Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 53462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 267(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Although when she first started her job, Mia planned to eat alone after Bailey and I finished, it seemed natural to ask her to join us and not treat her like hired help.
We settle into our chairs and begin to eat. Before her, my mom cooked for the family. Left to my own devices, Bailey and I would live on tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, which I enjoy, but it isn’t exactly staple food to raise my daughter on every meal.
“Daddy?” Bailey asks, scooting her legs beneath her so she can reach the table better.
“Yes?”
“Can Mia come with you to take me to school?” she asks, her determination when she wants something rivaling mine.
“I thought we talked about this,” Mia says. “Your dad is going to drive you, and I’ll pick you up,” she says brightly, trying to convince Bailey she has the best of both worlds with the planned arrangement.
Bailey pouts, pushing out her bottom lip. “But… but…”
“But what?” I place my fork down and meet my daughter’s gaze. It is that quivering of her bottom lip that does me in even before she replies.
“But Lisa’s mom and dad are taking her. And I don’t want to be the one without a mommy.”
I curse my ex with everything I have in me but keep my expression warm for my daughter.
“C’mere.”
She scrambles to her feet, and I pull her into me with one arm. Mia, I notice, discreetly rises from the table and makes herself busy by the sink.
“I know it’s hard for you, not having your mom around, but you know how much I love you, right?” I ask.
Bailey sniffs and nods, those big brown, damp eyes my undoing. “You and me ’gainst the world.”
“Exactly.” I squeeze her tighter. “But if you want Mia to come with us tomorrow, it’s okay with me.”
“Yay!” She throws her arms around my neck and a lump rises to my throat. I’d do anything for her. Anything.
“Thank you, Daddy! See? You can come with us!” She pushes off me and runs to Mia, barreling into her and wrapping her little arms around Mia’s waist.
Mia meets my gaze, green eyes the color of a grassy field locking onto me, a smile on her beautiful face.
“Will you come?” Bailey asks.
“I wouldn’t miss it,” she promises my daughter.
I close my eyes and recommit myself to viewing her as a caregiver and not a sexy woman with just enough curves to make my mouth water and green eyes I could drown in.
* * *
Mia
I walk into the elementary school with a cobblestone façade alongside Austin and Bailey. The little girl hops her way inside, excited to meet her teacher and be with her friends. Though it breaks my heart the way she is afraid she’ll be the only girl without a mom there, once Austin agreed to me going along, she seemed to put all sad thoughts out of her head.
I wished I had a father who cared as much about me as Bailey’s does. Though I was in good foster homes, it wasn’t the same thing as a parent who loved you.
I center myself, my attention back on Bailey, where it belongs. As I enter the room, I am immediately struck by the brightly decorated walls. Letters and pictures are scattered around, welcoming to all the children.
After we settle Bailey into her desk and warn her not to glare at Josh, who is, in fact, sitting in front of her, Austin kneels down, makes certain his daughter is comfortable and happy before kissing her good-bye.
I glance at Bailey. “So I’ll be outside when school is over to pick you up,” I remind her, not for the first time. I don’t want the little girl to worry about who will be waiting for her when the day ends.
“I know.” Bailey looks around the room, already eager for her class to get started.
Austin tips his head toward the door, indicating it is time for us to leave.
I follow him into the hall. I don’t miss the way some of the other mothers glance at Austin appreciatively, eyeing both his handsome face and, yes, his spectacular ass. Which I, as his employee, should not be ogling. Or noticing. Or allowing myself to think about. But I do. Often.
The question I often ask myself is, does he think about me the same way? He is respectful, always, but I sometimes catch him studying me in that inscrutable way he has. As a bodyguard, he is probably trained not to let his emotions show and he doesn’t. Yet I can’t help but wonder if the attraction is mutual.
“Mia?” he asks.
“Yes?” I jerk my gaze away and look to the floor, hoping he didn’t catch me staring or thinking inappropriate thoughts.
“Can I talk to you outside?” he asks.
I nod. “Sure.” I follow him through the double doors, and we pause on the walkway on the side of the building where we exited. We walk toward their vehicles, which are parked side by side so he can go straight to work.