Page 6 of Broken Daddy

It’s not what I expected.

Definitely not as opulent as the surrounding houses. This is more country style, low-key, and all cream and tan stone. Pretty, as much as I hate to admit it.

I scan the perfectly manicured landscape as I start up the little walkway to the door. And feel the knot of anxiety in my chest tighten.

We donotget along,I remind myself.But get this out of the way and we can…figure something out.

When Russ told me he had a friend who needed a personal chef, I didn’t realize Russ hadn’t actually talked to Nathan about this proposal. Or that Nathan hadn’t accepted.

Or that Nathan was the mysteriously familiar guy I’d hooked up with behind The Black Fig.

There was the night of the gala—a sort of reintroduction, since I had vague memories of Nathan being around when I was a kid. Nothing very permanent, mostly just coming over and disappearing up to Russ’s room with him. Playing basketball in the driveway.

But it looks like he’s come a long way from that tiny suburb we grew up in, judging by the exclusive neighborhood that is now his residence.

Before I can knock, it opens.

I wasn’t expecting to see Nathan Sharpe himself answer the door. He takes me in from head to toe and I’m suddenly conscious of the loose jeans and T-shirt I opted for today. What does one wear as a private chef?

“Gen. Come in.” He steps aside, all chilly indifference as I enter a decent-sized foyer. But looking around, a few things catch my attention—a pink pair of rainboots, what looks like a leather apron of some sort, a little smattering of sawdust…

Did I just enter the home of a serial killer?

Before my brain catches up with my mouth—thankfully—a little girl runs into the hallway and stops on a dime. We stare at one another, and then my memory jogs.

Russ said I’d be working for asingle dad.Nathan has a kid.

The chill in the room eases as the girl traipses up to Nathan and holds his hand. His features actually soften a bit as I watch.

“Dad?”

“Eva, this is Gen. Gen, this is my daughter Eva. She’s the main reason you’re here.”

“Hello,” I say politely. I’ve never been great with kids, and anxiety rockets through my limbs. What do I do? Shake her hand?

Eva hides her face shyly against her dad’s side, but then speaks. “He heats up a lot of frozen things.”

Slowly, a flush covers Nathan’s cheeks. I can’t help smiling, which only seems to infuriate him.

“Well, I promise, everything I cook will be fresh. You can make me a list of the things you like if you want—and the things you don’t like.”

Eva’s eyes light up at that, a serious little purse to her lips. A lot like her dad’s. She nods and scoots off to another room, intriguing sounds following.

Nate and I lock eyes.

“I work a lot. And…I’ve never been great with cooking.”

It’s like pulling teeth. Like I’m torturing the guy, even though I didn’t ask for the explanation. I only nod and smile, deciding to try and keep things civil for now.

“That’s fine, most people are too busy to cook a full meal every day. That’s why I’m here, right?”

His face settles into something impassive and he leads me farther into the house. I glimpse a decent kitchen, though obviously unused per the empty countertops, and then I’m on a back patio. It’s already close to twilight, the sun hovering on the horizon behind the trees and creating a soft glow.

“That’s where you’ll be staying,” Nathan says, nodding toward a little cottage-like house separated from the main house by a pool. “As agreed on in the contract. Should have everything you need in there, but if not, you can text me.”

“I don’t have your number,” I admit. We’ve been communicating mostly through Russ, although I did get an email from someone at Ironside with the contract he mentioned.

His green eyes stare into mine as he reaches out around me and slips my phone out of the back pocket of my jeans. It sends a shiver up my spine, even though it was just the ghost of a touch. Nathan holds the phone out for me to unlock. I do, grinding my teeth.

---