Page 45 of Tortured Tones

If I could survive the next three and a half months with Cole Tanner, and Luther’s heartbreaking games, I could survive anything.

Chapter 11

COLE

In half an hour, everyone was coming over for an early lunch and to meet Charlotte before rehearsal. This morning, Charlotte had run around the house like nothing was wrong. It was like she’d never been sick. Ava had been right. I’d survived looking after her. Charlotte’s clothes, my sofa, and the floor rug had been the only casualties. I’d sent Ava an update on Charlotte last night since she’d been worried about my kid, even though she’d stood back. I hadn’t expected a response, but the few messages we’d sent each other and scoring texted hugs and kisses from her had taken me by surprise. Had the ice queen melted toward me a fraction? Nah...well, maybe a little. She hadn’t pummeled me to the ground yesterday, so that had been a win.

But Charlotte had slayed me. Yesterday, I’d never felt so helpless, scared, and willing to sell my soul to do anything and everything possible to make her feel better. What was with that?

She certainly was a fire-cracking, roller-coasting tornado that had swept into my life. Up until now, the idea of having a kid had been surreal, like I’d been stuck in one of my horrific nightmares. But yesterday, having to drop everything and come home to look after her had slapped me with reality.

April’s press statement would cement it further.

With coffee in one hand and a dull ache throbbing in the back of my head, I sat in my office and reread her email. My fingers trembled as I scrolled over the touch pad. Once this announcement was posted, the news I had a kid would break across the Internet by the end of the day.

Fuck! Was I ready for this? The onslaught of media questions. More paparazzi outside my home. Everyone wanting to get a photo of Charlotte. Nope. But there was nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. No one to blame for this mess but me. Own it, dick!

I sucked in a deep breath, held it, and replied to April’s email with “approved” in the subject line. I closed my eyes and hit send. There was no going back.

That was one item off my long to-do list—onto another.

Introducing Charlotte to my friends was the next confronting task. The guys had been itching to meet her, but our schedules hadn’t given us the chance.

They’d be here by eleven. Flint meeting Charlotte still worried me. He’d been beyond supportive, but fuck...Charlotte was his ex-girlfriend’s kid. Meeting her would be hard. Maybe it was just me being weirded out.

I closed my laptop, then headed out to the kitchen. Mackenzie had ordered a ton of pastas, salads, and Italian dishes from my favorite restaurant. As I inhaled the aroma of garlic bread and dishes warming in the oven, my stomach grumbled, and my mouth watered. I needed the huge carb intake to burn off at rehearsal this afternoon.

Mackenzie had set the dining table and stocked the fridge with beer and wine just before she’d left. I didn’t know how I’d survive without her. She’d be a great nanny but had bowed out of the running before I’d even had the chance to ask her. Mackenzie was married and had two young children and seemed to love working for me and the guys while her kids were at kindergarten. For nearly two years, she’d cleaned our houses, shopped, and run errands for us, and organized the catering for spontaneous get-togethers like today. She didn’t want to work full-time or travel. This life, where the hours were irregular and every day was different, wasn’t for everyone. I needed someone like her but who could look after Charlotte twenty-four/seven.

Did a nanny like that even exist?

I’d never been good at asking for help. I’d never needed it. How was I going to find someone suitable to take care of my kid?

I had plenty of time. Nope...No, I didn’t. My calendar was full, from sunup to beyond sundown. I had to find someone. But when? How? Ergh!

I’d deal with it later, not today. To distract myself and to fight off my hunger, I grabbed the packet of breadsticks out of the pantry, ripped it open, and stuffed the contents into a jar. As I bit into one, Charlotte came scooting down the stairs with Barney tucked under her arm. She hadn’t let go of that teddy bear since I’d given it to her. I must’ve done something right. Hannah had dressed her in pale yellow jeans and a navy top with butterflies on the front. She reached the bottom step and rushed across the living room to me. My chest swelled and my heart skipped to a faster beat. How could it not?

She crashed into my legs and raised her arms. “Up.”

“Hey, munchkin.” I scooped her off her feet and placed her on my hip. “You ready to meet some new friends?”

“Yeah.” Her big green eyes twinkled as she rubbed her hand down my face. “You’re hairy.”

“I don’t shave every day.” A three-day growth was my normal.

“It’s funny.” She wrinkled her cute nose. “All soft and tickly.”

“Is it okay if I keep it?”

“Yep.” She pointed to the breadsticks. “Can I have one?”

I tickled her tummy. “Manners?”

She giggled and grabbed my hands. “Please.”

“Sure.” I pulled one out of the jar and handed it to her. She bit into it and crumbs fell onto her shirt, across the kitchen counter, and onto the floor. I shook my head. The mess this kid caused did my head in. In the six days she’d been in my house, she’d destroyed a rug, half my sofa, broken a plate, spilled ketchup all over the table, and left a trail of destruction wherever she went.

I liked things neat and tidy and spotless. Note:nanny will need to be a diligent cleaner.

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