Page 54 of Sweet Redemption

She’s been offering to come and help since the day we moved in.

And I still can’t believe I’m going to take her up on it.

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about, Mel.” Here goes nothing. “You know I need a nanny, right?”

“I thought your sister was helping.” Confusion and maybe a little hope sparks in her eyes.

“She is, and her nanny has been incredibly kind, but neither is a permanent fix. Grace has five kids and a husband with the exact same travel schedule I have. It’s not fair to her. I need to do better for Bodhi. And I was thinking⁠—”

“Yes,” she answers before I ask.

“Mel . . .”

“I can’t stand being so far away from you both, Hendrix. You two are all I have left of Brittany.” She flicks a tear from her eyes. “Don’t make me watch my grandson grow up through a screen. Please,” she pleads. “Let me take care of him when you can’t. I can get my own place. You don’t have to pay me. I have my pension.”

The back door opens, and Ryker steps outside before he sees the iPad and points inside, where Jamie and Maverick stand in my kitchen. I nod as he lets himself back in. “Sorry, Mel. I absolutely have to pay you. This is a job, and I don’t expect you to work for free.”

“It’s not work, Hendrix. You’d be letting me spend time with Bodhi.”

“Salary is nonnegotiable, Mel. I can help you find a place too. And you can stay here while you’re looking⁠—”

“Perfect,” she interrupts before I have a chance to talk about boundaries.

Britt and Melissa didn’t really have any.

I’m not built that way.

Even my siblings and I have boundaries, hard as that may be for some to believe.

Jamie knocks on the glass door, lifts his shirt, and smashes his chest against the glass like a stripper, swinging his hips and giving a shower dance.

My friends are fucking idiots.

But they’re my fucking idiots.

“When do you want me to come?” Mel’s voice vibrates with excitement, pulling me back into the conversation and away from stripper Jamie.

“Take whatever time you need getting everything together. Gracie said she’s happy to help as long as she can.” Basically, my sister is a saint, but I already feel like I’m taking advantage of her.

Mel’s chest shakes as she wipes her eyes. “Thank you, Hendrix. Losing Britt was heartbreaking, but to lose Bodhi and you too . . .”

“You haven’t lost us. We’re right here, and I meant it when I promised I’d never keep him from you.” Fucking hell. Jamie just licked a line down my door. “Listen, Mel, can we talk about this more later? I’ve got something I have to take care of.”

“Of course.” Her teary smile wobbles. “Kiss Bodhi for me.”

Oh . . . there’s fucking gyrating now.

Fuck me.

“Absolutely. We’ll talk soon.” I end the call, close the iPad, and fight the urge to throw it at someone.

Did I just solve a problem or create one?

“So, are you ready to admit you’re in love with your fiancée?” I ask Ryker later that night after Jamie and Maverick get up to grab another round of beers. “Delaney’s pretty great, man. Definitely too good for your ugly ass.”

“She’s pretty fucking amazing,” he agrees. “I don’t know. I wasn’t expecting her, that’s for sure.”

“Nothing wrong with that,” I tell him, trying to remember if I’ve ever seen him this happy. And that’s with all the shit he’s currently dealing with. “Does she make you happy?”