Page 49 of Sweet Thing

“This is your daughter, and you know what’s best.”

Not sure how true that was, but I let it go. Somehow, through all this, I’d forgotten the tension between us. It needed to be addressed.

“Adeline, what happened yesterday?—”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, that was all on me.”

A fiery blush crept up her cheeks. “We both made it happen. I should have left when I realized what was going on.”

The ribbon of steel in her voice surprised me. She seemed determined to take ownership over what had occurred. I was all about responsibility and I certainly appreciated seeing it demonstrated by others.

“Okay.” I blew out a breath. “I worried you might not show today.”

“Why?”

“I thought you might feel … unsafe around me.”Because dammit, you should.The way she was looking at me now with all that doe-eyed innocence was doing very bad things to me. “You seemed scared when I came home yesterday morning and woke you up.”

“Strange bedroom. Sudden awakening. That was all.” She shifted uneasily. A lie, but about what exactly? “And to think I wouldn’t show because we had a weird moment? That wouldn’t be very professional. This year is big for my dad, for you, the team. It’s imperative that we keep this a calm, drama-free environment for you, Mabel, and the entire Rebels ecosystem.”

I appreciated that she wanted to put the needs of Mabel and the franchise ahead of all else. That was a good way to look at it.

I picked up my coffee as she went on. “I have a couple more nanny interviews set up for tomorrow. And I promise to give you your space. You won’t even know I’m here.”

I doubted that. Still, I could hope. “I promise to keep things professional, too.”

“Oh, don’t stop your … activities on my account.”

I coughed up a mouthful of coffee. “My activities?”

Her blush intensified, a flush of warmth that I could feel from here. Christ, I wanted to kiss every inch of her and find out where else she pinked up.

Think of the team, Mabel, and your mental health.

“You know what I mean! Still your house, Lars. How about I get our girl cleaned up and you can get ready for practice.”

I let her take over. Now that my kid was in good hands, I’d pimped her out on social media to rehab my rep, and I had permission to jerk off to my heart’s content in my own house, I was apparently golden.

ChapterFourteen

Adeline

“Oh. My. Ovaries!”My ears almost burst at the screech. “Look at that gorgeous bundle!”

Tara Fitzpatrick, mom to my friend Esme, came bounding over on gravity-defying heels and gave me a hug.

“Hi, Tara!”

“Hey, cutie! I’m so glad to see you. Want a haircut?” As usual, she gave me the critical once-over that told me my wants were irrelevant: Ineededa haircut, and she was right. She ran the player salon and cut the hair of everyone Rebel-adjacent. I’d dropped by her digs at Rebels HQ to say hello.

“Maybe later? I’m here to take Hatch to lunch.”

“Oh, how fun. But they’re still in practice, so have a seat there and tell me all about your travels while I hold this little one.”

I took a seat in the big leather chair and chatted about my favorite places—Ubud, Chiang Mai, Split, and Siena, to name a few—while Tara tickled Mabel, who loved the attention.

“And now you’re on the hook as nanny? You okay with that?”

---