Page 6 of The P Arrangement

“I’m just grateful we have her,” she said.

I swallowed at her use of the wordwe.

“I’m sure we could have found a day care or something,” she added. “Or maybe even a temporary nanny if we needed to.”

“I’m still appreciative because we know we can’t ask my mother, and I don’t really have anyone else.”

Delaney’s lips curled even though she tried to hide it.

She had never liked my mother, and to be honest, I couldn’t blame her. Both my parents had come from more money than Delaney’s family, and my mother always looked down on her. My father hadn’t been as bad, but he had passed away six years ago.

After our divorce, my mother had moved in with me to help out with Paxton, and that had been a disaster. She was impolite to Paxton’s nanny, and she really did nothing to help. Plus, she always had rude comments to make about Delaney whenever she dropped him off or picked him up. At times, I felt like I had two children.

When she’d decided to go on a spontaneous trip out of the country with her friends, I’d told her it was best that she move out. Paxton needed more stability than her coming and going as she pleased, especially if it came to last-minute changes in his schedule because she had decided to go on vacation. Thankfully, she agreed, and Paxton’s nanny was bumped up to full-time. Things had been a lot more peaceful ever since. I suspected she hadn’t wanted to move in with me in the first place.

I hadn’t told Delaney that my mother was coming to town tomorrow and was going to babysit while I went on a date she’d set up for me. I had half a mind to cancel because I didn’t really want to go out with anyone, especially someone my mother wanted me to get involved with. But it was better than staying home with my mother all night, and it kept her off my back. If I gave her the illusion I was trying to find a new wife, she would leave me alone. And since I would put Paxton to bed before I left, I trusted her enough to watch him while he was sleeping. But her watching him all day while he bounced off the walls would never happen.

“As a nurse, Natalie understands how much care Madison’s mother needs, so she is happy to do it.” She looked at our son and smiled. “I think she might actually like it a little. Paxton and Cooper played all afternoon. It actually gave her a little bit of a break.”

Her face suddenly fell, and she looked down at her food.

I frowned at the abrupt change of expression, but when Delaney took her first bite of pasta and moaned, my mood unexpectedly changed from concerned to turned on.

“Oh my God. I knew Clara’s pasta tasted good, but it’s even better than I remembered.” She shut her eyes and licked her lips.

My dick ached.

Once upon a time, I would have pushed all the dishes to one side, pulled her on top of the table, and fucked her right there.

I gritted my teeth and tried not to think about sex, but it was hard when my ex looked like she was seconds away from an orgasm.

“Delaney,” I snapped.

She opened her eyes, a questioning look on her face.

“Paxton said something to you,” I lied.

“What did you need, baby?” she asked him.

Paxton, oblivious to my torture, shrugged and said, “Nofin’.”

Thankfully, Delaney just laughed, probably thinking our almost three-year-old had forgotten what he was going to say.

I shoveled the rest of my food in my mouth and stood. “I’m going to clean up the kitchen.”

Delaney’s eyes widened. “You’re finished already?”

“Yep.” Picking up my fork and plate, I shoved my chair to the table.

“Is everything okay?”

I gave her a fake smile. “Yeah. I just like to get it done sooner rather than later,” I said and headed for the dishwasher.

Hopefully, when I was done putting all the food and dishes away, she’d be finished eating and stop torturing me with her presence.

FOUR

DELANEY

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