Page 5 of Nanny for the SEALs

“Yeah, but we should have met her. She wasn’t due to start till Monday. We showed her around the penthouse, but if she has any questions, we’re not home to answer them.”

He nodded. “I know, but you know Stan and babies. I mean, he can barely hold a conversation with an adult, let alone a baby.”

“Who would have thought he was an ex-SEAL by the way he carries on.”

He laughed. “He was a SEAL like us, but let’s face it, he was the computer guy, the one who fixed all our communications, but he was never on the field.”

I agreed, knowing he was right, but that didn’t stop me from worrying about him.

“You tried having a girlfriend, and look how that turned out. Babies were not going to change him overnight. He needs time. He lost too many friends, like we did on the field. He’s not like us. He’s sensitive like Mom. Just give him time.”

I inhaled, thinking I had too much on my plate now to be babysitting Stan, as well as the twins.

“Besides, he made it clear from the start that he wasn’t ready to be a dad.”

I threw my hands up in the air. “Oh yeah, what did he say again? He’s in his prime. Still in his twenties, which will come to a dramatic end in six months. But then he walks around like someone in his nineties, eating too much candy and drinking too much beer. As if he’s waiting for his time to come to an end.”

He whispered, “Just like Mom.”

No, I had to change the tone. This was too depressing. We were running a strip club, our dream from when we served abroad. We went to so many, it was the only thing that kept us going, not having to think of our reality but being in a club and living in some secret fantasy.

“Right, I need to get out of here, and so do you. Drinks at the bar. Once over there, let’s see how this place is doing and which girl should be a manager. I think I have my eye on Diamond.”

I laughed, knowing my brother had more than just his eye on Diamond.

“No, not like that. I never mix business with pleasure; besides, I’m a professional.”

I stood, ready to leave my office. I needed to loosen up. I was worried about the twins, but I saw the agency details, and we interviewed her and when she did come to the penthouse, she looked as if she knew what she was doing. I had to stop being the control freak I was often accused of being. While I denied it, I couldn’t help that I wanted perfection, maybe just not all the time.

Pete’s dark eyes met mine. “Don’t even think about calling the nanny. She’s with Rodney, and if anything’s up, he’ll call. I trust that man with my life, you know that.”

“Yeah, we should, too. We owe too much to him. After all, he saved your life, big brother. I don’t know where I would fucking be without you.” I paused as the nightmare of the past flashed through my mind.

I brushed it to the side. “Anyway, Rodney will be going back to Scotland soon, I’m going to miss him. Even if he has had his fun here, and it’s time for him to go back home.”

“Me too. I don’t like the tone of the conversation. Take a break, and let’s get out of here and get a drink.”

He didn’t need to convince me or tell me twice. I was in dire need of one. I wasn’t much of a drinker, but sometimes, in times like these, it did more than calm my nerves. It made me forget the nightmares of my past.

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