I wanted to go back to Florida and it made sense to go, being that this was the only way I could afford to look after Elle, but maybe those were the wrong reasons to move in with Hale.
I googled the time difference between Oregon and Maine and finally gave in and called the one person who I knew could help me figure things out.
“Meyers, I wasn’t expecting to hear from you,” Remington answered.
“I’m sorry to call so late.”
“It’s not that late. Hold on a minute.” I heard some shuffling and the distinct sound of a woman’s voice. Hale’s father had obviously gotten his strength back. “Okay. I wanted a drink. Talk to me.”
“We’re going back to Florida tomorrow.”
“That’s what I hear.”
“I won’t be able to go back to work right away.”
He made a gruff sound. “We won’t be back in the area for a few days anyway.”
“I… I’m going to live with Hale.”
“I’m not surprised.”
“Am I being stupid, Remington?”
“We all do stupid things, Meyers, but if this gets you back where you belong, so be it. You outgrew your childhood home and waitressing some time ago.”
An unsteady grin twitched on my lips. For some reason, Remington believed I was cut out to be something impressive. Maybe I was, but I didn’t have his instincts.
“When will you be back?” I missed him. Though he was a big pain in the ass, I couldn’t deny the sense of confidence his presence brought.
“I have a few meetings tomorrow, but my business here is winding down.”
“I … miss you.”
He gave a gruff laugh. “Get your emotions in check, Meyers. This isn’t daytime television.”
I smiled, because, despite his prickly temperament, every cactus had a soft side. “I’ll see you soon, Remington.”
He was quiet for a moment. “I’ll see you soon, sweetheart. Have a safe trip.” And there was the Remington I knew.
When I hung up the phone I was less afraid of what might come and more prepared to face my future head on—for the most part.
The next morning Hale picked us up and we rode to the airport. It was absolutely adorable seeing him push Elara in a stroller, but the adorableness stopped when she started to cry and shit herself right in the middle of our security screening. Flying with a baby no longer seemed like a fun idea.
Once we were on the plane, Hale got her settled. Elle buckled up and flipped through a magazine, but I wasn’t sure if she read a single word. I occupied myself by checking out all the luxuries that came with flying business class.
Rather than sitting side-by-side like the passengers in coach, we each had our own little, sectioned off pod area. Each chair altered directions, so we faced one another, Hale and Elara on my left, Elle and Barrett on my right, an ocean of floor space between us. My legs had plenty of room to stretch between my seat and a personal desk with my own private television.
As I explored, Hale fed Elara and Barrett and Elle chatted quietly.
I found a little bag filled with airline swag. “Did you guys see the fanny pack of goodies we get? Ooh! A blindfold!” I turned to Hale. “Do we get to keep this stuff?”
He chuckled and I played with my seat, which could recline to a flat position.
A flight attendant came around to take our drink orders. We had six hours to pass so I figured we should make it fun. “Can I have a beer? No, wait, how about a cosmopolitan?”
She nodded and disappeared behind a curtain by the cockpit. Hale smirked. “You’ll be smashed before we take off. Don’t forget it’ll be just after lunch when we land.”
Day drinking was always fun. A noon buzz was better. I waggled my brows. “Wanna join the mile high club?”
He laughed and glanced at Elara, who was now sleeping in his arms. Yeah, there wouldn’t be plane sex with a baby.
My drink was delivered and then came breakfast.
“This is real silverware,” I gasped, unrolling my fork from the linen napkin.
Everything was so fancy. Croissants and Canadian bacon, quiche, and a little parfait. It was a five-star meal. No bags of airplane peanuts here.
After breakfast, everyone decided to nap. I tried out my handy-dandy blindfold, but then I was just staring at darkness. I wasn’t tired.
Playing with the remote on the desk, I figured out how to get to the movies. Yes! True Lies.
When lunch rolled around, I was onto Caddyshack and super excited for the food. The drinks were included, so I ordered another Cosmo. I was totally crushing the upper-class version of Rayne Meyer. She was awesome, like Fergie in the Glamorous video.
Spreading my napkin on my lap I preened and sipped my cocktail, whispering out the lyrics, “G—L—A—M—we’re flying first class—popping champagne…”
“I’ve never seen someone so happy to travel,” Hale said, eyes squinting with amusement.
“This is fabulous, darling,” I gave him my rich person eyes, full on Betty Davis pre-What Happened to Baby Jane.
His laugh told me he totally understood and accepted I was the way I was. “Are you enjoying your lunch?”
“Absolutely. Did you get the kettle corn? I got both, the corn and the Dove chocolate. They said I could have both.”
He laughed again. “You can have whatever you want.”
My lips pursed. I wasn’t at the right angle to give him a shoulder bump, which was like a secret I love you handshake, so I tapped his knee with my socked foot. “You’re nice.”
“So are you.” He pinched my toes. “Where did these come from?”
“They were in the little fanny pack thing. Didn’t you get socks?”
“I’m sure I have a pair.”
I glanced at Elle and Barrett, who were both passed out. They even supplied pillows and blankets. Elara was curled up in Hale’s arms like an Anne Geddes portrait. I checked the time on my phone. “We’re halfway there.”
He arched a brow. “Living on a prayer.”
I stilled. “Did you just quote Bon Jovi?”
He laughed. “Yeah. Cheesy. I know.”
If it was possible, my love for him doubled. Elle no longer liked Bon Jovi, but apparently, my other half did. “It’s not cheesy at all.”
It was a sign. And I knew then and there… We’d make it… I’d swear.
Chapter Ten
And what is your name, little girl?
The moment the limo pulled up to Hale’s house in the Keys a sense of rightness took hold of me. This was where I’d left off and exactly where I wanted to be.
I smiled as I slid out of the backseat and waited for Elle. Alfonse, one of Remington’s employees who had picked us up from the airport, earned a bear hug the moment I saw him, which might have overwhelmed the man, but I was a hugger.
“Wow,” Elle muttered as soon as she saw Hale’s home.
“I know. You should see his dad’s place.”
We followed the men inside and something was immediately off. Lights were on and the television played softly from the kitchen—Hale had TVs in every room. Glancing around at the tidy living space and catching the slight scent of food, my nose twitched.
Excitement took hold as I looked at Hale. “Is Marta here?” Marta was Remington’s maid, who I adored.
“No, she’s with my dad.”
“You made it,” a feminine voice called from the stairs and I frowned. What sort of fresh hell was this?
A young twenty-something woman came to greet us, and my body physically shrank into itself. Her hair was lavish, literally lavish, waves of white blonde reaching halfway down her back like a slow-motion shampoo commercial. She wore cuffed denim shorts and a white dress shirt with no sleeves that accentuated her tanned, trim arms.
“Let me see my little angel,” she cooed, reaching for Elara. My gaze followed her as she took Elara into her arms and kissed her pudgy cheek.
My baby.
Hale didn’t seem to care that thi
s strange woman was manhandling his child. Okay, this was not what I expected.
“Rayne, Elle, this is Brynlee.”
Brynlee? Oh, that was just the perfect name for her. I stared, too shocked to move or speak.
“Hi,” she chirped, retaining her familiar hold of Hale’s daughter.
“Who are you?” I finally asked because she seemed to be kidnapping Hale’s kid right before our eyes.
“Brynlee’s Elara’s nanny,” Hale explained, not at all on the move to send out an Amber Alert.
I frowned. Naomi had been helping Hale and he’d said all that stuff about me being there when he had to go away on business. I hadn’t fully agreed with the idea, and help seemed like a great idea, but where were all the boy nannies? Elara struck me as the type of infant who would prefer a babysitter with a name like Russ or Bob.
“Oh,” This was so unexpected I didn’t know what else to say.
“I made some sandwiches and a pie, figuring you’d be hungry after your flight. God knows airplane food isn’t real food.” She giggled and Hale grinned.
This chick cooked, too? Wasn’t she a little young to be operating hot stoves? I mean, could she reach the pantry? And I liked airplane food.
“I think Elara needs a change,” Hale said.
Yeah, change in nanny…
Brynlee smiled like the kid’s diaper hid diamonds. “I’ll take care of her.”
“And you can unpack this in her room.”
“Thank you,” she sort of said, but it came out more as a chirped think hue. Who thanks someone for telling them to clean up poop and unpack?
We were definitely going to discuss little Miss Pie Pants as soon as I had a minute alone with Hale. Turning to Elle, I said, “I’ll give you a tour of the house.”
We left the guys there with Elara and the chick from The Hand that Rocks the Cradle and went upstairs. “This is Elara’s room and down there is Hale’s room.” As soon as we were out of earshot I hissed, “Did you see that girl? She was totally coming on to Hale.”
Elle laughed and glanced to the stairs. “No, she wasn’t.”
I scoffed. “He didn’t say anything about having a nanny.” Or did he?
Damn him with his distraction tactics. He’d definitely used the word nanny, but that was the same conversation that included red flags like living together and future and the words I eventually want a wife.
“Well, he’s a single dad, Ray. How else is he going to do it?”
“His mother!” I said, wondering why I was the only person who found this unacceptable.
“I think you’re overreacting.”
If only Elle could remember how I got here. It was like every worry and insecurity I expressed during the hook-up stage was gone from her memory and I had to constantly remind her that I was a perpetual teenager with irrational insecurities. To Elle, there was Hale and there was me, and we had a lot of sex in between. Oh, and he had a baby. I wasn’t used to my best friend not jumping on my side.
I want my biased friend back!
Irritated, I walked her down the hall. “This is the room you’ll probably take.” I pushed open the door and stilled. “Or not.” Little lotion bottles sat on the dresser and a pair of woman’s sandals rested by the bed. “Is she fucking living here?”
Now, Elle was getting it. “Oh, I see the issue.”
I gaped at her and whispered, “How long has she been here?”
Of course, she didn’t have an answer. But Hale was going to give me one. That was for damn sure.
I took Elle to the next bedroom and she was just as happy to claim that one. She’d been pretty sharp today, but still a far cry from her usual self.
All nanny business aside, I was actually feeling a bit relieved until Elle whispered, “So what’s the deal with Hale’s brother?”
Everything inside of me went on high alert. “No, Elle. He’s a serious manwhore. I mean, he’s nice and everything, but you need to stay away from him.” What if they did stuff and Elle wasn’t ready? She might not remember his reputation. “Barrett will sleep with anything with a pulse.”
“Well, Meyers, that’s not entirely true.”
I spun on my heels as Barrett filled the doorway. “Vampire!”
He smiled, gushing all that Davenport charm with his carved dimples and sexy man bun and shredded abs that tinted shadows through his fitted white t-shirt. For God’s sake, Elle needed to roll her tongue back in her mouth. Everyone needed to calm down!
“I draw the line at sheep and men,” Barrett joked. Then as if nothing happened, he said, “I’m heading back to my dad’s. I just wanted to say I’d see you later.”
Elle smiled, but it was her flirty smile so I stepped in front of her and blurted, “Bye.”
He gave me a questioning frown but nodded. When he was gone, I turned to her. “No. You cannot get mixed up with him. You’re … fragile.”
She rolled her eyes. “Get a grip, Ray. We’re on vacation.”
But it wasn’t vacation. I mean, it was for her, but this was my life and these were my Davenports. Things couldn’t get more complicated than they already were. I left Elle to get settled and found Hale unpacking in his room.
Shutting the door, I asked, “Why didn’t you tell me about Brynlee?” I really disliked saying her name.
He frowned. “What about her?”
“Um … that she’s living with you.”
He closed a drawer. “Marta hired her. She’s getting a degree in early childhood education and has been a huge help with Elara.”
“But your mom was here.”
“Yes, and that was never permanent.” He approached me, his brow creased. “Is something wrong?”
She’s too young and pretty. And why the fuck is she baking you pies? “I just don’t understand why you need a live-in nanny when I’m here.” God, she was such a hypocrite. But rational logic had never been her strong suit.
“You’re my girlfriend. I need someone to watch Elara when we go out.”
Well, didn’t he just have an answer for everything? “What was wrong with Marta?”
“Marta works for my dad, Rayne. What’s the issue? Babies need daycare and I have a demanding job. Do you not like her?”
No. I didn’t like her. “I just figured you would’ve told me about her.”
“I thought I did.”
“No.” Definitely did not mention the name Brynlee.
“Well, we’ve been a little preoccupied with getting Elle situated, and the move.”
“She’s living in the next room, Hale.”
“Only because my mom was in the guesthouse. She’ll move her stuff out there this week.”
I continued to scowl, in no position to tell him whom he could and couldn’t hire. “Well, I don’t think she should be baking you pies.”
His eyes creased as he stepped closer, his lips hooking up in a cocky grin. “Are you jealous of the nanny?”
“No,” I scoffed.
His hands rested on my hips, pulling my body close to angle against his. “Liar.”
I glanced away because I couldn’t deny the other woman’s presence threatened me on some level. Hale’s fingers massaged through my jeans as he whispered close to my ear, “She’s ten years younger than me, baby.”
And so were all of Remington’s wives.
“She’s not my type.” His lips pressed to my pulse and my body partially relaxed.
Maybe I was being a tad too territorial. “I just wish you would have warned me she was here.”
“An oversight.”
“We should probably help her move her stuff.” I mean, no sense in wasting time.
“Not yet.” His hands fit under my shirt and teased my skin. I squirmed because I was still irritated and I didn’t like knowing another woman was in his house—Elle didn’t count.
His mouth trailed to my shoulder, drawing my nipples to attention. “Relax, Rayne. The only woman I want is you.”
I gave him a brooding stare, but he just
chuckled and pulled me toward the bed. “I haven’t had you alone in days.” His fingers plucked my jeans open and slid down the zipper.
“Elle’s by herself—”
“She’s fine. She’s unpacking.”
“Elara—”
“Is with her nanny. See how convenient that is?” He stripped off my shirt and unlatched my bra.
Bending in front of my body, he pulled my nipple into his mouth and I caught his shoulders. Feeling myself fall under his spell, I swayed a little, my eyes turning heavy.
“I love your body,” he whispered, breath teasing my flesh.
Okay, maybe having a nanny wasn’t such a bad thing. My hands roamed over his chest and worked their way into his pants. Hale groaned and toppled me to the bed.
I giggled as he pulled off my jeans, the denim going inside out and catching on my flip-flops. He got them off with a yank.
“You’re mine,” he growled, irrefutably claiming all that was his to have.
Chapter Eleven
Distinguished Arrogance
“I can’t believe you gave this up to come home for me,” Elle said as she basked in the sun on a lounge chair next to mine. We were at Remington’s pool because I liked it better than Hale’s.
“This isn’t exactly how I left things. Before I was working.” Which I missed very much. There was something to be said about the value of independence.
“Still, this is the life. It’s so peaceful here.”
Another reason why Remington’s pool was better than Hale’s, it was far away from Brynlee. I was glad to discover she didn’t dine with us, but she sure made Hale a lot of sandwiches. Like that was hard. I could make a sandwich.
I’d come to admit the girl was good with his daughter, but I wasn’t ready to say it out loud. Having a nanny made our evenings easier and assured Hale and I had plenty of time to date like a regular couple.
She was available for babysitting and tended to Elara during the workday, leaving Hale in charge overnight and in the mornings. I was really impressed with how easily he woke to feed his daughter and how naturally he took to things like dressing her. On the weekends Brynlee was only around if we went out. So, fine, I might have overreacted.
Calamity Rayne II: Back Again Page 10
