The Manny

by Piper Rayne

She pats the cushion, brushing something away with her hand, and then sits on the edge of the couch.

  I pull my phone out, but the front door opens and Layla comes barreling in, an exhausted look on her face.

  “Is that minivan her?” she asks, with Via propped on her hip.

  I’ve never been attracted to a woman because she’s holding a baby, but there’s something about Layla when Via is plastered to her side that makes me want to kiss her.

  “Yeah.” I hold out my arms, hoping to take Via from her so she can interview the dragon lady.

  I smile wide, but Via’s hand clings to her mom’s blouse, popping a button open and granting me a glimpse at her red, lacy bra. My dick shifts in my pants and so I do the same to try to hide the evidence.

  “It’s okay, I’ll just do it with her.” She runs into the other room before I have a chance to tell her about her blouse.

  At first all I hear are their muffled introductions, but then Layla calls for Payne.

  He shakes his head frantically at me, begging me with his eyes not to send him in there.

  “It’s okay, just go.” I nudge him forward a little but his feet stop. “I’ll go with you.”

  I push him forward, his legs straight, his socks sliding on the hardwood floors. Layla widens her eyes at us when we enter the room.

  “He’s just being …” I start.

  “Shy,” Layla says, finishing my sentence.

  “I already told him that that word is a terrible word to use in front of children,” Nanny Theta says. “It makes the boy—”

  “Think that shyness is appropriate,” I say. “Nanny Theta also doesn’t believe in treating them like children.”

  I sit down and Payne plops down next to me. This woman will chew sweet Layla up and spit her out, so I feel like it’s my duty to stay.

  “I have to admit, usually Payne is the opposite of… timid?” Layla says, and the swell of her breasts steals all my attention because her button is still undone.

  “Layla, dear.” Nanny Theta leans forward, whispering something to her.

  Whatever she says, Layla’s eyes shoot my way and then she places Via on the couch and, with pink cheeks, buttons up her blouse, shooting me a look. Not a look of displeasure though. It feels more flirtatious, as if what she’d really like to do is undo another button.

  Nanny Theta is a no-go. She’s a cockblocker.

  Via climbs down from the couch and walks over to the ball popper I fixed the other day. She makes a few noises to get my attention, which I ignore in the interests of moving this interview along and getting this horrid woman out of Layla’s home. Payne falls to the ground to play with his sister, but Via ignores him, pulling at the calf of my jeans.

  “That is enough.” Nanny Theta claps her hands. “You.” She points to me. “Take that toy and the children into the other room.”

  Who does this lady think she is?

  Layla is pursing her lips and I can’t tell if she’s trying not to laugh or if she’s just displeased with the other woman’s outburst.

  “Sure, let’s go, kids.” I pick up the toy and Payne holds Via’s hand on the way out.

  We’re not in the other room for more than fifteen minutes and Payne is playing with Via, mimicking what I usually do by taking the balls and hiding them in his hands.

  The script is still on the table since I’d been working on it after Payne passed out on the way home from Leo’s dog salon, so I organize the papers and place them on top of my computer. I might be the only thirty-four-year-old who prefers a printout over a virtual version.

  “What do you think of Nanny Theta?” I ask Payne.

  “I don’t like her.” He scrunches up his face in a way that reminds me of his mother.

  “Yeah, hopefully your mom has some other options before Monday.”

  Payne continues to play with Via for a few more minutes. He picks up the ball and starts running all over the room, then weaves into the kitchen. Via is chasing him the entire time, screaming and laughing and wanting it back.

  “Via, here.” I hold up another ball, but she shakes her head and eyes Payne again.

  He jumps from kitchen chair to kitchen chair and Via continues to scream. He runs into the family room before I can stop him and Via follows. I hop up and run into the room, but Payne is jumping on the chair. Layla has her hand on his arm, scolding him, but he’s not listening to her. He throws the ball at Via’s head and she falls down on her butt, crying hysterically. If all that isn’t enough, Payne escapes his mom’s hold and jumps off the couch, picking up magazines and throwing them on the ground. He moves to the wicker basket of toys, tossing every toy out of the basket.

  “See, this is more than just nannying, Miss Andrews. Just as I thought, he has a behavioral disorder. Allow me to show you how I deal with it.” Nanny Theta stands from the couch faster than I would have thought possible. Those orthopedic shoes must be working for her.

  She grabs Payne by the arm, yanks him up and places her finger in his face, scolding him for his behavior. Unfortunately, she’s no match for Payne. He moves his arm out of her hold and then rears it back.

  “No, Payne!” Layla says right before he smacks Nanny Theta across the cheek.

  Silence erupts into the room. Even Via, who is now in my arms, is silent.

  “Well, I… I’ve never …” Nanny Theta grabs Payne and turns him around, her own hand cocked and ready to spank Payne.

  Layla rushes over and grabs her wrist. “Don’t you lay one hand on my son.”

  I’ve seen a lot of sides of Layla in the past week, but this is a new one. A scary one. Don’t piss this woman off.

  Nanny Theta stands poised with her arm out. “He’s a deviant.” Spittle flies from her yellow-stained teeth.

  “He’s a child. One who needs guidance. That’s our jobs as adults. Now please leave my house.”

  “You aren’t doing him any favors.” Layla lets go and Nanny Theta drops her arm. Payne immediately darts behind Layla’s back. “He’s never going learn to behave if you don’t use physical discipline.”

  “I wish I could say this was a pleasant visit. You aren’t the person I want watching my child all day.” Layla follows her to the door, and Payne crawls into the corner of the couch.

  “I don’t understand this new generation,” Nanny Theta says and a second later Layla has slammed the door behind her.

  I can see in her eyes that she’s about to lose it and on the verge of crying.

  I continue to bounce Via in my arms to keep her content when she starts hiccupping.

  “Vance. Um, give her to me.” Layla is narrowing the distance between us, her hands out.

  “I got this. Go take a minute.”

  She shakes her head. “Just pass her over.”

  Her fingertips are on Via, ready to pluck her out of my arms, when Via unloads and pukes all over me.

  Chapter 12

  Layla

  The doorbell rings and I glance back and forth between the door and Vance.

  “Go,” he directs me and disappears around the corner with Via in his arms.

  I answer the door and Nanny Theta is standing on the porch, her shoulders high, nose even higher.

  “My purse,” she says like I’m her servant.

  I slam the door—and take great pleasure in doing so, I might add—then walk into the family room where Payne is still pressing his face into one of the cushions. Grabbing her purse, I walk back to the front door, toss her purse to her and slam the door again.

  Pushing all that behind me, I sit on the couch next to Payne, wrapping my arm around his shoulders. His back is heaving and I can just make out his small cries, even though they’re muffled from the pillow.

  “Why did you act like that?” I ask, more concerned than angry.

  He twists his entire body away from me.

  “Payne.” I sigh. “Tell me.”

  He peeks his head up and I dip my own down to get his attention.

  “I don’t like h
er.”

  “Okay, but you could have waited until after she left and talked to me.” I pull him close and gradually slide the pillow out from in between us.

  He curls into my side. “I like Vance,” he says with a sniff.

  I nod, already knowing that’s what this is really about. “I know, but Vance isn’t a qualified nanny. He has a job. We have to find someone else.”

  He’s quiet and I know this is hard for him. “Hey.” I draw back to look into his eyes. “Why don’t we find someone together, okay? We’ll both have a say in who it is.”

  His lips tip up a bit and he nods.

  “Okay, I have to check on Vance and Via. Via threw up on him.”

  Payne’s eyes widen.

  “Yep. Let’s go help Vance.”

  I walk up the stairs with Payne at my side.

  “Mom?” he asks.

  I stop at the top of the staircase. “Yes?”

  “Do you like Vance?”

  I refrain from telling my four-year-old just how much I like Vance and how certain parts of me seem to really like him more than others.

  “I do. He’s a nice guy.”

  “Can we get a dog?” He changes subjects so quick it takes me a second to wrap my head around the change of direction this conversation is taking.

  “No, not right now.”

  “I knew you’d say no.” He frowns and stomps off toward his sister’s room.

  We enter, finding no one there, so we head toward her bathroom. My feet halt the moment I see them and my jaw drops.

  Am I drooling?

  Vance is bare-chested, his hard chest, biceps and six-pack on display. As if that didn’t get me wet enough, he even took the time to give Via a quick bath and put her in a clean diaper.

  “I think my shirt is toast.” He glances to the garbage can, where his shirt and all of Via’s clothes are.

  “I can probably wash it out.” On your washboard abs, I don’t add.

  My hand moves for the can, but he slides it out of my reach. “Nah, I don’t need it.”

  “Payne, can you take Via and get her pajamas out?” I say, my eyes not leaving Vance’s.

  Vance gently places Via on the ground and Payne holds her hand as they walk out.

  “I might have one of Carver’s shirts hanging around.”

  Vance shakes his head. “Nah, I’d rather not wear the shirt of the man you love.”

  “Loved. I loved him. Past tense.”

  He nods his head. “Yeah, well, if it’s all the same, I’ll just put my jacket on when I leave.”

  The thought of a shirtless Vance in my house for any period of time has me wanting to press my thighs together to relieve the ache.

  “Come. I must have something for you to wear.” I grab his hand and lead him out of the bathroom, into Via’s bedroom, where I promptly drop his hand.

  The kids. I am the worst mother. I almost forgot they were here for a second.

  I put Via in her pajamas as quick as my hands will work. Then I realize I’ve yet to feed them dinner. I’m slowly losing my mind having this man so near.

  “Payne, I’m going to find a shirt for Vance. Can you change into your pajamas and play with Via in your room?”

  Payne smiles. “Sure.”

  “Way to be helpful, buddy.” Vance ruffles his hair in the same way I do sometimes.

  Payne’s smile widens further and he takes his sister by the hand and goes into his room.

  Once they’re gone, Vance leans into me, his mouth only inches from my ear. “I’m ready to see your bedroom, Layla,” he whispers and I’m unable to stop the shiver that runs up my spine.

  I turn on the balls of my feet and he’s so near. Like some Pavlovian response I swear I can taste the mint from his mouth from a few nights ago. Without another word I take off toward my bedroom, aware of the fact that he’s watching my every move from behind. By the time we reach my closet, every nerve in my body is on high alert.

  I open one of the drawers, knowing I must have a t-shirt of some sort that’s way too big for me.

  His arm circles my waist and he twists me around, pushing my back into the wall of dresser drawers in my walk-in. His lips crash down onto mine and just like the other night, our mouths begin their own chaotic, desperate dance as we attempt to get enough of one another. He still tastes minty and I know I’ll never chew a piece of gum without feeling the safety of his arms around me.

  “Jesus, Layla, I can’t stop myself,” he murmurs before his lips sear a path from my jaw to my ear. He grinds himself into me. “Feel this? Every time you’re around, I’m as hard as fucking steel.”

  I do feel it and it only makes me moan and grind harder against him. “Vance.” I bite his earlobe and his breathing picks up pace in my ear.

  His hand slides up the front of my blouse, grabbing one breast, tearing down the cup of my bra, and his thumb brushes across my nipple.

  My head falls back and he takes the opportunity to rain kisses down my exposed throat.

  “More. I need more,” I whisper, sinking my fingers into his hair and holding his head to me.

  He unbuttons my blouse and his light beard scratches my skin on the path down, the feeling a heady mix of too much sensation and not quite enough. Without warning, his mouth encases my breast and he twirls my nipple around with his tongue like his own plaything until my fingers are digging into his scalp. There’s a fire burning so strong between my legs, I’ll need a fire hose to douse it. Vance and his hose are perfect for the job.

  His tongue on my nipple slows and he rests his chin on my bare breast, staring up at me. “I think we’ll have to continue this another time,” he says in a deep, throaty voice.

  “I know. My vibrator is going to have its work cut out for it tonight.” I laugh and his lips cast small kisses all the way up until he’s right in front of my face.

  “Why don’t you get comfortable and put on a pair of leggings.” He winks, his lips meeting mine one more time. “And no panties.” He turns back around to leave my closet.

  “Vance. You know we shouldn’t.” I’m voicing the words I should be saying, but everything about them feels wrong.

  Walking backwards toward the door, he chuckles. “I won’t tell if you don’t.” The smirk I’ve become so used to rests on his lips as he disappears.

  One little secret never hurt anyone, right?

  Somehow, I survive dinner with the kids even with the fact that every time I pass Vance when the kids aren’t paying attention, his hand slides over my ass. Thankfully, he agreed to wear a t-shirt I had that was too big for me. If his delicious abs had been on display I don’t know what I would have done.

  “Time for bed!” I clap my hands and Vance laughs.

  Payne whines. “Can Vance read me my book?” he asks and I glance over to where Vance is sitting on the chair.

  “I’d love to.” Vance hops up and follows Payne out of the room.

  I pick up Via and we follow behind.

  While I rock Via and read her Goodnight Moon, I hear Vance and Payne laughing about a shark book Payne hasn’t been able to get enough of lately.

  Via’s hand moves up to my hair and then she caresses my face.

  “What do you think, baby? Is Mommy crazy?”

  She smiles over her pacifier with her hand resting on my bare skin. I watch her for a few minutes until her eyes drift closed and her hand falls from my face.

  I stand up and place her in the crib, turning on her twilight light, and leave the room, closing the door softly behind me.

  With Vance still reading to Payne, I head downstairs. Mostly because I don’t trust myself to wait for him in the hallway. I have no doubt we’d end up in my bed within five minutes.

  By the time Vance makes it downstairs, I’ve poured myself a glass of white wine and placed an open beer on the coffee table for him.

  “You’re snooping.” He falls down beside me onto the couch, grabbing the beer in the same motion.

  “Just looking.” I plac
e his script back down on his computer.

  “I’m kidding. It’s okay.” He sits up, resting his elbows on his knees, so near that his crisp cologne lights every nerve ending in my body.

  I pick it back up. “How is it going?” His chicken-scratch handwriting is written in some of the margins, but for some reason it makes the script more him, and it feels more intimate that it’s here in my house.

  “It’s okay. I meet with a script manager next week. Jagger set it up.”

  “What are you changing? I think it’s awesome as is.” I lean back into the couch, propping my feet up on the table. “Actually, there is one scene I think needs a little tweaking.”

  “And what’s that?” he asks, a smile teasing his lips.

  “You’re probably thinking that I should stay out of it… that I’m only an actress.” I raise my eyebrows and he chuckles.

  “You caught me, but I want to hear it. What scene?”

  I flip through the pages to reach the scene where Melanie and Joseph have sex after one of the heists. “I think you need to add romance into this one.” I tap my finger on the page.

  “Romance? They’re outlaws.” He tips his beer back and then places it on the table, grabbing his pencil and leaning in close. “Where?”

  “After they get off the yacht with all the jewels, you have Joseph pin her against the hotel window, stripping her down and taking her from behind.”

  Damn. I shouldn’t have listened to Vance and not worn any underwear because my yoga pants are now wet.

  “You don’t like that scene?” He raises his brow and that cocky smirk is on his face.

  We both know how sexy the scene is.

  “Oh, I like it, but I’d rather him press her against the window, strip her down and then carry her off to the bed to make love to her with the jewels spread out all over the bed.”

  He plucks the paper from me, his pencil poised. “You think Joseph doesn’t love her because he fucks her against the window?”

  Oh, my God, the way he says ‘fuck’ makes me want to run to my nightstand and grab my Unicorn Cock vibrator and go to town. Instead, I take a deep breath and explain what I mean.

  “I think he loves her, but I think this is a pivotal point to show her because they were almost hurt. Well, Melanie was anyway, and I think he’d be vulnerable to her at this point. When you stare death in the eye, you tend to hold the ones you love tighter. Like when I hear a kid has gone missing or heaven forbid something happened, I tend to keep Payne and Via close right after. I’m constantly kissing them and telling them how much I love them. I think Joseph would do the same thing. Realize how much she means to him and cherish her.”