Page 103 of A Major Puck Up

I swallow and then double down. I’m a fucking masochist. “Not tonight, obviously, but feel free to use it.”

She turns back to the keys, her fingers gliding softly against them, not pressing to make a sound, just maybe acclimating herself to them.

“It’s so beautiful,” she whispers, her voice filled with awe and longing.

It’s how I feel every moment that I stand here staring at the woman I want more than my next breath, even as I’m perfectly aware that I can’t have her. “Use it, Millie. I bought it for—” I clear my throat, looking away. Fuck. I’m sure my ears are tinged red as my entire body heats.

Millie’s already walking toward me. “What?”

My fight-or-flight instinct kicks in. Allowing her close to me right now would be a disaster. I’m weak. Tired. Desperate.

I brush past her as I spot the book I came out to read on the table. “Nothing. Forget it. Use it or don’t. I don’t care either way.” Then I grab the parenting book and head for the front door, hoping none of the guys are out here hanging in the common area.

I almost smile when I realize which parenting book I grabbed. The Single Dad’s Survival Guide.

I’m already taking out my pen, knowing the note I’ll be jotting in the margin and underlining three times: Don’t Fuck The Nanny.

“Stop moving,” I growl, eyes squeezed shut.

The kid kicked out of his sleeping bag minutes after I climbed into bed. I swear he’s a trapeze artist in his sleep. My kidneys will never be the same after a night like last night.

“Uncle Gav, Uncle Gav.”

At the urgency in his voice, I force my eyes open and focus on him in the dim early-morning light. He’s sitting up beside me, holding a pillow over his head, worry lining his face.

I jackknife up, ready to face whatever has him upset. Once again, I can’t help but suspect that he brought one of his pets over and it’s now loose in my bed. “What’s wrong, buddy?”

He points at the mattress beneath him with a huff.

Holding my breath, I scan for a bug or another critter, but it looks like it’s just the two of us.

“My tooth!” he shrieks.

I’m still half-asleep, so I’m a little slow, yeah, but I’m struggling to follow the conversation. “Your tooth?”

Finn opens his mouth wide and points to a hole along his bottom teeth.

Motherducker, how’d I miss that?

“It came out while I was brushing my teeth last night. I put it under my pillow just like I’m sposed to. Then I touched the red light on your clock and made my wish, but it didn’t come true.”

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I sit up against the headboard. “Touched the red light?”

“Yeah. Phoebe and Collette said you gotta touch the red light at 11:11 and make a wish.”

“That’s a different thing.”

“My tooth is still here,” Finn whimpers, his volume getting louder.

“Shh.” I grasp his hand and check the clock.

Six a.m. I didn’t hear Vivi get up in the middle of the night, and though I’d love to believe she slept through the night, I have no doubt Millie was up with her, even though I told her I’d prefer taking the night shift. Traveling with a tired nanny this week seems less than ideal.

“Bossman said this wouldn’t happen again.” Finn crosses his arms, a big pout on his face. He’s wearing his John Cena pajamas, and as he promised, we wrestled as soon as he put them on last night.

Despite the panic rolling through me because I don’t have a clue how to fix this situation, I can’t help but smile at the kid. He’s awfully fucking cute, even when he’s upset.

“Finn, bud, I’m sure there’s a reason the tooth fairy didn’t come. Maybe she only comes to your house.”

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