“I don’t know, Marley girl,” I murmur, pressing my lips to her soft head of hair. “Daddy has no idea what he’s doing.”
4
* * *
JESSA
“Cheers, ladies. Here’s to being young and beautiful in the Windy City.”
My new friends—Penelope, Scarlett, and Maren—raise their wineglasses, each with a warm smile directed my way.
“And to our new friend, Jessa,” Scarlett says, looking to me with a toss of her long auburn hair. “Welcome to the neighborhood, but more importantly, welcome to the whirlwind that is the men of Frisky Business.” Her face holds a challenging smirk, and I’m not quite sure what to make of it.
Before we even clink glasses, Maren and Penelope are both balking. Maren’s polite smile is frozen on her face, and Penelope winces uncomfortably.
Clearly, we’ve already ventured to the most exciting and controversial topic of the evening. And something tells me if I want to learn anything about Connor, Scarlett will be my go-to source.
But just as quickly as the topic was broached, the moment passes, and Maren and Penelope are back to their sweet and blissful selves. We sip our sauvignon blanc and drool over menu items before settling on the beef empanadas and goat cheese for the table.
I have to admit, when they first recommended a tapas place, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But between the cool brick walls, the warm atmosphere, and fragrant tapas food coming from the kitchen, I’m sold.
“Okay, so remind me again how you all know each other?” I ask, placing my hands flat on the table and looking helplessly between my three new friends.
They’re all so . . . pretty. Is it normal for friends to be this pretty? Scarlett’s more on the eccentric side in a bright pink dress and chunky orange necklace. Maren’s a little more on the demure side in an olive-green tank dress that hugs her curves and makes her hazel eyes pop. And Penelope is just too damn sweet in a baby-pink silk top and the kind of vintage jeans only models can pull off. I’ve got to know how these three very different women found each other.
Maren smiles. “Scarlett and I go way back,” she says, turning to smile at her old friend. “We’ve been running this city forever.”
“And I’m with Wolfie,” Penelope says with a shy smile. “Maren’s brother. But we were friends before that happened.”
“With as in . . .” I let the question hang in the air between us. Part of me knows the answer, but I don’t want to leave anything open for interpretation.
“In a relationship,” Maren says with a smile, “and I’m so happy for you two. Besides, it’s not like I’m one to talk.”
“Wait, I’m lost. What does that mean?” I ask. My head’s starting to spin, trying to keep up.
The three women laugh and Scarlett clears her throat, clasping her hands together in front of her chest. “This is what I meant when I said that the men of Frisky Business were a shit show.”
“I think the term you used was whirlwind,” Maren says, correcting her with a strained smile.
“Whatever. It’s complicated. Let me explain.” Scarlett takes another sip of her wine before continuing. “Okay, so your new boss, Connor, co-owns the sexy-times operation with Hayes, Wolfie, Caleb, and Ever. These two ladies are dating Hayes and Wolfie. Maren and Hayes dated in secret, but Hayes and Wolfie were best friends, and that was a problem because Wolfie is Maren’s older brother. But now it’s all happily ever after, and the moral of the story is that everyone is getting some dick except for me.”
“Scarlett!”
Maren swats her arm while Penelope buries her face in her hands.
“What?” Scarlett says with an innocent look on her face. “True story. Anyway, now they’re all coupled up, and it’s mostly fine, except that Wolfie is Maren’s brother and Penelope is Connor’s baby sister. And, of course, all of these men co-own one of the most successful sex-toy shops in the city. No wonder they’re so goddamn horny.” She chuckles at her own joke.
I nod along slowly, trying not to let my eyes pop out of my head. Guess I’m not the only one who was a little more than interested in how unusual Connor’s company was.
And I have to say, I’m more relieved than ever to have found this group of women. I was beginning to think that the situation I was in was too complicated for anyone else to understand. But complicated is what these girls know best. Maybe they can help me navigate the waters with Connor without me losing my head.
Scarlett continues, a sly smile curling on her lips. “And that brings us to you, Jessa. The new girl on the scene, and Connor’s cute new nanny. What brings you to our neck of the woods?”
My heart leaps at the thought of being paired with Connor, even if it’s only as his nanny. I’ve only known Scarlett for forty-eight hours, but I’ve been around her enough to know exactly what she’s implying. Still, I breeze past the suggestive description and focus on introducing myself to my new friends. It’ll be a long summer without some female companionship.
“I just needed a place to stay for the summer,” I say with a shrug, “and the couple who live next to Connor was renting out the top floor. And then when I was moving in, Connor happened to have a crying baby, I happen to be one of six kids, and Hayes suggested I become Marley’s nanny. It all just kind of . . . happened.”
“Talk about good luck,” Maren says whimsically.
“Or fate,” Scarlett adds with a dip of her chin.
“Why just the summer?” Penelope asks.
I swirl the ruby-colored wine in my glass. “I’m leaving for a mission trip to Central America in August. I’ll be gone for six months, and my lease was up in May.”
I watch their eyes widen as I explain what I’ll be doing and where I’ll be going. I’ve almost gotten used to the half-awed, half-horror-stricken look people give me when I tell them. Yes, I’ll be living in a third-world country, and no, this kind of work isn’t for everyone. But it’s also hard to come right out and tell someone that you think they’re crazy for doing it.
Maren reaches across the table to give my hand a light squeeze. “That sounds amazing.”
“Six months is a long time to be away,” Penelope says. “Are you worried about getting homesick?”
I tilt my head, considering her question. “Yes and no. I’m excited about the opportunity and all the work we’ll be doing. I know it’ll be hard to be gone for so long, but it also helps to know it’s not forever.”
“You’re an angel among heathens, that’s for sure,” Scarlett says.
“Speak for yourself,” Maren mutters.
“Baby Marley will miss you,” Penelope says kindly. “And Connor will too. He’s going to have his hands full without you.”
Scarlett scowls. “It’s not like she’s the baby’s mother. She’s only a nanny, and she’s free to do whatever she wants. Connor can find someone to replace her.”
“I just meant that I’m sure Jessa will be very helpful to them,” Penelope says meekly.
“I’m sure Connor will enjoy the process of searching for her replacement,” Scarlett says with a suggestive waggle of her eyebrows.