up my bags and madea run for it. I was emotionally vulnerable from hearing the nickname only Con had ever called me, and it was all I could do to not break down and cry. Yet, I didn’t leave. Because I was a curious moron who needed the money, but mostly just wanted to know what the hell was coming next.
Chapter 20
***Autumn***
The week passed without any big run-ins with the guys. They were busy with work, and I was busy bonding with the kids. The dogs made a world of difference in them. It made everything easier. Training the dogs took up so much of Jones’ energy that he didn’t have a ton left to hate me with.
Then the weekend arrived again, and the guys were all back home and nosing around, but it was time for the kids to visit Stacy, and Stacy had somehow managed to pull herself from the dungeon that was her bedroom in her penthouse apartment in the sky. She was meeting us at a park, something that felt bizarre to me. Stacy belonged in a park about as much as she belonged in space.
Yet, there I was, in the car again, being driven almost an hour away with the kids. Griff wasn’t able to come, but I took it as a compliment. He trusted that I wouldn’t let Stacy kidnap his children. Again. I thought of all the things I could’ve been doing instead of hanging around the park with Stacy while we drove. Then, we pulled up, and Dave was there, frowning at me and leading the kids to their mom.
Stacy was a vision in the world’s smallest fur bikini top and some sort of leather skirt. Her hair was in massive curls, a style I was actually jealous of, and she had stunning graphic blue eyeliner that made her eyes look a million miles wide. Somehow, she looked good. It shouldn’t have worked, but it did. Yet, she still managed to look absolutely miserable when she spotted me.
“Who invited the nanny?” Stacy pointed a long cigarette at Dave and scowled. “I thought I made it clear that the nanny stays the hell away from me.”
Dave shifted in his loafers. “Again, it’s within Mr. Phoenix’s rights to have her here with us.”
I pointed to the picnic table across the way from her. “I’m just going to sit over there and stay out of your way.”
Her expression changed, and she suddenly smiled. “No, stay. Sit here with me. You can tell me what the kids have been up to.”
Jones and Caroline sat on either side of their mother and watched her. If I didn’t know any better, I would’ve said they were almost nervous. They seemed to just exist around her, not actually with her.
“So, tell me, kids, what has the nanny been doing with you?”
Caroline wrung her fingers together. “Um, we got dogs. Two dogs.”
I smiled. “Sir Fluffy Butt and Wiggles.”
With an expression that said something smelled wholly unpleasant, Stacy turned to Jones. “And you like these...dogs?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I sat across from them at the table and did my best to look like I was relaxed when in reality, I felt like I had a live bomb strapped to my vagina and sitting too heavily would detonate it. “Both of the kids are great with the dogs. They’ve been taking turns walking them and doing everything else they need.”
“Wait. The kids have to take care of them? Isn’t that your job?”
I forced a smile. “Part of the deal with Griff was that they had to be part of taking care of them.”
Stacy leaned in, eyes narrowed into daggers. “Griff, huh?”
