Page 668 of Hell Hath No Fury
She picked at a muffin, watching him somberly.
He gave her a tender smile.
She smiled back.
His heart melted.
God, he never knew it was possible to love another being as much as he loved his daughter.
“What is it?”
Her mellifluous voice drew his attention back over the fence.
There she was, walking toward them in another one of those long, floaty dresses that clung to her curves but hid legs he’d discovered last night were long and fan-fucking-tastic.
“I’m running late for work,” she said, staring pointedlynotat him.
“You’re going to work?”
“Michelle called in. Sasha has a fever, so I told her to go home. I’ll cover her.”
“Michelle is Ember’s number three at the spa,” Celeste explained. “I’m her number two, but Sundays are strictly my days off.” She narrowed her eyes at her sister. “Right?”
Ember made a face. “Don’t panic. You are not required today. Now, what is it? I need to go.”
She still wouldn’t look at him.
It was beginning to piss him off. Even though he knew he deserved it.
“Foster is in a bit of a jam. His new nanny quit before she started, and he needs someone to be here in the morning to get Georgie ready for school and pick her up afterward. You could organize your appointments so they’re all in the morning, and I thought you could collect Georgie from school and keep her at the shop with you.” Celeste gestured to Foster who was pissed off he hadn’t seen where the conversation was going. “Foster can collect her from the store.”
“That’s not necessary,” he said tonelessly.
Ember’s eyes flew to him. He couldn’t read her expression as she studied his face. “I can do it,” she finally said.
“I’m sure you wouldn’t know what to do with a five-year-old.”
“Why? Because I’m a single, childless, thirty-six-year-old woman and therefore I must not have a maternal bone in my body?”
He bristled at her defensiveness. “Don’t put words in my mouth.”
“Hey.” Celeste held up her hands between them—even though there was a fence to do that—her expression curious and questioning. “Cool it. Georgie needs someone to look after her. Someone responsible. There’s no one more responsible than Ember. She dropped out of college to look after me and Luna when our parents died, and before that, she always helped our parents with us.”
Guilt prodded him. He’d forgotten they’d lost their parents young. And he hadn’t known Ember dropped out of school to take care of her sisters.
It was more than he’d done for G.
“I really wouldn’t mind.” Ember’s eyes moved beyond his shoulder and softened. “She’s a sweet kid.”
Colt vouched for Ember. He thought she was the shit.
Still … “I’d prefer her not to hang out in your store.”
Ember crossed her arms. “Why? What do you think is in there?”
He shrugged. “Nonsense occult, paranormal crap that might make my kid uneasy.”
She grimaced. “I sell candles, jewelry, crystals, yoga mats, cute yoga gear, and books on meditation.”
