Page 13 of Mister Mom

Shit, the kid. I’m not used to being around innocent ears.

I hold my fist out to Payne, who blatantly ignores me, so I tuck my hand in the pocket of my pants.

“Well, that’s information I don’t really need to make a decision about whether or not I’m going to take the role.” Her hands land on my shoulders and she spins me around until I’m facing the door. “Good evening, Mr. Rose.”

Having no choice, I turn the doorknob. “Hope to hear from you soon, Miss Andrews.” I circle back around. “Nice to meet you and your monster, Payne.”

He stays mute.

“Well, then.”

“He’s just tired.” Layla makes an excuse for him, while she’s practically at my back until I start down the stairs. “Bye.”

I swivel around to say goodbye, but the trailer door is already shut.

It seems pretty clear to me that Layla doesn’t think there’s much I can offer her—nine inches or not.

4

Layla

The trailer door shuts and I wish I could pour my bottle of water over my head.

Vance Rose is one hell of a guy. It’s no joke that there’s a good-looking guy on every street corner in L.A. Hell, usually they’re clustered together like they all belong to the same hive or something. But Vance Rose has dimples that make me want to swoon like a schoolgirl, hair I want to push my fingers through and a tall, lean build I’m itching to climb like a tree and wrap my legs around. And I haven’t climbed a tree in a long damn time. Or had wood between my legs in almost as long, but that’s another story.

“Mom!” Payne screams my name even though I’m right beside him and I snap out of the daydream of what I’d do to Vance if I was a single girl with next to no responsibilities, rather than a soon-to-be-divorced mom of two.

“I have to call the nanny service, honey. Can you give Mommy some privacy and go back into that room again?”

“You just told me to come out,” he whines.

I did. Why was that again?

God, I think I might be close to losing it.

Oh, right, with the whole nine-inch comment from Vance I feared I’d prowl over to him on my hands and knees and unzip his fly in order to find out if his dick is as gorgeous as he is. The drought has been a long one and if someone doesn’t water my little patch of grass soon I fear there’ll be no saving it from becoming a wasteland.

“I forgot I had to make a few calls. Then we’ll go get Via and head home.”

I ruffle his blond hair and he shakes his head, but listens to me, sulking the whole way back to the bedroom. If only I could figure out why I’m the only one he listens to, that alone would solve a huge part of my problem. At least my childcare one.

I feel terrible at how much time he has to spend in this small trailer. His dad is off shooting on location—not that it would even matter. It’s not like I can see my soon-to-be ex Carver stepping up in that regard. But Payne should be out riding his bike, playing with his friends, going to the zoo.

“How about we stop at Toys ‘R’ Us on the way?” I call out as he’s readying to close the door.

He spins around, his eyes lighting up with happiness.

Sue me, I bribe my kid.

“Yay! Thanks, Mom.” He rushes at me, knocking me off balance with the force of his hug.

Yeah, there’s nothing better than this feeling of love from your child.

“You’re welcome. Now, just give me a few minutes while I make some calls.”

He nods and then runs into the room, shutting the door behind him.

Grabbing my phone from the counter, I dial up the nanny service I’ve been using for almost a year.

---