Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
She sits up and flails her arms, and I hold back my laughter at how adorable she is when she’s worked up. Usually, Kira is calm, cool, and collected. I’ve never seen her so much as raise her voice at me or the girls.
“Anyway,” she continues, “he dumped me and said to let him know when the baby was born and he would sign over his rights.” Her anger morphs into sadness as she says, “I was hoping he’d see her and change his mind. I was raised without a dad because mine walked away, and I didn’t want the same for my daughter.” She sighs. “He wouldn’t even come to see her. He had his attorney file the paperwork, and I never heard from him again. I hate that, one day, I’ll have to tell her that her dad didn’t want her.”
This obviously happened years ago since Violet is almost five, so this can’t be where her nightmares stem from, which means something else must’ve happened more recently.
“It’s for the best,” I tell her honestly. “Better for him to sign his rights over than be a deadbeat dad. Trust me, I’ve seen it firsthand.”
“With Nora?” she asks.
“Her and both of my parents,” I admit. “My mom walked away because she wanted a normal life instead of being the wife of Henry Du Ponte, Texas royalty.”
I say his name and title in a mocking tone, and Kira laughs.
“You do look good with a tiara on.” She smirks, reminding me of the other day when I was having a tea party with the girls and Violet insisted that I wear a princess tiara.
“Ha-ha, very funny.” I try to glare at her, but it only makes her laugh harder.
Her eyes light up, and her cheeks turn a lovely shade of pink. There’s nothing more beautiful than watching Kira laugh.
“Anyway,” I say once she’s stopped laughing, “instead of fighting for me, my mom let my dad get full custody, which meant I was raised by a nanny because my dad cared more about winning than raising me.”
“I’m sorry,” she says, her smile disappearing. “That sucks. My mom isn’t the most responsible or successful, but she’s always had my back. I can’t imagine having no one.”
“I learned family isn’t just about blood. It’s a choice. I have Addie and Julian and Ana. My brother and I aren’t close because of our ten-year age difference, but we get along. And my grandfather and I have a good relationship.”
“That’s great that you have people,” she says with a sad look in her eyes.
“You do too,” I tell her. “You have me.”
“I appreciate that,” she says with a nod. “And just so you know, you have me as well.”
I smile at her, thankful that she came into my life. I hate whatever it is that she went through to get here, but she and her daughter are growing on me.
“Should I keep going?” I lift the book.
“Yes!” She beams, lying back on the couch and cuddling the pillow. “I can’t wait to find out how he reacts to her being pregnant.”
“How do you know she’s even pregnant?” I ask.
“Oh, c’mon,” she scoffs. “It’s romance. She’s totally knocked up again,” she says, referring to the heroine who is also a single mom.
I chuckle at her and then continue to read. When the heroine announces she’s pregnant, Kira laughs, her adorable dimple on her right cheek popping out, and says, “I told you so.”
I keep reading until a soft snore fills the air, and then just like last time, I dog-ear the page and carry her up to bed. As I watch her sleep, her features soft and carefree, my heart clenches in my chest, and I know I’m in trouble. Because despite my best efforts, I’m slowly falling for my damn nanny.
“What are you guys up to today?” I ask as Kira, carrying Addie on her hip, and Violet appear in the kitchen.
Violet is in her bathing suit, and Kira and Addie are both wearing pink cover-ups.
“I got my new suit!” Violet says, pointing at her bathing suit that’s covered in flamingos and half-eaten doughnuts.
Since they didn’t have bathing suits and we have a pool, Kira ordered them online and had them delivered to the house.
“I see that. Are the flamingos eating all the doughnuts?” I joke.
“No!” Violet laughs. “Flamingos don’t eat doughnuts, silly. Only people do!”
“Oh,” I say with a chuckle. “In that case …” I pretend like I’m going to snatch the doughnut off her belly, and she jumps back with a giggle.
“No, don’t eat my doughnuts!” She covers her belly. “Eat Mommy’s!”
She reaches over and lifts Kira’s cover-up, exposing the same pattern Violet has on. She only gets the material up a tiny bit, and I can’t help noticing the doughnut that’s conveniently located right above her—