What would Athena think if she knew of Garrett’s and my new dopamine-fix, kissing arrangement? Maybe she wouldn’t care what the two of us did. We are consenting adults, after all. And I could be wrong, and she could view him as nothing more than her employer.
Or maybe the wall she seems to have erected between you and her has everything to do with your friendship with Garrett…
Maybe she’s hoping Garrett will help her get over her previous love. Sure. Maybe. But the woman clearly isn’t over the man she was with. She’s wearing his locket.
Thank the Lord I read romance and not thrillers—other than Garrett’s books. Otherwise, I might believe she was the nanny out to destroy the single father’s love interest, because the woman is in the way of the nanny getting what she wants.
The father.
31
ZARA
“This is Kylie.”Simone points to the six-year-old standing in front of me on the grass. Big blue eyes stare at me, heartbreak glistening in them.
Simone then points to the younger girl. “And this is Zoe.” The blue eyes of the blond two-year-old are no different than her sister’s, prompting me to want to hug the two girls.
A bright-pink scar cuts across Kylie’s forehead, near her hairline, the ends dipping like an upside-down smile. It’s the only visible scar I can see on her, a symbol of the accident that claimed their parents’ lives. It’s the invisible scars, though, that will mark them forever.
Kylie tugs nervously on one of her long dark-blond braids. Her other arm is protectively around her sister’s shoulders, as if she’s afraid if she lets go of Zoe, she’ll lose her like they lost their parents.
I kneel to their level, my body bitching at how bad an idea that is. I ignore it. It’s a little grumpy from the renovations I was doing this morning. “It’s nice to meet you two.”
Zoe looks away, Snowball snaring her attention. The white cat is crouching in the grass, getting ready to pounce on something. Most likely a cricket.
Kylie nods at me but doesn’t say anything. She doesn’t need to. Hereyes say it all. I can’t imagine what they’re going through. Like Peony, they lost their parents not that long ago. A car accident. But unlike Peony, they had no family to take care of them. No nanny who was familiar to them.
Snowball is too much of a draw for Zoe, and the little girl slips out from under her sister’s arm and wanders over to the cat. Kylie follows after her.
I awkwardly try to stand, the pain in my knees and hips flaring from the movement.
Simone’s hand hooks under my arm, and she helps me to my feet. “You okay?”
I roll my eyes like a sassy teen, even though my body feels like it belongs to someone six times that age. “I just slept funny. And I was working on the renovations earlier. My body isn’t used to all that exercise.” I chuckle, my laugh genuine. “I’m not like your husband and Garrett, Kellan, and Troy with their brutal runs.”
She flashes me a look that says she gets what I mean, but at the same time she doesn’t buy my excuse. She knows there’s more to it than I’m letting on.
The creak of the side gate leading to the backyard saves me from having to spill my secrets.
Emily, Jessica, and Avery walk through the archway, carrying dishes to add to the ones already on the patio table. The guys are away for the weekend and Avery’s boyfriend, Noah, is working the afternoon shift at the police station.
Zoe’s attention shifts from Snowball to Bailey, who is wearing herService Dog in Trainingvest, and she runs over to Jess’s dog. Kylie trails after her like a watchful parent, her guarded expression dropping as soon as she spots Jess’s golden retriever.
Simone introduces Emily, Jess, and Avery to the girls, though I’m not sure Kylie heard any of the names. She’s watching Bailey with rapt interest. Jess explains to the girls that Bailey is currently on duty and what that means.
“So Jasper can’t play with her?” Kylie’s gaze goes to the house where Jasper, Simone’s golden Labradoodle, is currently standing by the patio door, eagerly waiting to join us.
“No,” Simone explains, “but we can let Jasper out to play withyouif you’d like.”
Kylie enthusiastically nods, the heartbreak in her eyes softening a smidgen.
We watch as the two girls play catch with Jasper. Kylie throws the ball, and Jasper chases after it. His antics have the girls laughing, and a relieved smile eases onto Simone’s face.
“Jasper has been a lifesaver,” she explains. “Kylie talks to him more than she talks to Lucas and me. She’s been through so much. But at least she can vocalize her needs. Most of the time. Zoe can’t, but she seems to be adjusting to the situation better than her sister.”
Jess pours a glass of lemonade from the pitcher and hands it to Emily. “Are they seeing a therapist to help them cope?” She grabs another glass and fills it.
“The child welfare agency gave us a list of resources for helping the girls, but I’m looking into private counseling for them. It’s helped Lucas and me cope with the loss of Lily. And I thought we could also try family therapy.”
