I shake my head. “If he has a live-in nanny, it will look better because she’s being paid and is a professional.”
“That’s what I was thinking. I told him I would get him some recommendations.”
I’m moving to my computer before she can even finish her sentence. “I’m sending you the best nanny service in town. I represent them, and the family the owner’s favorite nanny worked for just moved away, so she is up for grabs. She is the best. I’m also sending her an email to expect his call.” I turn my eyes to hers. “Make sure he does it this way.”
She nods. “Thanks. Can you maybe reach out to him, too? He was extremely agreeable with everything I suggested, but this, he didn’t seem to want to budge on.”
My heart races. I would love nothing more than to call and talk to him about this, but it isn’t my place. I bite my lip. “I don’t want him to feel like we’re tag-teaming him or that you’re running your mouth to me about his case. We’re on his side. He needs to remember that.”
“Exactly.”
“I’ll send an email with the nanny company’s information, and I’ll tell him that you were asking me for advice and I suggested the same thing you did.”
“That would be great. Thank you.”
She goes to get up, and I stop her. “Willa.” She looks down at me. “Please make sure he gets custody.”
She smiles. “It’s pretty straightforward. But you know me, I prepare for everything that could go bad, just in case.”
We share a smile. It’s something we both do. Make sure each I is dotted and T is crossed. As much as I don’t know what I’ll say in the email to him, I know I need to send it. I have to help them get what they want. I want the best chance for the best outcome for them. At this firm, we want to win not only for ourselves, but for our clients. I know Willa won’t give up until she has the result that Kirby wants, that Celeste needs. We don’t play; that’s why we’re successful.
In the legal world.
In the real world, we’re both single and childless.
But maybe, just maybe, I can change both of those things.
With Kirby.
I don’t know about this feelings shit. Aviva may be wrong, but I really, really want Kirby Litman, and I don’t know how bad an idea that is.
I’m sure I’ll find out.
Chapter Six
Kirby
* * *
Hey Kirby,
I know things have been rough, so I pray this email finds you in better spirits after meeting with Willa. You went with the best in the biz, and I am confident she’ll get you the result you want. I hope you were happy with the meeting and satisfied with your conversation. I wanted to reach out and let you know that Willa came to me for advice on the nanny situation, and I fully agreed that you need outside help. I know you’d want someone you trust, so I’ve included the contact information for a company I represent. They are wonderful, highly rated, and the owner’s favorite is the nanny I am suggesting for Celeste. I’m confident you will take our advice, and I know we’ll achieve the resolution you and Celeste deserve. Thank you for trusting our firm.
It was really wonderful to see you and Celeste. You’re an amazing dad, Kirby.
Good luck,
Jaylin
* * *
I should be ashamed that I’ve read this email at least nine hundred times since I received it three weeks ago. I don’t know why, but I want so badly for the words to change to: I think you’re a hot-ass dad, and I still want you.
Yes, I am aware that is ridiculous and silly, but damned if I don’t want it to be true. I could really read into the “really wonderful to see you” part. Does she want to see more of me? I want to see more of her. Fuck. So bad. I’ve hit reply a billion times and typed up the naughtiest of emails, but then I deleted them. I can’t just throw myself out there for rejection.
Not with everything that’s going on.
Aviva and Nico stand in the doorway of the nanny’s room. As much as I didn’t want to hire a nanny since my neighbors have a lot of feelings about it, I went with Willa’s and Jaylin’s advice. Plus, the moment that Celeste met Jean, she loved her.
Jean Espinoza is a cool chick. Really funny, spunky, and she knows how to care for a kid. She’s the middle of nine kids, and because of that, she’s nannying until she finds the right guy to marry. That guy is not me because she works for me, and from the moment I saw Jaylin again, I can’t think of anyone but her.
But if I weren’t hung up on Jaylin, I’d holler at Jean. She’s a gorgeous girl. Long black hair, with the shiniest brown eyes I’ve ever seen. If she weren’t smiling all the time, I’d think she was crying with how shiny they are. She’s a bigger girl, but thick in all the right places. She’s stunning and so damn sweet to my girl. That’s probably my favorite thing about her, how much she loves my kid. But nothing compares with how I feel about Jaylin.
Jesus Almighty. Cheers to her parents ’cause, hot damn, she’s stunning.
Alas, everything is a shitshow. We go to court in a week, and when I told Lilly that, she didn’t seem to care. I don’t know if she’ll show up. If she doesn’t, we have to get another court date, and then another, before she gives up custody. I just want it done. I want it over, and I want Celeste to be only mine. I’m at the point now where I don’t even think Lilly deserves to be Celeste’s mother. Hell, I’ll be mom and dad. Whatever Celeste needs. Which is why I am standing in the newly decorated room for my nanny. With Aviva’s help, it’s perfect to me, but I still need their approval.
Aviva is grinning and that’s good, but Nico looks bored. “So, you’re living with this chick, and you’re not banging?”
Anyone else would be offended, but I know Nico has no filter whatsoever.
Aviva rolls her eyes. “Nico…”
I scoff before I say, “Yeah, I know it’s hard to believe, but I gotta make sure Celeste is solid.”
“I thought Henry and Merle wanted to watch CC?” he asks, speaking of my neighbors.
“They did, but my lawyer thinks this is the best solution to win custody since I travel so much.”
Aviva nods. “If Jay says it’s the best, it is. She knows what’s best.”
“I know, but I feel like CC needs someone she knows. I wouldn’t want our kid with some stranger,” he says skeptically as he rubs Aviva’s growing belly. It’s crazy that a year ago, we were both fucking whoever we wanted, and now, we’re dads. While he has it all, I know I’ll find that for myself.
Hopefully, she’s a sexy dark-skinned, curly ebony-haired boss of a babe in a pencil skirt.
It’s a long shot, especially after that email, but one can dream.
As always, I have to force myself to stop thinking of Jaylin and answer Nico. “Jean isn’t a stranger anymore. She’s come every day since I’ve hired her for three hours to play with CC. She loves her, and I think she’s great. She’s a good fit.”
He doesn’t seem convinced. “Maybe next time, don’t make a kid with a piece of shit.”