by Roxie Odell
Furious, Brodie tried not to rationalize things or justify his behavior, but he couldn’t help it. It was a private conversation, he thought. The least she could have done was listen to the parts where I told that jackass to knock it off!
As he showered, with little Thomas in his bouncy seat across the tile floor, he decided he was far too annoyed to send Cara flowers. Once he was dressed, he jotted a quick note, with a brief explanation and an invitation to talk, sent it by messenger, then trotted off to the park with his son, hoping a little fresh air and fun would do them both good.
Chapter Ten
Part of Brodie hoped for an answer to his invitation to talk, but another part was relieved that he heard nothing. Life seemed so much more efficient when no messy feelings got involved. Of course it still hurt, because he really liked Cara, but he valiantly tried to ignore that pain, hoping it would go away.
Of course, another downside was that Cara and Maya were a package deal, so he now had no one to look after Thomas. For that reason, among many others, he decided that closing the deal was the perfect excuse to take a couple weeks off, beyond the dutiful trip to South America.
Not sure how to handle the babysitting situation after Maya’s abrupt departure, he swallowed the lump in his throat and gave her a call to let her know she didn’t need to show the next day.
“I was going to call you myself,” she said in her rigid voice.
“You were?” he replied, playing dumb but knowing full well what she was about to say; the games made him like her even less.
“Under the circumstances, sir, I don’t think it is a good idea for me to continue caring for your baby,” she said.
The heat under Brodie’s collar rose another ten degrees, and he simply had to ask indignantly, “And what circumstances are those?”
“I think we both know why,” she said stiffly.
“You’re gonna take what happened between your sister and me out on a baby?” he demanded.
For that, she didn’t have an answer.
“Fine,” he said. “I’ll just take care of him myself.”
“As you wish,” said Maya.
“Thank you,” he said.
“For what?”
“Well, see, I felt like crap over the situation, over what you heard, but now you and your sister have spared all of us unnecessary awkwardness by taking off like you did.”
“Mr. Rogan, I’ll expect my last paycheck as soon as possible,” she said.
“So, for the record, you’re quitting?” he asked coolly. “This is your official resignation?”
“That’s correct,” she confirmed, “completely official.”
Brodie knew he was bordering on immature, but he took delight in her answer. “Hmm. Well, under the current employment laws, I only have to provide your back pay within twenty-four hours if I fired you. Since you left of your own volition, you will wait till payday, in two weeks. Have a nice day,” he said, then quickly ended the call.
His triumph was short-lived, because now he was faced with the dreadful task of interviewing nannies. He called the agency but ultimately decided it was best to leave Thomas in the care of the daycare at work, so he could visit him whenever he had a break. He also began to have doubts about the trip to Argentina, as he certainly didn’t want to put such a young boy through all the stress of international travel.
The next day, Brodie set the baby in his stroller and set out for the park. He didn’t mind that the two of them did practically the same thing every day when the weather cooperated. He even set his phone on silent except for personal calls.
On the way out, he checked his mailbox, expecting to find a bunch of bills and junk that could wait till they got back. There, however, he was shocked to see the card he’d sent to Cara, marked with a big, red, rubber-stamped “Return to Sender.”
Fine, he thought. Be that way. I’m better off anyway.
In spite of that broadside, Brodie was still a man, and he couldn’t resist checking out the women at the park. There were one or two dads, but some of the moms were very cute. He played with Thomas on his blanket, then gave him a fresh bottle and changed him. When the little one’s belly was full, the temperate weather and laughter of the toddlers nearby soothed him to sleep.
When Brodie’s phone rang, he answered it on impulse. “Hello?” he said, sounding far harsher than he meant to.
“Hi,” Cara said flatly.
He laughed bitterly. “What’s up?”
“Can we talk?” she asked softly.
Brodie sighed. “I’m not sure. I sent you a note to ask you that, and you sent it back without even opening it, so I took that as a no. What made you change your mind?”
“I just… I wasn’t very fair to you. I know I wasn’t. I did open your letter carefully, then put it back and resealed the envelope to return it. Your explanation was…pretty upsetting,” she confessed.
Something about Cara’s words was different, dishonest in a way he’d never known her to be before. “Did you talk to your sister, after she just…failed to show up?”
“Yes.”
“Did she tell you we spoke this morning?”
“Yes, but—”
“Tell me, Cara, does this call have anything to do with the fact that I refuse to send her a check till payday?” he snapped. He knew he sounded like a jerk, but it was a real question.
“Maya told me she quit, and yes, that got me thinking about you, but I’m not calling on her behalf,” she said. “I genuinely want to know if we can talk. I’m sorry if the timing is bad.”
What’s the worst that could happen? Brodie thought. We’re already apart anyway. Hell, maybe we can mend the fences, become better friends, or… He couldn’t deny that he didn’t want to give Cara up entirely, and they both loved flirting with each other. Not only that, but they’d enjoyed an unforgettable night together in bed. Maybe it’s time I grow up a little, he told himself as he hesitated to answer her.
“Brodie?”
“Yes, let’s talk,” he finally said. “Ya know, it isn’t all bad that Maya quit. That just cemented my decision to spend more time with Thomas while I decide whether I’m going to Argentina.”
“You changed your mind?” she asked quickly. “You’re not going now?”
“Well, a lot has changed in the last few days, and Thomas needs stability. I need to refocus on the most important thing, and the silver lining is that I get to spend time with my son. That’s far more important than patting myself on the back in a romantic country,” he said. After a breath, he continued, “I’ll be honest with you… I was a wreck when you left without a word. I admit that I fucked up, saying some of those things on the phone, but it taught me a lesson.”
“What lesson?”
“I can’t afford to lose sight of Thomas. He needs me, one hundred percent.”
“You need someone to take care of Thomas,” she said. “I feel responsible, since I introduced both of you to my sister.”
“What’s done is done,” Brodie said. “While I’m off, I’m interviewing new nannies, and for the time being, he can go to the daycare when I have to work. At least we’ll be in the same building during the day,” he explained, suddenly realizing that just talking to her stirred him out of his anger.
“Maybe we can come to an understanding so Maya can still take care of him. That way—”
In an instant, his rage boiled over again. “Look, I don’t mean to sound cruel here,” he spat, “but that’s never gonna happen. Yes, I regret screwing things up with you, but your sister is in no position to gain my trust again. I appreciate where she’s was coming from and all that, but I need someone who will always put Thomas first. She proved she can’t do that,” he said.
A long, uncomfortable silence lingered between them.
“Fair enough,” Cara finally said. “I’m just concerned about him. I wasn’t trying to get my sister’s job back or anything.”
“I know that. Thanks,” he said as his mind filled with images of her and
he indulged in sweet memories of every curve of her beautiful body. It was an amazingly gorgeous day, with clear skies and lots of warm sun. Brodie had more money in the bank than a thousand people would earn in their lifetimes, and he and his son were in great health. Nevertheless, the phone conversation with Cara was a stark reminder that his heart ached. “Listen,” he said, “we’re gonna walk over to the shopping center off Aspen Hill Park. If you’d like to join us for lunch, Thomas is buying.”
She laughed. “I work for a nonprofit. That means I’m totally flexible…and totally up for a free meal. I’ll be there.”
“Free meals?” Brodie said, mildly amused. “That doesn’t sound too good, but I can vouch for the flexible part.”
“Very funny,” Cara said. “Where do we meet?”
“We’ll be at the bread place.”
“Ironic.”
“How so?”
“Because you’ve already got plenty of dough!” she said with a sweet laugh just before she hung up.
Chapter Eleven
Brodie was surprised at his tingling nerves, because he’d seen Cara so many times before, in so many compromising positions. He began to second-guess his appearance, almost to the point of wondering if he should rearrange the time for their interlude, so he could freshen up a bit. Unfortunately, he forgot the well-known rule about the baby picking up on his mood, so by the time he and Thomas reached the busy restaurant, the baby was wide awake and howling, in the middle of a full-blown meltdown. Brodie took him in the men’s room, but even a trip to the changing table didn’t help. Desperate to quiet his son, he patted his little back while he got his bottle out.
Back in the restaurant, Brodie continued patting the baby, pacing the floor and utterly embarrassed that he was causing a scene. It was noon on a weekday, so most of the diners were seniors and moms, and they really didn’t seem to mind much, but Brodie was absolutely humiliated to disturb anyone’s lunch. He brainstormed as he paced, but for the life of him, he couldn’t conjure up what to do. He’d always had a sitter or nanny at his disposal before. “Where the hell is Dr. Spock when I need him?” he quietly complained.
Just as he was making another lap around the restaurant, Cara walked in like a breath of fresh air in her cute sportswear, her simple but extraordinarily beautiful hair pulled up in a ball cap. She locked her gaze on his and smiled sympathetically.
Suddenly, his heart started beating again. After just one look at her, Brodie couldn’t even remember why he was upset with her. Whatever it was, he was definitely glad to see her, especially at that moment, when he needed help. When she stretched out her arms, he happily handed Thomas over. It broke his heart to see his son so upset, but the baby quieted as soon as Cara took him.
Brodie rolled his eyes as they took their seats. “Unbelievable,” he said. “What did you do? He’s been bawling for the last few minutes.”
“Maybe it’s magic,” she said with a wink.
“Or maybe it’s that you have a little more padding than I do,” he teased.
“Aw, he just needed his mama,” the waitress said as she appeared at their table.
Awkward as the remark was, neither Brodie nor Cara corrected her.
“What can I get you folks?”
“I know what I want to order, but do you need a minute, Brodie?” Cara asked coolly as she coaxed the bottle into the baby’s mouth.
“Yeah,” said Brodie, exasperated, “I know exactly what I want.”
Their eyes locked again, and he took her hand immediately, with a sense of urgency. Without a word, they leaned their heads together and met in the center of the table for a kiss.
“Oops!” Cara said, pulling away. “I’m gonna mush him!”
“Yep, with all that special padding,” Brodie teased. “He’s a lucky boy.”
Cara set the baby in his stroller, and he quickly nodded off, exhausted from his tantrum. Then without any regard for the waiting waitress or the patrons who were looking their way, nor any fear of coming on too strongly, she reached for him.
Right there at the table, among the gluttonous granddads and munching mothers, Brodie clutched Cara with everything he had and ravished her, sweeping his fingers up through her hair, embracing her head, and pressing her face against his so he could deeply penetrate her mouth with his tongue.
“Ahem…” the waitress intervened, clearing her throat and impatiently tapping her foot on the tile floor and her pen on her order pad.
“I guess we’d better cool it,” Cara whispered against his lips.
“Yeah,” he whispered back. “We could skip lunch, you know.”
She laughed and sat back against the chair. “No, I’d love nothing more than to have lunch with my two favorite guys,” she said. “Besides, we have talking to do.”
“I guess that’s my cue to come back in a bit,” the waitress said, then turned on her heel and walked away. “When you need me, just flag me down.”
“I’m sorry for being a dick,” he said. “I don’t know what Maya told you, but she didn’t hear that whole conversation. I almost fired that guy for being so disrespectful, but I can’t put all the blame on him. I did play along for a while, but I warned him to stop.”
“Thank you,” she said, and, “I’m sorry about my sister.”
“She’s a great babysitter, but I guess we just didn’t click. It’s probably for the best. It’ll do Thomas no good if I’m stressed out about his nanny.”
“Well, at least you didn’t have to chase her out a window naked.”
“No offense, but don’t make me lose my appetite,” Brodie joked. “Besides, she kind of cramps the ol’ style,” he said.
“Yeah, but now you have to trust a total stranger with the little guy,” she said.
“Like I said, I’ve got that all figured out. I’ll make sure to screen everybody carefully. I just have to worry about whether or not I can fly with him. I can’t think of anyone I can leave him with that long, and to be honest, I don’t want to anyway.”
“So you’re really considering blowing it off?” she asked.
“It’s a crossroad I knew was coming, a choice I knew I’d eventually have to make. When it comes down to business or baby, he will always come first,” Brodie said without a shred of doubt in his voice.
“That’s what I like about you,” she said. “Just call the airlines and see what they say.”
He smiled but said nothing.
“What?” she asked.
“I don’t need a commercial airline. I have my own jet,” he replied.
“Of course you do,” she said, though she looked genuinely surprised.
“It’s really a matter of their infant policy. I also wanna check with his pediatrician. I really think he’s too young, and I can never be too careful where my son is concerned.”
“Do you want to go to Argentina?” she asked directly, looking for an honest answer. “If you do, I’m willing to watch him here or go with you and look after little Thomas there, no strings attached.”
“I like that thought,” he teased.
“What thought?”
“You, with no bikini strings attached.”
“Silly boy.”
By the time they ordered and the food arrived, Brodie’s mind was so overwhelmed by images of their lovemaking that he could only stare her down with a wolfish gaze. He found her adorable in every way, and he knew his only choice was to seduce her mercilessly into giving him his favorite dessert.
“You aren’t really dressed for work,” he noted. “Are you going in after lunch?”
“No, I called off,” she confessed.
“I see,” he said cozily, wicked plans spinning in his head.
She extended her foot to touch him. “Why do you ask?” she asked seductively.
Electrified with rising arousal, he felt an animal urge to get her alone. He could tell by her flirtations that she was just as hungry for him as he was for her, and something about that morphed his passion into emotion. Is it pos
sible that I’ve fallen in love unawares? he had to ask himself. Oddly enough, what he wanted most was to see Thomas in her arms, to share his son with her. He lifted the baby, who was quiet and content, and handed him to her.
She touched his arm and nodded, as if she could read his mind and they were on the same page. “We shouldn’t, but I can’t resist!” she declared, taking the child. “I think someone found the weight I lost. I swear he’s gotten bigger in just the last couple days.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I don’t think I’ve eaten a decent thing in the last couple days either,” he said. “Damn, I’m like a chick.”
“Hey, lady,” she gently kidded, “let’s go. If you want, we can stop at the drugstore and get you some Midol on the way!”
Chapter Twelve
Clouds gathered, and the clear morning turned into a rainy afternoon, but the baby was peaceful on the ride home. Cara and Brodie put their leftovers in the fridge, then played with Thomas together for a while till he fell asleep.
The moment they were alone, Brodie made his move. “So,” he said in a sexy voice, “what’d you tell them when you called off?”
“The truth will set us free, right? I told them I’ve been unable to sleep and that I just need a day to recover.”
“Is that what you really want to do?” he asked, teasing her. “You wanna take a nap?”
“Well, I—”
Before she could answer, he swept her up and carried her over to the soft, plush living room couch, then maneuvered her onto his lap after he sat down. “You know, I don’t think I’ve spent much time in this room before,” he confessed.
“You’ve never been in your own living room?” she purred, tracing his ear with the tip of her finger.
“Not to use it, no,” he replied frankly.
They tilted their heads toward one another and softly kissed, and he was hard for her that fast. He trembled as he slipped his tongue into her mouth. She gripped the sides of his head, steadying him as she controlled the kiss.
She dominated his mouth and grinded her hips temptingly down on him. When her soft center discovered his erection, she pressed just hard enough to drive him insane. He took hold of the elastic waist of her spandex capris and drew the pants down over her hips. While she continued riding his lap, he shed his pants as well. His erection sprang against her, and she shook with anticipation. Cara then levered herself upward and gripped him, guiding him into her. She was so wet for him. She sank downward with a groan and took him into her entirely.
