Nash frowned. “If there’s no sugar in this house, I’ll riot.”
I let my head fall, pinching the bridge of my nose.
“If this is the influence you bring into the children’s lives, I can see why you’re having issues,” Mrs. Archibald said with a huff.
My head snapped up at that. “Charlie, Drew, and Luke.”
She looked puzzled at my words.
“Mychildrenhave names. Charlie, Drew, and Luke. And I would rather they riot on a daily basis and be surrounded by family wholovesthem than be turned into robots at the hands of someone who can’t even bother to use their names.”
Mrs. Archibald’s spine stiffened, and she gripped her purse tighter. “You’re going to ruin your children.”
I’d had enough. I might not be the perfect father, but I loved my kids. And I’d never leave them in the hands of a woman like this. “We clearly aren’t a match. I’ll show you out.”
It was all I could do to keep a tight rein on my temper.
Mrs. Archibald’s mouth went slack. “You’re not hiring me?”
Nash’s eyebrows hit his hairline. “Lady, you’re about as cuddly as a porcupine. I wouldn’t let you take care of my pet fish.”
Holt glanced at Nash. “You got a fish?”
“No.” Nash shook his head. “It’s hard enough keeping up with the dog who’s always stealing my shoes.”
“A fish might be nice,” Roan cut in. “As long as this one,”—he motioned to the woman on my couch—“isn’t feeding it.”
“Not helping,” I muttered.
Mrs. Archibald shot to her feet. “I have never had such an atrocious interview in all my days.”
“Well, that makes two of us,” I agreed.
“And he interviewed an ex-con last week,” Nash added.
Mrs. Archibald’s eyes went wide. “I should’ve guessed that’s who you’d be consorting with.”
“They were definitely nicer than you,” Holt called as I ushered Mrs. Archibald toward the door.
“Don’t follow me,” she snapped.
My jaw clenched with a vicious snap. “I’m not,” I gritted. “I’m showing you out.”
“I know the way, thank goodness.”
She hurried toward the door and continued out it.
I stood on the front porch, watching her drive off.
A hand clamped down on my shoulder, squeezing. I glanced up at the brother closest to me in age. Roan shook his head. “I wouldn’t let her watch Cady if she were the last person on Earth.”
Just a few months ago, Roan had been the brother we could barely get to attend family gatherings. And when he did attend, he was stoic and surly. But meeting Aspen and her daughter, Cady, had changed all of that.
I let out a long breath. “I’ve got two other interviews. One in a few minutes, and then one first thing tomorrow morning.”
Roan’s brows rose. “My wedding’s tomorrow.”
I grinned at him. “Don’t worry. I wouldn’t miss your big day for anything. The interview’s at ten.”
