I didn’t doubt that.
Releasing me, she turned to Nemi, who was now higher up thanks to Bond standing up from the chair. “And you, Miss Nemi. You take care and call me to let me know how you get on, okay?”
“Thanks, Mrs. Town-zend. I’m sorry I got hurt and had to leave. You’ve got a beautiful home.”
The last bit made us all laugh. Kids were sponges, and Nemi was determined to jump out of her age group and into the thirty-plus one decades before she had to.
“Everyone has accidents, pretty baby, so don’t you apologize. And you’re welcome to come and play with my grandkids and pet the tiny pony whenever you want,” Linda assured her, smoothing some tendrils of hair that’d escaped her ponytail away from Nemi’s face.
Lifting her nose in the air, Nemi turned to me. “We need a tiny pony, too, Momma. It’s like a dog, but it’s a horse.”
“Thanks for clearing that up. I was confused.”
Giving me an imperious head nod, she looked up at Bond. “Can you come doctor with us? They might not know who the Pirates Of The Caribbean is.”
I was about to tell her that he likely had plans, but Bond beat me to it. “If your mom says she’s good with it, I’m down with coming with you to explain it. Although, I’m not sure there’s one person who doesn’t know who they are, and if they don’t, we need a new doctor because they’re obviously crazy.” Nemi nodded in agreement and glanced back at me as she waited for my decision on her Bond coming with us.
“You probably have things that need to be done and—”
“Today’s my day off,” he cut in.
Chewing on my lower lip, I felt the guilt hit me. Having to rely on someone else to help with my daughter was hard, plus he was a child-free guy who likely wanted to enjoy his day off.
“Honestly, I don’t mind. I can even drop y’all off at the ER and park the car while you check-in.” That did sound tempting. And then he took it up a level as he pouted. “You wouldn’t leave me worrying about my friend, would you? I wouldn’t be able to rest or even eat until I know Nemi’s okay.”
My daughter narrowed her eyes at me, like I was torturing the guy, and she didn’t like it.
“Okay, but only if you’re sure?”
His smile almost melted me, and a glance at Linda showed she was slightly dazed by it too. This man was lethal.
“I’m sure.”
As we went to leave, Linda leaned in. “I would have caved, too. The pout had me sighing, but that smile…”
Yup, Bond Klein was definitely lethal. The problem was, it was impossible to forget how he’d been when we’d first met and the fact he was more of a ‘party guy’ while I was a parent. Plus, I had Nemi at home until she was eighteen, and I didn’t want to veer away from my ideal when it came to her upbringing.
That’s not to say I thought Bond wanted anything like that from me at all, far from it. I was just reminding myself why even having an inkling of an attraction to a man like Bond Klein would be bad for me. His helping out with my daughter right now meant more than a lot to me.
I could always have more friends, though. That was allowed.
Chapter Seven
Bond
The Pirates Of The Caribbean elasticated wrap I’d ordered for Nemi had just arrived, and I was getting my shit together off my desk so I could go and visit my little buddy and her momma.
“Heidi said the desserts were ready to be collected, so you can save her a job and pick them up while you’re there,” Canon said, not looking up from his computer screen.
“Will do.”
“And say hi to Mom for me.”
It might have been irritating to some guys hearing their mom was spending time with a woman they were starting to envision being the first one to get ‘more’ out of them, but not for me.
Gloria Klein was the total shit—although we didn’t use that sentiment to her face—and I loved that she liked Nemi and Heidi and wanted to spend time with them.
After she’d seen me picking up Nemi at the Townsends barbecue, she’d gotten in touch with Heidi and had taken some food round for them the following night, knowing she had to be frazzled and stretched to the max, caring for her injured kid and running her business at the same time.
Granted, she also had her neighbor, whose daughter had skipped out of the house that night to go to the party, but I got the feeling Heidi would never ask anyone for a favor, so I was glad Mom had stepped up to make sure they were both doing okay.