Sin City Baby

?Yeah?” they both said.

“Why don’t you guys show Morgan and Brooke those flipping tricks you were trying out yesterday?” he asked. “I bet they would love to see them.”

My eyes darted over to Kevin before I turned and walked away with the kids, their feet scurrying to get back to the house.

I took the kids down the waterslide once before Kevin was back in the water with us. Whatever it was, the talk must have been short. I felt awkward all of a sudden, like something more was expected of me, when I was simply trying to enjoy my vacation.

The more I thought about, it the more annoyed I became. “Brooke, could I talk with you for a second?” Kevin asked.

I looked around for Morgan and snickered when I found her chatting up some buff guy over by his hut.

“Sure,” I said. “What’s up?”

“I’ve got a meeting on the books with Gianni for tomorrow.”

“I thought you were on vacation,” I said.

“It’s just a quick meeting. No more than a couple of hours.”

“Business always calls,” I said, not bothering to hide the disdain from my voice.

“Look, it’s not like that. I made a commitment to have this meeting with him. That man runs the largest banking institution in Italy. Scoring him could open up an entirely different sector of my company.”

“And you want me to babysit. On my vacation,” I said.

“It’s just for a couple of hours, and I’ll pay you for your time. It’s just that I didn’t come out here equipped to have my children watched.”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t be conducting business on your vacation with your children. I’m sure you only get one weekend a month with them, right?” Now I was fishing, trying to determine exactly what his marital situation was.

I watched something flare in his eyes and it caused me to take a step back. He stared at me, saying nothing, until I felt compelled to speak again.

“Two hours?” I asked.

“Give or take,” he said flatly.

I’d pissed him off.

“Okay,” I said.

“Be here around eleven, please,” he said.

It almost sounded like a command.

I must’ve really stepped on his toes.

CHAPTER 5

KEVIN

The kids were running around and trashing the house when Brooke showed up. It pained me to have to work on the vacation I promised my twins, but I knew it was for the best. It would set my company up in an industry we’d been making strides to obtain for years and put us on an international map we’d never dreamed of. And I had plans to make it up to everyone, including Brooke. I would pay her generously for her time and foot whatever bill was necessary to keep the kids occupied in her presence. Even though she crossed a line with her snarky comment yesterday, I trusted her with the kids. How well they took to her. And when she appeared at my front door ready and willing to watch them, I was still happy to see her.

“Brooke!” Daniel said. “You’re here!”

My kids took off, running right into her legs. She stumbled backwards and wrapped her arms around them, and all I could think about was their mother. How she should’ve been the one doing these kinds of things for them. I knew that was why they had latched onto her. There was a motherly spirit about Brooke they had gone without their entire life.

It clenched my stomach with guilt as Brooke stepped inside.

“There’s an envelope taped to the fridge. It’s got plenty of money in it. Order you guys some lunch and go find something fun to do, and whatever money you don’t spend is yours to keep.”