When he arrived at his parents’ house, he was bombarded with questions from his two children. Although he’d expected it, he wasn’t prepared, especially because he had barely gotten out of the car when they were already all over him, not the least bit happy. And he couldn’t blame them. They were supposed to spend the afternoon together at their grandparents’ mansion. For breaking a promise for the first time, he felt terrible, especially after seeing how upset his children really were. His brother had told him that they’d stopped playing with Amora, completely sulking and wanting to know about only one person: their father—especially where he was and who he was with.
His meetings with Amelia always took place on days when the twins spent a few hours with their uncles, grandparents, or even his best friend. That was why this had been the first time—and the last, he promised himself—that he’d left them to meet the redhead. He hated having to hide his meetings with Amelia, but he couldn’t tell them for two reasons. First, neither of them would accept her, and second, if he told them, he’d be putting a label on what he had with the redhead, which was exactly what he wanted to avoid, especially because it might give her false hope.
His parents were very curious about his conversation with Amelia, just as his brother was, and they didn’t waste any time questioning him when the children went upstairs to say goodbye to their aunt and cousin, who were taking a bath so they could go home too.
He wasn’t the least bit surprised when his brother and mother didn’t believe him when he said she wasn’t involved in the comments people had been making about them.
“And you believed her?” Killian laughed, shaking his head. “Little brother, did you really think she’d say, ‘Yes, darling, I said it. Forgive me’?” He snorted. “Please. She’d never admit it.”
“She knows I don’t like lies.”
“But she lied,” Ivy shot back. “She doesn’t want to lose you, so of course she wouldn’t confess that she’s in love with you.”
“She isn’t in lo—”
“Son, even I know Amelia is in love with you,” Andrew interrupted him quickly. “She always has been. She just never said anything. Maybe she was afraid of being rejected.” He shrugged.
“Or maybe she planned to have you another way, like this, and then win you over.”
“Mom.”
“Liam, it’s impossible that you truly don’t see that what she feels for you is love,” his brother cut in quickly.
“And I’m honestly afraid of what this could turn into,” his father admitted after hearing his oldest son.
“What are you talking about?”
“If you ever meet someone and leave her...” He paused, leaving his son to think about it as he’d intended. “How will she react?”
“Amelia doesn’t seem like someone who gives up, much less someone who accepts losing,” Killian added. “So be very careful with whatever relationship you have with the redhead.”
Liam had to admit to himself that what his family had said left him thinking. He couldn’t stop wondering if they might be right. The whole conversation had left him uneasy, especially because he knew they were right about Amelia. She hated losing and never gave up on something she wanted. At that moment, he was afraid it might really happen if he found someone—not that he was thinking about it, since he had no interest whatsoever in having a serious relationship with anyone.
When he’d asked whether Amelia was in love with him, he’d truly believed her answer, which was why he hadn’t thought he needed to distance himself from her. She was fun, beautiful, and knew how to satisfy him, but now he wasn’t sure whether this relationship was for the best, especially after that conversation.
All the way home, listening to music and the twins’ little game playing on the iPad, he thought about what to do. His moments with the redhead were good, especially because she didn’t pressure him. More than that, he knew her and knew he could trust her—or at least that was what he thought, and he hoped he wouldn’t be disappointed. One disappointment had been enough. Amelia had been the first and only girl he sought out after Lillie left him, but only because she had kissed him first, and then they’d spent their first night together. He’d decided it was a mistake, but the redhead hadn’t accepted that, and then they’d had another night and another. Before they knew it, they were caught in that vicious cycle, which he had to admit was exactly what he needed after stressful hours at college or work.
But he’d never asked about Amelia’s feelings until that day, when he’d become suspicious after discovering the comments people had been making about them. For a moment, inside the car, he wondered whether she was lying to herself so she wouldn’t lose him, just as his mother had said. For that reason, he decided he would talk to her about it again. He only hoped he was wrong, because he definitely wasn’t going to change his opinion of their relationship.
Once they were inside the house, Liam was questioned by the twins again about where he’d been, and he couldn’t help letting out a long sigh.
“I went to take care of something important.” Very important, he added mentally.
“And it couldn’t have been another day?” one of them asked, crossing their arms.
“Daddy promised we’d spend the afternoon together,” the other added sadly.
“I’m sorry. I had to take care of it today.”
“And who were you with?”
“Thomas, can we forget about this, please? I promise we’ll spend the whole day out tomorrow.” He mentally begged them to get interested in his idea and forget about his outing that afternoon. “We’ll have breakfast here, and then we’ll go to the park together. You can choose anywhere you want for lunch.”
“You’re trying to buy us off.”
He was genuinely surprised to hear that from his little boy.
“Of course not!” he lied shamelessly. “Don’t you want to spend the day at the park?”
“Yes, we do!” his little girl practically shouted. “And we want hamburgers, ice cream, and a movie.”
He shifted his gaze to Thomas.
“I want to go to the water park.”
“In that case, we’ll save the flower park and the movie for another day and have breakfast inside the water park.” He felt relieved, but not entirely, because he knew his son better than anyone and was certain he wouldn’t give up on finding out where he’d been and who he’d been with. And that, he had to admit, worried him. “Deal?”
“Deal!” they said together, each more excited than the other.
Liam knew the next day would be exhausting, but he wasn’t the least bit sorry about making that deal. After all, they were excited and happy, and this way he would make it up to them for spending the afternoon with Amelia instead of with both of them, as he’d promised.
He’d never imagined that breaking a promise would bother him so much. For that reason, he promised himself he wouldn’t do it again unless it had something to do with work. Otherwise, it would never happen again—not when it could leave both of his children sad and disappointed in him.
Later, after putting both children to bed, he went to his own room and once again thought about the woman with long pink hair and green eyes, simply because he would need a nanny starting Monday. But he couldn’t admit that her incredibly green eyes fascinated him, or that when he pictured them in his mind, he felt something strange that he forced himself to forget. The important thing was having her as a nanny. His children might not like his decision. They might stomp their feet and drive him crazy trying to convince him to change his mind, but he was completely determined. Mia Lafferty would be the twins’ new nanny, if she accepted.
He picked up the cell phone sitting on his nightstand and saw that it was past seven p.m. Silently hoping she was awake, he searched for the contact of the pink-haired woman that his best friend had added to his phone and called her right away. He listened to it ring three times before she finally answered.
“Hello?”
“Mia Lafferty?” he finally said, paralyzed as her voice echoed through his mind again and again. He was confused.
“Yes, who is this?”
“Liam Kavanagh.”
He could hear the woman gasp and imagined she was surprised, wondering how he’d gotten her number.
“I know it’s late, but I couldn’t put off calling until tomorrow. I’d like to talk to you about something important.”
“And what would that be?”
“It has to be in person. Are you available tomorrow at five p.m. in front of La Cream ice cream shop? I’ll be there with the twins.”
“Sure.” She said it a few minutes later. “Tomorrow at five p.m. at La Cream ice cream shop.”
“Deal.” He said it after a relieved sigh that she had accepted. “Have a good night.”
“You too.” She sounded confused.
Now he couldn’t back out, even if he wanted to. He’d already made the call, and tomorrow he would make her the offer. He hoped she would accept, especially because he was desperate. There was no way any agency would be able to find a nanny willing to work for him after everything his children had gotten up to. As his brother had said, they’d gotten a bad reputation.
Mia Lafferty was his only hope.