Down Too Deep (Dirty Deeds, #4)(17)

“Where’s your other one?”

“What’s that?” I watched him hook a thumb over his shoulder in Olivia’s direction and realized he meant Oliver, who was typically always with his sister. “Oh, he had a Scout meeting tonight. And then he has a sleepover with his friend. They’re going to drop him off here tomorrow.”

“Boy Scouts?”

“Yep. Did you ever do that?”

He shook his head.

“Oliver likes it, unless it’s football season, and then he wants nothing to do with it. Football becomes his life.”

“I can appreciate that,” he replied, his cheek twitching. “How was Marley today?”

“Awesome, as usual. We were going to go to the playground, but since it rained, we did Play-doh instead. She loved it.”

I walked down the island, moving closer to Nathan. I was already smiling because talking about Marley with him always made me happy, but when he asked, “Your day was good too, then? Did you get a lot of work done?” I fought to keep my mouth from stretching any wider.

This was the second time Nathan had asked about me after inquiring about his daughter. Yesterday, he’d gestured at my bag and questioned what I did for a living. He’d seemed genuinely interested. We’d talked for a good ten minutes about my job and how I felt about it.

It was nice. And this was nice too. He didn’t need to ask about me.

“I did. And my day was good. If the kids are good, I’m good.” I stopped beside him at the corner of the island. “What about you? How was your day?”

“Productive.”

“That’s how you like it, then? You don’t miss having to keep an eye out at all times for two-year-old escape artists?”

“What eye? She spent more time out of my office than in it. I can’t imagine how you dealt with two at that age.”

I shrugged, answering, “It’s the only normal I know.”

A look of understanding washed over his face. He dug some cash out of his wallet and handed it over. As I was sliding the money into the front pocket of my shorts, he checked the time on his watch.

Shit. I still needed to ask him about the pictures, and he was clearly gearing up to walk me to the door. Another nice thing he always did.

“Can I talk to you about something?” I asked.

His expression grew tense. “Is it about you watching her for me? I know I’m asking a lot. You’re here all the time…”

“No. Everything is fine with watching her.”

“The ad for the assistant manager position just went live today. It shouldn’t be much longer.”

“Okay. I mean, it’ll be great when you can cut down on your hours because that’ll mean you get to spend more time with her, but I’m good. We’re good—my kids love being here.”

Nathan visibly relaxed. He pushed his hand through his hair. “Thank God. I think I’d lose my mind if you stopped coming over.”

My stomach tightened.

I knew he was speaking in terms of watching Marley and only that, but still, I couldn’t help it. I smiled up at him, and when he smiled back in that subtle, sleepy way he did after working a long day, I momentarily forgot what we were talking about and just kept smiling.

Nathan had the brownest eyes I’d ever seen and a day’s worth of stubble covering his jaw, which always made men more attractive even when you thought there is no way this guy could get any more attractive, which was something I was beginning to think every time I looked at him. His lips were full and his hair was a little messy now, like he’d just taken a helmet off. I began to wonder what he would look like playing football.

“You were going to talk to me about something?” he probed after only a second or two, I hoped.

How long was I staring?

I cleared my throat. “Yes, I…um…” I slid even closer, not wanting Olivia to hear. “If I’m overstepping by asking about this, please tell me. It won’t hurt my feelings.”

His brows furrowed. “Okay.”

“You don’t have any pictures up anywhere of your wife. Is there a reason for that?” The words left my mouth in a one-breath rush. I basically vomited them all over Nathan. And when he reacted by setting his glasses on the counter and rubbing harshly at his face with both hands, I panicked and attempted to backpedal.

“I’m sorry. I’m only asking because…Well, I shouldn’t even be asking. It’s not any of my business. I wasn’t, like, looking for photos. It was just something I noticed and I didn’t know what I should do if Marley were to ask me about her—”

His gaze snapped to mine. “Has she?”

“No.” I quickly shook my head. “No, not yet.”

Nathan sighed and looked down at the counter, then slid his glasses back into place.

“She probably won’t, and that’s my fault,” he revealed, shame lowering his voice. He stepped away, crossing the room and pausing at the fridge to peer back at me. “You coming?”

“Yep,” I answered immediately, my feet shifting fast.

I had no idea where we were going or why Nathan wanted me to follow him, but it didn’t matter and I didn’t ask. I ascended the stairs right behind him.

There were five rooms on the second floor, two of which I’d been inside. The other three remained closed. I had assumed they were all bedrooms.