Page 11 of The Wolf's Plus-Size Nanny

I can’t help but feel a pang of sympathy despite myself. I mean, Jack’s got a lot of growing up to do, but it’s clear he wants to do right by Fiona. That counts for something, doesn’t it? “You’ll get there. It’s not about being perfect, Jack. It’s about showing up.”

He nods, but there’s still that lost look in his eyes. “Showing up. Funny, Evan said that’s the easy part. I can do that, though.”

I shift Fiona to my other arm, and for a moment, the three of us just stand there in the quiet, the weight of the situation settling over us like a heavy blanket. It’s a weird feeling, this makeshift family we’ve somehow fallen into. And as much as I try to keep my distance, there’s something about Fiona’sinnocent trust, the way Jack looks at her with equal parts terror and awe, that makes it hard to keep my walls up.

“So, tell me about her mom,” I say, breaking the silence. I’ve been dancing around this question since I got here, but I need to know. Need to understand what kind of woman just leaves her baby like this.

Jack stiffens, and his easygoing facade slips just a little. “Casey. We were… it wasn’t anything serious. Just a fling. She never told me she was pregnant, or I would’ve been there from the start. Didn’t tell me until she dropped Fiona on my doorstep.”

“Wow.” I shake my head, feeling a surge of anger on Fiona’s behalf. “Who does that? Just abandons their kid like that?”

Jack shrugs, but there’s a tightness in his jaw that tells me he’s thought the same thing a hundred times. “Casey, apparently. She said she couldn’t handle it. Thought I’d be better off with Fiona than she would.”

I snort, and the bitterness creeps into my tone before I can stop it. “Yeah, because you’re just overflowing with fatherly instincts.”

Jack glares at me. “I didn’t ask for this, okay? But I’m trying. I’m trying to figure it out.”

“And that’s what counts,” I say, surprising myself with the gentleness in my voice. “But you’ve got to stop thinking you’re going to mess it all up just because you didn’t plan it. None of this was planned, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be good.”

Jack nods, and for a second, we’re just two people caught in the mess of unexpected parenthood, trying to make sense of it all.

“Besides,” I add, a teasing note creeping back in, “you’ve got me now. I’m not letting you screw this up.”

Jack chuckles, and a genuine smile tugs at his lips. “Lucky me, huh?”

“Damn right,” I agree, grinning despite myself. “Now, come on. Fiona’s going to need to be changed soon, and you need to figure out how to do it without calling it a biohazard.”

Jack groans, but there’s a lightness to him now that wasn’t there before. “Do we really have to?”

“Yes, Jack,” I say with a laugh. “We really do.”

We get to work, and the awkwardness eases into a strange sort of rhythm as I guide Jack through the basics of baby care. It’s not perfect—we bicker over the smallest things, like how to fold the diaper properly or whether Fiona needs another bottle—but there’s a sense of teamwork that surprises us both.

“So, tell me,” I say as Jack struggles to snap Fiona’s onesie back together. “How many more Caseys are out there?”

Jack shoots me a wry look. “Not as many as you’d think. And none I’d let near Fiona, that’s for sure.”

“That’s reassuring,” I tease, though there’s a part of me that’s genuinely curious. Jack’s reputation as a player precedes him, and it’s hard to reconcile that with the guy who’s trying so hard to be a parent right now. “You’ve got to admit, Jack, you’ve made some pretty questionable choices.”

He pauses, his expression serious as he looks up at me. “Yeah, I have. But Fiona’s not going to be one of them. I’m not going to mess this up, Sonya. Not with her.”

There’s a conviction in his voice that makes me believe him despite everything. And as much as I want to keep my distance, there’s something about the way he’s looking at Fiona—like this tiny human is the most important thing in the world—that makes it hard not to feel a tug of something deeper.

“Good,” I say. “Because she deserves someone who’s going to fight for her.”

Fiona stirs in my arms, her little fists clenching as she lets out a soft sigh. I look down at her, this tiny, fragile life that’s already been through more upheaval than she should ever have to face, and something shifts inside me. This isn’t just about helping Jack out. It’s about making sure Fiona has the kind of love and stability she deserves.

“Thanks, Sonya,” Jack says, as if he’s just read my mind. “For being here. For giving this a chance.”

I meet his gaze, feeling a strange warmth spread through my chest. “Yeah, well, don’t get too used to it. I’m not here to play house.”

Jack grins, and that familiar cockiness seeps back in. “You sure about that? Playing house has its benefits.”

I roll my eyes and swat at his arm. “Let’s just get through today. One diaper at a time.”

“Deal,” Jack agrees, his eyes never leaving mine. “One step at a time.”

We turn our attention back to Fiona, the moment passing but not forgotten. It’s a start, and maybe that’s all we need right now. Because for the first time in a long time, I’m starting to feel like maybe I’m not just floating through this town, but actually finding a place in it. And it’s a feeling I’m not sure I’m ready to let go of just yet.

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