Make Me Yours

“I think Lillie’s outfit is adorable and perfect for a day at preschool.” I’m not backing down.

“She looks like a vagrant.” Eleanor’s annoyance is barely hidden.

Remi walks in the room at that exact moment, looking fine as always. “Morning, ladies.” He goes to the Keurig, oblivious to the tension crackling in the air.

“Daddy!” Lillie rocks on her stool, finishing her toast, and seeming about as oblivious as her dad. “I’m eating toast.”

“What’s that? Peanut butter?” He tweaks her nose. “You’re a little peanut butter.”

“I am not!” She cries, giggling.

His

smile turns to me, and damn, it’s the same as last night—interested, focused, irresistible. “Did you sleep well? Got everything you need?”

Hardly. I feel the heat in my cheeks, and I don’t want to respond to him this way in front of Eleanor. Especially not in the middle of a power struggle.

“I’m good.” I take a sip of cool coffee. “Everything is perfect.”

Eleanor takes advantage of our fizzy moment to reassert her power. “Lillian, go to your room and change. Now. We don’t have time to waste.”

Lillie whines and looks to me for help. My eyes go to Eleanor’s, and I pick up my car keys. “You’re right. We don’t have time if I’m going to meet her teacher. We need to leave now.”

“She will not go to school dressed this way. She looks like a… a—”

“Mermaid princess!” Remi scoops his daughter off the stool into the air.

He’s wearing a short-sleeved tee, and the muscles in his arms line and flex. As if that wasn’t enough, Lillie’s tummy peeps out, and he lowers her to his mouth for a loud, sloppy raspberry.

“Dad-day! Dad-day!” Lillie screams, laughing and squealing so shrill, dogs cry.

A smile splits my cheeks, and damn him. I might have just fallen in love in that moment.

He laughs and lowers his daughter in his arms. Her cheeks are pink and her laughter contagious. “You’d better get out of here before you miss the first bell.”

“No!” In a flash, her little face goes serious, and she wiggles to get out of his arms. “I’ll have to move my monkey!”

I have no idea what that means, but Lillie grabs my hand, pulling me to the door. I snatch my bag off a nearby chair. My keys are in my hand, and I look to see if Eleanor is still planning to ride with us.

“Have a nice day, Lillian, I’ll see you this afternoon.” She turns on her heel and stalks off in the opposite direction.

A smile teases my lips, and it takes all my willpower not to do a little fist pump. At the same time, I know this isn’t over.

Oaklawn Preschool looks more like an expensive boarding school than a school for kids five and under. It’s another new addition to accommodate the wealthier families moving into Oakville from Charleston—much like Eagleton Heights.

Parking in the small lot, I notice the Audis, Mercedes, Acuras, and other fancy cars lined in the circle drive. I’d feel inferior, but I guess I’m the high-priced nanny. That gives me a certain level of clout.

“You’ll have to show me your room.” I look in the rearview mirror at Lillie sitting in her booster in the backseat.

She’s so cute in her mermaid getup. Right before we walked out the door, she grabbed a headband with feathers and a tiara on top.

“Ms. Terry is in the E hall.” She takes my hand like a regular little adult and leads me across the lawn and up the stone steps.

Walking past mothers in starched skirts and blouses, scarves, and Prada bags, I get Eleanor’s insistence on Lillie’s attire. All the little girls are wearing smocked dresses and patent leather shoes. Hell, I’m starting to wonder if they even play at this school.

Lillie’s teacher, by contrast, is delightful. A petite young woman with light blonde hair and a bright smile, Ms. Terry is round and huggable and clearly in love with her class.

“Good morning, Lillie! My, you look fancy! Are you a mermaid?” Lillie nods excitedly, and her teacher continues. “Get your things from your cubby. Today we’re learning red monster number two or dos.”