Page 1 of Nanny For My Brother's Best Friend

CHAPTER 1

FATHERHOOD

Miles

“Are you telling me that you want me to move your little sister into my house?”

I stare at my best friend as his eyes narrow.

“No. Did you even listen to what I said? You need someone to watch Lola when the season starts, and Delilah is back from college. I’m sure she’d like a job while she’s settling in. You said your family isn’t always available.”

I hand my best friend a cold beer and sigh at the cluttered living room behind him. Choosing to ignore that, I lead him outside, where we sit in some lounge chairs with the trusty monitor ready and waiting.

“I hate the idea of anyone but family watching Lola. This single father shit is tough.”

I lean back and look at the stars in the dark Colorado sky. Since I live on the edge of a small town in the woods, the view is magnificent from here. Why can’t my mind be as clear as these stars?

“Yeah. I know. I’m trying to help, but never talk about my sister like that again.”

There’s a warning in Andrew’s tone, and I scoff at him in return.

“I’ve only met her once or twice and all she did was give you shit.” Sipping my beer, I glance at Andrew.

“That’s been happening since she could talk. Delilah is sarcastic with me, but everyone wanted her to babysit when she was younger. She’s great with kids.”

I look at the sky and play back the last six months in my head. Again. Lola’s mom got into a car accident and died in the town where she lived here in Colorado and I became a single father overnight. We had done the shared custody thing since we broke up when Lola was a baby, and it worked for the last few hockey seasons.

Then, she died, and it was all on me. My family was there for me through the last few months of the season to watch Lola, though we didn’t win the cup. I’ve been using this summer to get to know my daughter as a single father and learn to be both mother and father to Lola.

I need to learn how to balance hockey and my life with Lola, but I don’t want a stranger in my home with my daughter.

“Did I lose you, buddy?”

“What did she major in at college?” I realize I don’t know a lot about Andrew’s sister except that her name is Delilah, and she graduated from college. He’s one of my closest friends on the team, but our lives truly rotate around hockey.

“Physical therapy. She was top of her class, so she’ll get somewhere with it, but I think she wants to take the summer to not think about it. I’m sure she doesn’t want to live with my parents for too long, either.” Andrew chuckles and I glance at him.

“Your parents are great. Maybe Lola and I should move in with them.” They had been there for me through this crisis as much as my own family.

“Mom would take you both in, but especially Lola.”

“Well, they have a family business to run, and Lola’s my responsibility. This is on me.” I love my daughter to pieces and when she was born, things changed for me. I wanted to make myself the best person I could for Lola and I worked with her mom to co-parent successfully. By no means were we best friends, but Lola had parents who loved her and could have a conversation about her needs.

Now it’s just me.

“You’re a great dad, Miles. Never doubt that. I get why you’re worried, but Del is it. She’ll help you out for a while.” I look at Andrew and he smiles at me. “All I have to do is call her and we can get this in motion.”

I think back to his sister from the times we met. She is on the taller side and striking, with big green eyes and a gorgeous smile. With that mouth, Delilah could give the team a run for their money with her sass.

Maybe I remember her better than I thought.

“She’ll hold back with Lola, right? I already have to make you watch your mouth.”

“Del is classier than I am. She’ll be great. I think she reserves the sass for me.” Andrew sips his beer.

“I have a couple of weeks before we hit the ice, and I don’t want to spend that time interviewing people from an agency that I’ll probably hate.” I run a hand through my hair and sip my beer. “My mom and sister would insist on helping me out, but Mom helps her sister with the copy store. Brynn just started college and she’ll need to focus on that. I have to handle this.”

“I have all the answers for you. At least have an interview with Delilah and see how you feel about her. I trust her with my niece completely and I’m the best uncle she has.” Andrew throws his head back with a laugh and it reminds me that most of the team said the same thing when Lola was born.

---