Page 22 of Nanny for the SEALs

11

Pete

“Hey,”I called out as I saw Katie facing the big screen, as if she was watching something. Nothing was on. It was just blank, then she turned to look at me as if she’d seen a ghost.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” I smiled as I approached her.

She turned back to face the TV with a bewildered look on her face. “No, I was clicking through the channels and there’s nothing to watch. How is that even possible when we have so many choices now?”

There was an innocence about her, something I liked, as if she knew what she wanted. I knew I could embarrass her by taking her to the strip club and showing her all the back rooms.

She had on a low-cut denim top and matching hot pants. I hadn’t seen her dressed like that since she’d been here. Even if she’d only been here for a little while, but so far, she had only worn jeans and a shirt.

“You went shopping?”

She looked down. “Yeah, I was bored, so I thought I’ll get something new. I was going to do my hair too, but then thought I’ll come home in case Rick needed me to look after the twins.”

“They’re not here?”

I was impressed that she could tell us apart; usually when I cut my hair, people found it difficult to tell us apart.

“No, he said that he’s spending the day with your aunt and the twins, and I should have the day off. So, I went to get my things from my ex…” She faced the TV again.

“And?”

She burst out crying, I was going to comfort her, but then she bounced on the sofa, wiping her tears, as if she was fighting to hold them back.

“The lying toe rag told me they were throwing our things out at noon tomorrow, but it wasn’t tomorrow, it was today. I got there and all my things were gone. The door was locked, and the key was useless. I decided I wasn’t going to let him get me down, so I went shopping and then I came back here.”

I laughed. “You sound like one of the girls in the club. It’s like certain guys just can pull the wool over girls’ eyes, and then when they’re done, the guy throws them in the trash. This guy Ben, he did the same thing to Ruth. But the good thing is that she took her money to the club. She didn’t leave it in the apartment, so he managed to get some, but not all of it. I told her she should have changed the key and not given him an opportunity.”

I wrapped my arms around him and sunk into them. He stroked my hair, and as he did it, he rocked me like I’d seen him do it with twins a few times. I pulled back from him, thinking I could get lost in his musky scent and forget the reason I was upset in the first place.

“Better?” He smiled as I pulled away completely.

“Yeah, sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

He chuckled. “A broken heart by a jerk. I just hope I don’t have to do the same thing with Stan.”

“What?”

He smiled. “Well, it’s clear you’ve brought out a change in our little brother. Well, he’s not so little, but he’s showering every day, walking, getting fit, and getting back to his old self. Rick and I didn’t get it at first, but it’s clear it’s you. Our brother has a crush on you.”

“Me?”

He nodded. “Yeah, whatever you’re doing, don’t stop. I shouldn’t ask this of you, especially because I don’t know if you feel the same way or not. But I haven’t seen my brother alive, not like this since…”

“Your mom died?”

“Something like that. So, what do you fancy doing, apart from sitting and watching a blank screen?”

I shrugged. “Dunno. I used to love painting, listening to music, watching sappy movies on TV, but then that was back home. Since being in the city, I’ve lived a different life. I did try to get in touch with my BFF, but she did send me a text last week saying she was on the road for a few days, so I assumed she’s out of the city. She didn’t respond to my text.”

“You paint?”

Out of everything I said, it was the only part he picked up. As he smiled, it dawned on me there was a reason for his question.

“I love Sullivan Goss in Santa Barbara. I’ve only been there once, and only by chance. They usually have a mix of modern and old art. I’m not a fan of modern, but I dig the old stuff.”

---