Not that I actually planned to show up looking like a zombie. I might’ve agreed to babysit at the crack of dawn, but that didn’t mean I wanted my best friend’s sexy older brother to see me in full bedhead glory.
Some illusions were worth maintaining.
“Anyway, how about I give you a quick lay of the land before I head out?” Theo said, leading me into the living area just off the entryway.
“This is the living room,” he said, gesturing toward the open space. A large TV hung on the wall above a low console, and two cozy-looking couches faced each other across a soft gray rug. Family photos lined the wall—most of them of Charlotte, all curls and grins.
“Charlotte’s got plenty to keep her busy down here,” he said, motioning to the small bookcase tucked in the corner. “Those are her quiet-time toys. Books, puzzles, things that keep her entertained without turning the place into a disaster zone.”
“Very nice,” I said, smiling as I took it in. It was tidy but still had the soft edges of a home built around a kid.
“But she’s got a playroom upstairs with way more stuff.” He gave a short laugh, running a hand through his hair. “Anyway, in the afternoons, she can have an hour or two of screen time, so don’t feel bad about turning on a movie. She doesn’t nap anymore, so…” His voice softened, the exhaustion in it barely disguised. “I know how necessary that break can be.”
And something in the way he said it made my chest ache a little. Like, maybe he hadn’t had much of a break himself lately.
He led me through to the kitchen next, flipping on a few lights as he talked. The space was stunning—bright, airy,with white cabinets and marble counters that gleamed even in the early morning light. A farmhouse sink sat under a wide window overlooking the backyard, and the stainless-steel appliances looked like they belonged in a cooking show.
“Here’s the fridge and pantry,” Theo said, opening the sleek doors to reveal neatly organized shelves. “Charlotte loves pancakes when I’m home on the weekends, but there’s fruit, yogurt, toast, cheese, and cereal. I wish she liked eggs, but she’s not a fan. Maybe you’ll have better luck, though. If you make them for yourself, she might try a bite.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” I laughed softly. “I used to be a picky eater, too. Turns out, it wasn’t always the actual food items, more that my mom just wasn’t that great at following recipes.”
“That could definitely be it.” He chuckled, the sound deep and warm. “I only really make fried eggs for myself, so maybe you’ll know some more kid-friendly styles to try.”
“I do make pretty good scrambled eggs,” I said.
“Perfect.”
He glanced around the kitchen, as if deciding whether there was anything else he should show me. When he stepped past, a hint of his cologne drifted toward me—rich and woodsy, with something clean underneath. And if I hadn’t already found the man attractive, that scent alone might’ve done the trick.
No wonder he won cases. Half the courtroom probably lost their train of thought when he walked by.
“I think that’s about it for down here,” he said, his voice dropping a little as he motioned toward the stairs. “Come on, I’ll show you the rest before Charlotte wakes up.”
I followed him up the curved staircase, careful not to let my shoes creak on the hardwood.
“That’s Charlotte’s bathroom.” He pointed toward a bathroom off the landing. “She’s pretty much potty trained now, so as long as you remind her to go potty every hour or two, I think you should be fine there.”
“That’s nice,” I said, remembering how Lucy had talked about cleaning up a few accidents when she’d babysat her niece in the past.
“And this,” he said, gesturing to a white door next to the bathroom, “is where my little princess sleeps.”
“So, I should be careful not to disturb her, right?” I chuckled.
“Not unless you want to risk waking a dragon instead of a princess.” He winked, causing my heart to flutter for some reason.
He led me farther down the hall before pausing in front of an open doorway. “And this,” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice, “is the moment you find out just how overboard I’ve gone in the spoiling-my-daughter-rotten department.”
“It can’t be that bad…”
He shot me a self-deprecating look. “You might want to wait before you say that.”
When he pushed open the door, my mouth fell open.
“Wow,” I breathed.
Because inside the toy room was every little girl’s dream come to life. It was almost like that moment inBeauty and the Beastwhen the library doors swung open and Belle saw how many beautiful books the Beast had, only with a lot more pink. So much pink.
Shelves lined the walls, packed with books, puzzles, dolls, and an almost dizzying assortment of toys. A pint-sized play kitchen stood proudly in one corner, complete with plastic cupcakes cooling on the counter, while a sprawling dollhouse claimed the other.