“So you’re the infamous Everly,” Dakota says, her voice rising excitedly at the end. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Everly looks up at Dakota, giving her body a once-over. “Still don’t know what patriarchy means.”
It’s Wyatt’s deep voice that pipes up next. “It’s a social system where men have power over everything in a society that wrongly oppresses women.” His jaw tightens, and he adds, “Though the fact that I gave you the definition instead of the other female in the room means that the patriarchy is sadly ingrained in all of us.”
Silence descends the table for a moment before Everly looks back to Dakota and notes, “Cool shoes.”
Dakota smiles and glances down at her strappy sandals. “Thanks…I like your hat.”
“It’s Uncle Luke’s,” Everly replies distractedly. “Now…can someone tell me what two A’s mean again? That’s not a number, so I don’t know what to do with them.”
The table groans as several of the guys toss their cards down in frustration.
I smile proudly. “Everly has a case of beginner’s luck.”
“Or maybe lady luck,” Dakota offers.
“Dakota.” Cassandra’s voice cuts in behind me as the slider door to the house opens. “I told you to text me when you were outside, and I would meet you at your car.”
Dakota shrugs. “I wanted to meet the kid you won’t stop bragging about.”
Warmth blooms in my chest at the fact that Cassandra brags about my kid. Unfortunately, that sensation is quickly stamped out when I turn and see Cassandra’s outfit.
Double fuck.
She’s wearing a long brown skirt that instantly reminds me of that nightgown she had on the evening of the storm. It was a flimsy little thing that would have tumbled off her body had I just blown on it sideways. I’m sure I would have gotten to that, but I was too busy assaulting her with my tongue first.
The skirt has a sexy rouching on the side that splits apart into a wide slit up her leg. The fabric hugs her hips and ass perfectly, and she’s paired it with a snug black, long-sleeve top that her ample breasts do a good job testing the stretch of the fabric. It has a high neckline and reveals a sliver of her abdomen above the skirt’s high waist. I wonder if she wore that shirt to cover up the mark I left on her? Why does my mark on her make my cock stir every time I think about it?
Jesus, I’m such a fucking creep.
“You’re the nanny?” Calder balks, his eyes nearly bulging out of his head. I glance around the table and notice most of the men are gaping at her as well, and my fists clench.
Cassandra’s strappy heels clunk on the hard wood as she walks over to join her friend. “Yes, I’m Cozy. And you are?”
“I’m Calder,” he answers, standing and leaning across the table to shake her hand. Her breasts nearly brush Wyatt’s ear as she reaches past him to take his hand. Calder sits down and points. “That grump is Wyatt…there’s baby Luke. Do you know these two boneheads already?”
Josh and Dean roll their eyes and ignore my obnoxious brother.
“Yes, we’ve met,” Cassandra says with a smile. “And I met Luke last week. Nice to see you all.”
“Nice to see you too. Both of you.” Calder shoots Cassandra and Dakota a boyish smirk that I’d really like to punch off his face. He’s always the fucking flirt. Seriously, anywhere we go where there’s a single woman in sight, he will abandon whoever he arrived with and go into fuckboy mode.
His eyes move to mine as he shoots me a weird look. Seriously, what the fuck is with my brothers looking at me like that tonight?
“What’s your plan this evening, ladies?” Luke asks, lifting his brows curiously. “Hitting up Pearl Street?”
“Yes, we are,” Dakota answers, grabbing Cassandra’s arm. “But first we’re meeting a couple of guys for drinks. A little double-date action. Haven’t been on one of those in ages.”
“They don’t need to hear about our night.” Cassandra laughs, shaking her head. She looks uncomfortable but not irritated.
I’m irritated.
In fact, I’m downright bothered.
She wasted no time starting the hunt for that summer fling she mentioned. And I can’t help but wonder if that’s a good idea? My hickey is still on her body, for Christ’s sake.
“That’s good you’re going on a date, Cozy,” my daughter’s voice chimes in, ripping my eyes away from Cassandra’s body in that outfit. “You said you haven’t had time to find a boyfriend since you moved back to Boulder.”
Moved back to Boulder? When did she leave? And when was she looking for a boyfriend? She said she just wanted a summer fling. What the actual fuck? How does my kid know more about the nanny’s life than I do? I’m the one who pays her every week.
Cassandra’s cheeks flame red, and her eyes notably flash to mine. “It’s just for drinks.”
“But it could turn into a boyfriend, and I think that’s great,” Everly sings merrily like she’s a step away from being the flower girl at Cassandra’s wedding. “Now I don’t have to find you a boyfriend like I did for my friend Brooklyn.”
Triple fuck.
“What do you know about boyfriends?” Calder takes the words right out of my mouth as all eyes swerve to my child.
Everly’s lips part. “Um…” She looks up at Cassandra like she’s going to save her.
“You might as well just tell them,” Cassandra whispers.
The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “Tell us what?”
Everly looks decidedly guilty. “I have a boyfriend.”
“Who?” my brothers and I all bark in unison.
“Hilow from down the block.”
“The Fredrich’s kid?” I ask, and she nods. “Absolutely not.”
“They don’t talk,” Cassandra interjects with her hands raised defensively. She moves to stand by Everly as she shrinks further and further into her seat. “They are literally the non-talking kind of boyfriend, girlfriend. He’s not even a contact on her kid’s messenger app. I checked.”
I exhale a slow breath to calm down the anxiety that bubbled up to the surface at the idea of my eleven-year-old having a boyfriend. She’s too young for boys. If she starts now, who knows what she’ll be getting up to in high school.
“Are you certain?” I nearly growl, shooting angry eyes at Cassandra for not telling me this fun fact. She texts me about Everly’s bowel movements, but this doesn’t warrant a message?
“We don’t talk.” Everly’s nose wrinkles like the idea of it disgusts her. “Because…fudge the patriarchy!” She thrusts a tiny fist up high, and I think I have a mini stroke.
Cassandra’s eyes widen as she looks at me. “I didn’t teach her that.”
“That was me!” Dakota cheers, thrusting her fist into the air in solidarity.
I cradle my head in my hands, my head whirring with all that’s coming at me within the span of five minutes. My God, I run a company with nearly a hundred employees, but a hot nanny and one night of poker with my kid has me seeing spots.
“Anyway…we best get while the getting’s good,” Dakota sings, grabbing Cassandra’s arm and dragging her away from the table as she waves. “Don’t want to be late for our date.”