“I guess it takes a few minutes to work?” I ask.
“We can try this.” He takes the washcloth from the freezer, and she chews on it, resting her head on his chest.
His phone pings, and he pulls it from his pocket. “Looks like I got a hit on my nanny post.”
“Oh, let me see.” I follow him into the living room.
He sits in a glider he told me Dove also picked out and Maverick helped assemble. My lips twist as I watch him holding the baby, gliding back and forth. He says all his family abandoned him, but I see signs all over the apartment of them supporting him.
I decide I won’t tease him for expecting everyone to drop their lives and come running. He’s handled a lot of shit today. Literally.
“Let’s see.” I quickly scan the profile. “It’s a manny…”
“I don’t discriminate on the basis of sex,” Knox announces. “How soon can he start?”
“Stanley Brigade? That sounds made up.”
“He can be Mermando Brigadoon for all I care—as long as he keeps his mouth shut.”
“Brigadoon?” I slant my eyes at Knox, and he shrugs.
“My aunt Raven made us watch all kinds of crap growing up. She said they were classics.”
“Oh, cool! They provided background checks for him, references… Damn, this service is good!”
“Mom recommended it.”
“This is totally your guy.” I turn the screen so he can see it. “He worked for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie when they lived in this area. So he’s older, he knows how to handle famous people, be discreet…”
“Book him. See if he can be here in the morning.”
My fingers fly over the screen as I quickly type up a message and hit send. Sitting back on my heels, I look up at him with Cricket falling asleep on his arm.
“It’s so late,” I sigh. “I think the ibuprofen worked. She ought to sleep through the night.”
“I could sleep right here,” he groans.
“Come on. If you’re going to practice tomorrow, you need to sleep, too.”
We return to his bedroom. This time, he climbs all the way into the bed with Cricket still in his arms, sliding her into her little nest in the middle and resting his head on a pillow beside her.
She’s on her back with her chubby baby arms raised over her head. Her little mouth moves occasionally like she’s chewing on a phantom washcloth. He exhales a low noise, and his eyes are closed as well.
It’s so sweet, such a daddy-daughter moment, I exhale softly from where I stand at the foot of the bed.
After a few moments, I realize I should probably clear out. My work here is done, and it’s after one o’clock in the morning.Dang.
“Well…” I lift my hands and drop them, stepping back to the door. “I’ll leave you two to get some sleep.”
Knox sits up so fast, Cricket lets out a little noise. It’s a sleepy squeal, and she scrubs her little head against the mattress before settling again.
“You can’t leave me.” His voice is so pathetic, I stop in the doorway.
“Knox.” My shoulders fall. “I should sneak home while it’s still dark. If we’re keeping secrets, it would seriously muddy the waters if I get caught spending the night with you. People will ask questions.
“I’ll handle those people.”
“I’m talking about TMI. Influencers will pay big money for pictures of us together… And if they think we’re sleeping together, it won’t be good for either of us.”