Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78793 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“What time should I be here on Monday?”
“Whenever is fine. Cam is usually up by seven and ready to party.” I chuckle.
“Oh, I love a good party,” she teases. Placing the pillow back on the couch, she untucks her feet from beneath her and stands. “I’ll get out of your hair, and I’ll see you on Monday. If you need me before then, you have my number.”
“That’s great.” I stand, bringing us closer together. She’s got long-ass legs, but she still only comes to my shoulders in height. “Thank you again.” I don’t know why I do it, but I open my arms, and she doesn’t hesitate to step into my embrace.
“It’s all going to work out, Baker.”
“I know.” Reluctantly, I let her go and walk her to the door. “Drive safely.”
“Always.” She smiles before climbing behind the wheel and driving away.
It’s hot as fuck outside, but I still dash back in for the baby monitor and a bottle of water, then sit out on the porch steps, staring up at the night sky, and try like hell not to think about my new nanny. I’m sure Natasha will have something to say about my choice, but I don’t give a fuck. She isn’t here. She’s never fucking here. And I did what I needed to do for our son. He loves Sloane, he knows her, and that’s the best we could have asked for in this situation. I don’t have to leave him with a stranger. Sloane is giving me precious time for interviews, background checks, and fingerprinting that will be necessary for the permanent replacement of Mrs. Ward.
I just have to keep my hands to myself.
Easy, right?
Chapter Six
Sloane
* * *
I’m barely backed out of the driveway when my phone rings. I smile when I see Corie’s name flash on the dashboard. “Hello, my bestie,” I greet after hitting the Answer button.
“Morning. Are you on your way to Baker’s?”
“I am. Shouldn’t you be at work already?”
“Yeah. I had some morning sickness, so I told them I was going to be a little late.”
“You okay?”
“Of course. This little one was just letting me know he or she was in there.” I don’t have to see her smile to know it’s there. I can hear the happiness in her voice.
“I’m so happy for you, Core.”
“Thank you. You know your forever guy is out there, right?” she asks.
“I’m sure he is, but it’s finding him that’s the issue.” I laugh. My dating history has given us lots to laugh about over the years.
“Are you ready for today?”
“Are you kidding me? One kid compared to twenty-plus, this will be a piece of cake.” It’s true. Wrangling twenty-plus five-year-olds is exhausting. One two-year-old will seem like a simple walk in the park, so to speak.
“Cam is such a sweetie,” she says with affection.
“He is. It’s a hell of a lot better than waiting tables and having drunk assholes grope me all night for measly tips. I mean, he’s paying me well, so even if Camden were a holy terror, I’d suck it up.”
“But he’s not, and this is going to be great.”
“I agree. Baker is actually helping me as much as I’m helping him, so it’s a win-win.”
“Well, good luck, not that you’ll need it. I’m a little jealous you get to spend so much time with Cam. Call me tonight and let me know how it goes, and you might as well text the ladies group chat, because you know they’re going to be asking, too.”
I chuckle. “Sounds good. Have a good day.”
“You, too.” The call ends just as I pull into their neighborhood. Foster is the only one who doesn’t live here, and something tells me he’s not opposed to it; he’s just waiting for something or someone. Maybe he wants to find his forever love before he makes a move. Either way, I know the guys have been working on him, telling him he needs to buy a house in the neighborhood. It’s only a matter of time before they wear him down.
Turning into the driveway, I grab my phone, keys, and purse, and climb out of the car. My foot is barely on the first step when the front door opens. Baker is standing there in a pair of gray sweats, his hair mussed, and he’s not wearing a shirt. Camden is sitting on his hip, grinning, with a baby pancake in his hands.
“Swoan!” he cheers.
“Hey, Cam.” I smile at him while I force my eyes away from his father’s bare chest. I’ve seen Baker shirtless countless times. Today, it’s hitting different. Is it the mussed hair? The gray sweats, which are like porn for me, or maybe it’s the adorable little boy in his arms. My eyes take him in again, and I decide it's all the above. “Daddy Sin.” I smile at him, trying my hardest to keep my eyes locked on his hazel ones. He really does have beautiful eyes.