Stay(67)

“Which is exactly why you need a private nurse. I’ll demand to see their résumés. Only the best for Emmy’s sweet boy.”

My stomach is tight, and I glance at the floor. Bex has planned this huge event to celebrate a marriage we never intended to keep. Standing here in my kitchen, looking at those two sitting on the couch, I have an idea for something different.

“Book the nurse. Let me see what I can do.”



* * *



“Are you kidding me?” Emmy’s voice rises. “He hasn’t even been home a week!”

“That’s what I said, but you know how she is.”

Eli is tucked in his bed downstairs, sleeping soundly last time I checked. Emmy has the monitor in our room turned up to eleven. It’s so loud, we’re picking up our neighbor’s cell phone signals.

“I’m sorry.” She holds up her hands. “I can’t leave him.”

She’s so beautiful pacing my bedroom in yoga pants and an oversized tee falling off one shoulder. Her long hair is swept back, and as stressed out as we were three days ago, I want to pull her to me and fuck her senseless.

All I can think about is my alternate plan for my aunt’s gala.

Going to her, I slide my hands down her arms. “I am asking so much of you right now. I know I am.”

“Then you know why my answer is no.” Her eyes are level, determined, so much like they used to be when she’d tell me she hated me.

I wonder if she would still tell me that today.

“Bex has put a lot of work into this event—”

“Without asking us if we even wanted it!”

“Look at me.” She pauses and does as I say. “Families aren’t like that. Families want to shower you with gifts and parties. This is her way of showing us her love, and it’s only a few hours. Three tops.”

Her cute little face twists in frustration. Then she shakes her head. “No. I’m sorry, but no.”

“Think of it this way.” I skip around to catch her again. “We can celebrate a successful surgery. Eli’s home and doing… so damn good. Let’s celebrate.”

“And if something happens while we’re gone?” Her blue eyes flash.

“Nothing is going to happen. Either way, we’re never more than a minute away.” Glancing toward the window, I see the trees of Central Park. “It’s right there.”

“I won’t enjoy myself.” Her fight is weakening, and I’m feeling encouraged. “I’ll be worrying about him the whole time. It’ll be a waste of a night out.”

“Hey.” Cupping her face in my hands, I look deep in her pretty, pretty eyes. “You deserve this so much. You’ve been so worried and stressed for so long. Let me give you this night out. Bex has already hired a private nurse to stay with him while we’re gone.”

She looks into my eyes and blinks several times while I hold my breath, then her shoulders fall. “Three hours tops. Then we’re right back here.”

Pulling her closer, I’m ready for a kiss. “Deal.”



* * *



Helga is everything I would expect of a private nurse from my aunt. She arrives wearing a strict, navy suit and never cracking a smile.

I’m pretty sure she’s German.

“The boy has eaten his dinner?” Her eyes go from the kitchen to the living room where Eli is propped in a multitude of pillows. Kona is on his left, and Sam the sea lion is safely on his right.

“He’s been fed, bathed, and he enjoys watching The Blue Planet before bed.”

She nods sharply. “I was told he is at risk for seizures? I completed my residency at Northwestern Memorial in Chicago, voted one of the top ten neurosurgery hospitals in the U.S.”

My eyebrows rise. “I didn’t see that on your résumé.”

“Dr. Bronson didn’t tell me I was required to provide an updated résumé. Which version did you receive? I will fax you the updated version tonight when I get home. It will include my work with Dr. Schultz on brain trauma and stress behaviors in mice.”

I’m feeling better with every word. At the same time, fax? Seriously? “Any chance you could email it? Take a picture with your phone?”

I swear, I’m one of the top software programmers in the country. I can’t get over all this fax nonsense.

“Of course.”

She heads toward the living room, standing behind the couch and watching The Blue Planet with Eli. I wait in the kitchen in my tux for Emmy to emerge. She shooed me downstairs while she finished getting ready for the event.

Picking up my phone, I quickly tap out a text. It’s getting close to nine. The car is here. Where is Cinderella?

I hear the buzz on the stairs, and I look up as I hear her voice. “I don’t know about Cinderella…”

When she steps into view, I’m pretty sure my jaw hits the floor. I know my dick perks up. She’s the most beautiful… the sexiest thing I’ve seen in my life.

Standing on the landing, her hair is swept back in a low bun. Her gorgeous shoulders are exposed and a glittering silver necklace traces her collarbones. The strapless black dress she wears is fitted to her body all the way to the floor, but starting at her waist, a full, cream-colored skirt billows around her.