Legend (Arizona Vengeance 3)

I found Pepper asleep on my bed, which is what I’d have expected as it’s right next to the nursery. She’s a back sleeper and had her head tilted toward me when I walked into the room. Her face was so peaceful and serene, and I knew I wanted to mess that up because I was still riding high on that amazing shutout I just had.

So I woke her up with my mouth on her stomach. So easy to pull up her T-shirt and kiss that soft skin. Pulled her jeans off, then put my mouth between her legs until she was writhing and begging and saying all kinds of dirty things she would do to me if I let her come.

So I did.

Then I took her up on her offer to ride me hard. Watching my thick shaft disappear into her, her tugging at her nipples then rubbing her clit while she bounced on me was a sight to behold. I bucked so hard when I came, I almost threw her off me.

Now she’s tucked tight into my body because when she tried to slip out of bed to head home, I said only one word: “Stay.”

And so she did.

“How did Charlie do tonight?” I ask her as we snuggle in. I’m feeling way mellow and my voice reflects that.

Pepper’s hand is resting on my lower belly and her thumb is idly stroking the line of hair that runs south from my belly button. It feels sweet and erotic at the same time, and I know we’ll fuck again before we go to sleep.

“She’s such a good baby, Legend,” she murmurs into the gloom as I’d turned all the lights off except the hall light. “She eats and sleeps so well and isn’t very fussy. You really lucked out.”

“I really wouldn’t know,” I say with a chuckle. “But next time I’m woken up at 3:00 a.m. for a feeding, I’ll remind myself it could be worse.”

“Well, once you get a nanny in, you can share in that responsibility,” she posits.

I shake my head. “No way. If I’m here in the house, I’m taking care of Charlie.”

Pepper is silent a moment and her hand goes still on my stomach. Finally, she says, “You’re only human, Legend. Don’t wear yourself out trying to be super single parent. You have the means and ability to hire help, and you should utilize it. There’s nothing wrong with sharing in that responsibility. It’s what couples do all the time.”

I consider this, and while I know she’s right, I really feel I have to prove myself for some reason. I’ve always been one to rise to a challenge, and I don’t want anyone to think I can’t hack this father thing.

Perhaps so as not to press me further on this, Pepper asks, “Have you given any more thought to the nannies we interviewed?”

“Not really,” I admit. We interviewed four yesterday afternoon and not one of them stood out among the others. They all just seemed…adequate, and that makes me uneasy. “I’m getting nervous. I don’t have anyone hired, which means I can’t start background checks. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, then we have the Christmas holiday, so I’m not even going to be able to do anything until the day after that.”

“That’s cutting it close.”

She’s not telling me anything new. She’s well aware that I’m okay to count on her or some of the hockey wives to help babysit during home games in a pinch, but a week from today is my first away game since bringing Charlie home and it’s causing a bit of panic that I don’t have a nanny that can care for her while I’m gone. I know Pepper would do it if I asked, but I can’t ask her. She’s got a full-time job and even though she says she’s not under a pressing deadline, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t work. I can’t intrude on that.

“If you want my opinion, I really liked Lucy,” she says.

“Of course, I want your opinion,” I reassure her with a squeeze as my arm is holding her close. “But…um…which one was Lucy?”

“The third one we interviewed. Taking a break between undergrad and grad school. Comes from a large family and has younger siblings she helped raise. She’s grounded and responsible and she has practical experience.”

I remember her now. “But she’s never actually been a nanny.”

“Which I think is actually kind of perfect,” Pepper replies. “You can train her to be what you want and what you need. You won’t have someone coming in that’s pushy with you or your child. It lets you set the exact tone of the relationship.”

Now, Pepper is making a fuck of a lot of sense. “She was the easiest to talk to,” I admit.

“Make an offer to her and then get the background check started on Tuesday. You can have her start as soon as she can under your supervision and tell her the position is contingent on her having a clear background check. That way you get a few days of her working for you before you leave.”