As rivals, they’ve always clashed.But to care for a baby, will they come together?
About the Book
Adorable baby Micah melts Sienna King’s heart instantly. Too bad he’s related to the most insufferable man Sienna knows. Joel Armstrong has temporary custody of his sweet nephew—and no clue what he’s doing. Sienna has free time…and a yearning to be a mother. It could be a perfect match. But what happens when they both start wanting a long-term ever after?
Chapter One
Of all the locations in all the world, Joel Armstrong had to end up here—in Shreveport, Louisiana—on a Friday afternoon in this tiny blip of an airport. Sienna King leaned forward so her knotless auburn braids would cover her face while she read through her dissertation research on her iPad mini titled The Effect Size of Teaching on Student Progress Despite Poverty and Parenting. This was her fourth time reading through it after the humiliating faux pas during her defense the week before. But Sienna would have a second chance to present during the summer, and she was going to ensure there wouldn’t be a need for a third.
Maybe Joel wouldn’t spot her. Although, at five foot ten, she was hard to miss, especially with so many empty seats in the small waiting area. Still, a girl could hope.
A shadow loomed. In her peripheral view, Sienna saw a long, lanky frame slink into the seat next to her and gave him the side-eye. At six-four, Joel was one of the few men who truly towered over her. He had olive-toned skin like she did, a light beard and curls the girls seemed to love. He’d only recently started sporting a beard which suited him.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, moving her braids off her face, not even trying to feign surprise or hide her irritation at her companion. This was how she communicated with Joel.
Ever since he had beaten her at the annual spelling bee in second grade—her parents had been mad at her for spelling the word fuchsia incorrectly—Sienna had been angry at Joel. He had preened over that plastic medal, keeping it on his desk just to taunt her, which lead to the birth of their decades-long rivalry. All through school, if she answered a question, he had the opposite response. The worst of it was in high school, when he received a perfect score on the SATs. Eventually, their interactions with each other became a habit. It was one she never intended to break.
Right as she asked the question, Sienna noticed he was holding a small, squirming bundle in his arms. “What is that?” She pointed, her eyes wide.
“What does it look like?” he shot back, lifting the baby boy to his shoulder and giving him an awkward pat on his back. At least, she presumed he was a boy, judging by the blue blanket dotted with gray elephants and baby bag. Suddenly, the baby opened his mouth, fully intending to suck on Joel’s jacket. A very dirty jacket.
Sienna considered moving to another seat, but she couldn’t risk the baby sucking on germs. She dropped her iPad in her bag and snatched—er, rescued—the infant from his clueless caretaker just as he stuck out his little tongue.
“What did you do that for?” Joel snapped, holding on to the infant’s legs with one hand while lifting his baseball cap to glare at her.
“What’s the point of having a receiving blanket if you’re not going to use it properly?” She jutted her chin toward him. “He was about to eat your filthy jacket. Although I’m not sure why you’re wearing one in the month of June.” Sienna made a show of placing the receiving blanket over her shirt and then cuddling the baby in her arms.
Releasing his hold, Joel rested his head against the wall. “Good catch. I didn’t even think about it.” He sighed. “Not even an hour, and I’m already failing at this whole babysitting thing. I don’t know what made me say yes,” he mumbled.
The baby fussed. “Where’s his bottle?” she asked.
Joel fumbled around in the diaper bag and took out a small bottle.
Sienna popped it into the infant’s mouth. He started sucking hard. “He is going at it,” she observed, smiling at the bronzed face peering up at her.
“I couldn’t get him to feed on the ride here,” Joel breathed out, wiping his forehead.
When he was finished, the little one cooed. Aw. The sound went right into her heart. Sienna placed the bottle in the pocket of the diaper bag and held the baby to burp him. She closed her eyes, loving the feel of his cheek against her face—and that smell. The mixture of baby’s breath, formula and newborn rolled into one intoxicating scent, making her ovaries scream. She patted his back, and he released a huge burp.
Chuckling, she asked Joel, “What’s his name?”
Joel stretched and rested his hands on his jeans. “Micah. He’s my nephew.” His brows furrowed. “My brother, Greg, and his wife, Tessa, live here in Shreveport. She had a medical emergency, and Greg asked me to take care of Micah for a little while. He said it should only be a few weeks, tops.”
“Your brother must have been really desperate to trust you with his newborn.”
“More like overwhelmed. Micah is three weeks old, and Greg has been toggling between caring for him and Tessa. Thankfully, he knows a judge and was able to get me temporary custody and Micah’s birth certificate early.”
Seeing the worry in Joel’s dark brown eyes pricked her heart. “Sorry to hear that.” She struggled to keep her tone noncommittal, pressing her lips together to keep her curiosity sealed. Getting into other people’s business meant you were inviting them into yours. And she sure didn’t want Joel in hers. The very nature of his job as the town’s reporter made him nosy. A nuisance. If there was something to know, Joel was the one to find out.
More passengers trickled over to the gate, sitting in the row ahead. Scanning the room, Sienna hoped there wouldn’t be too many more.
“What brings you to Shreveport?” Joel inquired.
She adjusted the baby tummy-up on her lap. “A former student of mine is in the air force and invited me to his pinning ceremony as he was ranking up.”
“Oh, that’s right. There’s a base about twenty minutes from here.” He cocked his head. “That was nice of you to attend.”
“He doesn’t have any family, so I kept in touch with him through the years.”
“And that’s why you are Swallow’s Creek’s Teacher of the Year for two years in a row. I wish you would let me feature you in the town paper.”
“I don’t need recognition,” she said, her tone frosty. “Whatever I do for others, it’s because I care.”
“All the more reason to let me do the story.”
Joel had been pressing her to do the article since last year. She turned him down every time, but that didn’t stop him from trying.
“See, this is why I don’t try to have a conversation with you. You don’t quit.” Sienna pulled out a changing pad and a diaper then changed Micah. Micah pumped his little legs. “Where’s his car seat and stroller?” she asked once she was finished.
“I checked the car seat and didn’t take the stroller,” Joel said, pointing to the baby carrier on his chest. “I wanted to pack light. I’ll buy whatever he needs once I’m home.”
She snorted. “That was a big mistake. You’re going to need a ton of stuff. These little guys come with a lot of baggage. You’ll have to get a bassinet, formula, diapers…a baby cam. All of that.”
“Yeah, I am clueless.” He rubbed his chin and studied her. “You seem to know a lot about babies. Would you mind coming with me to the department store once we’re back in town?”
“Ah… I don’t know if I’m the right person for the job,” she hedged, returning the baby to Joel. She grimaced at Joel’s awkward attempts to hold the infant. “Maybe you could ask Jade or Kelsey,” she said, referring to her best friends, who were mothers. Sienna was godmother to Jade’s almost sixteen-year-old daughter, Izabella, and she played aunt to Kelsey’s twin six-year-old girls, Mia and Morgan. Kelsey was also expecting again and due sometime in early July.
“Thanks. I’ll reach out…” He sounded lost. But Jade or Kelsey would set him straight, Sienna told herself, pushing back the small feeling of guilt. Micah chose that moment to release a little sigh, which tugged at her heart.
Kelsey’s pregnancy had awakened Sienna’s desire to be a mother, but until she was finished with her dissertation, everything else would have to wait, including motherhood. Sienna wanted to be a wife and then have children, and a husband wasn’t on her must-have-anytime-soon list.
For now, her computer was her only serious relationship. That suited her just fine. Her laptop didn’t fuss, didn’t complain, and when she was tired of it, all she had to do was close the lid.
In the meantime, Sienna fed her maternal instincts by volunteering in the nursery at church. The head organizer was on vacation, and Sienna was the lead caretaker in her absence.
“Are you connecting in Dallas or Charlotte?” Joel asked.
“Dallas.”
“So am I. Where are you sitting?”
She huffed. “On a seat inside the plane. Where do you expect me to be? On the wing?” She knew she was being snarky, but really, he just asked too many questions.
Joel held up a hand. “Just making conversation.” Even though more passengers had trickled over to the gate, Sienna deduced their flight wouldn’t be full, which was good news.
The flight crew walked up to the podium, and the attendant shared with the passengers that the plane was being cleaned and prepared for takeoff. Sienna glanced at her watch. There was about ten minutes before they would begin to board. Joel excused himself, leaving the diaper bag with her, and strolled up to the counter.
Sienna decided to text her Three Amigas group, which consisted of herself, Kelsey and Jade. Her fingers glided across the screen. Guess who I ran into?
Your future husband, Jade shot back. Sienna sent a gagging emoji.
I wish, she replied.
Jade sent three question marks.
Joel’s here and get this. He’s coming back to DE with a baby.
Kelsey’s answer was instant. Hold up. Joel’s got a baby mama?
No. His nephew. Sienna looked up and saw Joel heading back her way. The attendant announced they were going to be boarding soon. Gotta go. Talk later. She slipped the phone into her purse.
Joel returned and asked. “What zone are you in?”
“I’m zone six,” Sienna said.
“If you want, I can upgrade our tickets to first class. I could use help with the baby, and I’m too tall to be cramped on that small plane. I need all the leg room I can get.”
How can he afford an upgrade? she wondered. He was a small-town reporter. But it wasn’t her business.
He tapped his feet. “Well? Do you want it or not?”
Her instinct was to decline, but the baby shouldn’t have to endure the plane ride with an amateur. Besides, Sienna couldn’t resist being better than Joel, and helping with Micah would be a good way to rub it in his face. She smirked. “When you put it like that, how can I say no?”
“You could just say thank you.” He grabbed his backpack and diaper bag, then marched up to the counter. She stood, gathered her belongings and accompanied Joel to get the new ticket. Sienna mumbled her appreciation. She knew she should be gracious, but being in Joel’s presence made her cranky. Within minutes, they were settled together in the airplane with the baby nestled on his lap, fast asleep.
At one point of their journey, an older woman across the aisle looked over at them and smiled. “Such a good baby. You guys make a beautiful family.”
Since he was in the aisle seat, Joel thanked the woman, which led to her chattering on about her own grandchildren. However, Sienna remained silent, sucker punched by the woman’s assumption that she was Micah’s mother. She stole a glance at Micah. How she wished she could claim this adorable child. She looked out the window, once again yearning to know how it would feel to bear life.
Her parents’ mantra, Education before love and marriage, counteracted her biological clock. Her overachieving parents had hammered that into her since she was a child. By the end of the summer, she would finally be Dr. Sienna King, and she could erase the mental image of her parents’ disappointed faces during her dissertation defense out of her mind.
*
Two days later, Joel stood before her outside the children’s nursery at Millennial House of Praise, begging Sienna for assistance. If it had been anyone other than him, Sienna would have said yes; that’s what he believed. But Sienna had dubbed him the most annoying man in Swallow’s Creek. For the past twenty-four years, she had treated him like a gnat, an irritant, and for the most part, Joel was fine with it. Except for now. He needed her help.
Badly.
Joel raked his fingers through his locks. He needed a haircut, a shave…and some sleep. None of which he could do because of an eight-pound invasion in his life. His nephew had spent almost all of the past forty-eight hours crying. Micah cried until his voice was hoarse, but Joel couldn’t get him to eat. Not that Joel had told his brother any of that. For Greg, Joel had been upbeat, assuring him that he had everything under control.
This morning, he woke up realizing he needed to be in church for two reasons: his brother needed prayers, and the church had a nursery. Free day care. Joel had gotten himself and Micah dressed in under thirty minutes and rushed through the door. He figured someone there could refer him to a nanny. There were three childcare centers in town and all were at capacity, including the two in-home day cares that he had called. He needed to find someone to care for his nephew while he worked. Fast.
He hadn’t expected to bump into the full-figured beauty inside the nursery. For a moment, it irked him that they seemed to be in each other’s faces of late.
Actually… Sienna might be the ideal person to ask to watch Micah. She had already bonded with him, plus school was out and she wasn’t running the church’s summer camp this year. Joel wasn’t a member of the church, but he knew the church was renovating this summer. The more he thought about it, the more idea held appeal.
He rubbed the bridge of his nose and decided to ask. “Would you be interested in watching Micah for me?”
Sienna ran her long nails—blinged-out with gems and pink tips—through her long braids. “Isn’t there anyone else you can ask?” she whispered, mindful of the four sleeping babies in her charge, one of whom was Micah. She gestured for Joel to meet her outside so they could talk.
As soon as they were in the hallway, Joel continued. “I wouldn’t ask if I weren’t desperate. I can tell Micah likes you, and you were amazing with him during the plane ride.” It took a lot for Joel to confess that Sienna was better than him at something.
Micah had fussed for a good portion of the second flight and was resting his head on Sienna’s chest while she hummed a tune Joel didn’t recognize. It was the only thing that soothed him. If not for her, Joel was certain he wouldn’t have survived the journey home.
She lifted her chin and bragged, “That’s because Micah knows I’m good people. I’ve heard that babies can sense the true nature of those around them.”
He clenched his teeth. “That’s ridiculous. He likes me as well. I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it soon enough.”
“Well, then you don’t need me.” She started to turn away, but he touched her arm.
He warned his wayward tongue that now wasn’t the time for a verbal sparring and backtracked. “I didn’t mean that. You’re way better with Micah than I am. For now.” He wiped his brow with the back of his hand and forced a smile on his face.
“Watching him for a few hours isn’t the same as watching him all day.” Her deep dimples appeared as she emphasized her point.
He tried to hold on to his patience. “You’d be helping out a friend.” Joel knew Sienna hated when he teased her by calling her his friend.
She bristled. “Please. Don’t get it twisted. You and I are nowhere near being friends. I tolerate you. There’s a difference.”
“We’ve known each other for over two decades. We’re practically family.”
Sienna pulled her orange cardigan close to her chest. “I can’t with you.”
“It’s a paid gig,” he said. Sienna was feisty, but she was also one of the most caring individuals he knew to everyone but him. Maybe it was time he explained everything. Maybe then she would help. “My boss, Skip, is retiring in a year, and I’ve just been promoted to associate editor at the newspaper. The plan is for me to move into his position—which is a massive accomplishment at only thirty-one—so I’ll be taking on more tasks. There’s no way I’m going to be able to juggle my schedule and take care of Micah. My brother’s wife is in critical condition, and I can’t have Micah neglected.” He clasped his hands. “I’m not too proud to admit I’m overwhelmed.”
“You mean to tell me that there’s something Mr. Perfect SAT can’t do?”
His left eye ticked. “I wish you’d stop bringing that up. It’s a score. A fluke.”
“Of course you’d say that. Some of us had to pull all-nighters to get a good score.”
“Let’s not get offtrack.” Joel then asked, “Will you watch Micah for me? It’s only for a few weeks.”
Sienna’s brown eyes softened. “I didn’t get all that education to be a glorified nanny.” She smoothed out her striped dress.
Her tone indicated that she was on the verge of relenting. Joel drew close. “Picture Micah’s little face. You can’t leave him in the hands of his unskilled uncle. He won’t survive.” He wiped his hands on his slacks, his heart pounding while he waited for her response.
“You don’t play fair.” Then her lips quirked. “The little guy is adorable. I’ve got to admit, he’s hard to resist. I’ll think about it. That’s the best I can do.” She touched his arm briefly. “Did you get his stuff yet?”
“Neither Kelsey nor Jade were available to help me. But if you give me a list, I’ll go get everything after the service.” He could hear the praise music starting up in the sanctuary. A few parishioners walked by, and he gave them a wave, ignoring their curious stares.
She appeared to wrestle with herself before she emitted a huge sigh. “Fine. I’ll go with you. Meet me at my apartment, and we’ll go get everything he needs. Do you know where I live?”
The fear around his chest calmed. “Thank you. Thank you. And, yes, I do know where to find you.”
“Just so we’re clear, if I did take the nanny gig, I’d be doing it for Micah. Not you.”
He chuckled. “Fair enough. I’ll be Micah’s mouthpiece and utter a big thank-you for even thinking about it.” He moved to give her a hug just to annoy her, but Sienna brushed him off.
“Keep your distance. I’m saving all my hugs for Micah.”
With a laugh, Joel gave her a thumbs-up and walked toward the sanctuary, his steps light. For the first time since his brother had reached out for his help, Joel felt hopeful. One thing he knew about Sienna was that she did nothing by half measures; he was sure his wallet would see proof of that later. But Joel had no problem parting with his funds—that, he could handle. Money was uncomplicated. Taking care of Micah’s emotional needs was what terrified him. But Sienna’s presence could take care of that. Between his money and her heart, Micah would be fine. He just needed her to commit.
Chapter Two
“These people are taking the whole a June bride is a bride for life thing way too serious,” Sienna mumbled. She had just gotten in from church and changed into a pair of white jeans, a pink T-shirt and her pink-and-white Chuck Taylors when she decided to check her calendar. She had not one, not two, but three weddings to attend this summer, and the first was a little over a week away. She groaned.
Kelsey was battling morning sickness, and Jade hadn’t been invited, so she would be going solo. Ugh. She didn’t relish getting hit on because the men would think she was lonely without a plus one.
Her stomach grumbled, so she made her way into the kitchen of her two-bedroom apartment, which had been decorated with a checkered theme. Sienna had added green accents to brighten the room. She raised the blinds to let sunlight inside and opened her refrigerator to see almost-bare shelves. She needed to go grocery shopping. Next, Sienna searched her pantry for her cheese crackers. Then she remembered she had tossed her expired snacks before going to Shreveport. But, she had bought an apple at the airport that she hadn’t eaten.
After digging the apple out of her travel bag, she washed it, took a bite and checked her cell phone. Joel had texted that he was on his way. Her stomach quivered at the thought of seeing the little munchkin again. She wouldn’t admit it, but she had held Micah a little longer than necessary in the church nursery. Maybe it was because his mother was far away in a hospital, but she’d bonded with him instantaneously. His little finger curling around hers had warmed her heart.
Watching Micah wouldn’t be an inconvenience. In fact, it would give her a real dose of motherhood. Would it be enough to cure her? Or would it leave her craving more? She drew in a breath. There was only one way to find out.
Her cell phone vibrated, and she checked the screen. Seeing it was her mother on FaceTime, Sienna prayed for patience. She tapped Accept. “Before you say anything, I’ve been studying around the clock, Mom. I’m sure I’ll pass the defense next time.”
Her mother, Daphne, frowned. “You shouldn’t have had to do a second defense. But that’s not why I called.”
Sienna squinted, wrinkling her nose. “Are you okay?” Her mother’s brown skin was beaded with sweat, and she seemed out of breath. Sienna was her mini-me in every way, except Daphne was slender and Sienna was full-figured. Her mother never made Sienna’s weight an issue—but in everything else, she was unrelenting.
Daphne waved a hand. “Yes. Don’t try to change the subject. Your father and I have found the perfect man for you. He’s a surgeon and single.”
“What about ‘education before love’?” Sienna reminded her.
Daphne shrugged. “I think it’s time for a new outlook. It would please us if you met him.”
“Hmm… We’ll see. I have to get going. I’ll talk to you later, Mom.” Sienna blew a kiss and ended the call. Her chest heaved. It was bad enough her parents tried to dictate her every move; now her mother was interfering in her love life. Her nonexistent-by-choice love life. Sienna wasn’t having that. If she knew her parents, this was just the beginning. She had to find a way to thwart their intentions, or she would cave. Try to please them, even though experience had shown her countless times that was impossible. She should have just said she was already dating someone. That would’ve put a stop to it.
After finishing her apple, Sienna tossed the remnants in the trash and washed her hands. Her cell phone chimed; Joel was in the parking lot. She grabbed her purse and made her way down the stairs. Since she hadn’t been able to snag a first-floor apartment, she liked the convenience of being near the staircase by the parking lot. Before getting in Joel’s shiny new Jeep, she opened the rear passenger door to look at Micah in his car seat. His head was tilted, and his big brown eyes were pinned on her. Even though he was a newborn, he had a lot of curls—part of his Native American heritage—like his uncle. Both Joel’s parents had Black and Native American heritage, and those traits had passed on to both generations.
She touched the infant’s legs—“Hey, Micah.” Realizing Joel waited for her, she closed the door and got in the front the seat. She greeted Joel. He had changed into a pair of dark blue jeans and a blue T-shirt with the word Shreveport imprinted across the chest. Just then, her stomach growled. “Did you eat yet?”
He shook his head. “No. I didn’t want to keep you waiting.”
“I didn’t eat anything either. Can we hit up the drive-through?”
“Sure.” He exited the lot. “Where do you think you want to eat?”
“I can call and order pretzels and lemonades from Patty’s, and we can grab and go. How does that sound?”
“Perfect. Patty’s lemonades are the truth.” Joel turned toward the direction of Patty’s Pretzels. He hummed a praise tune under his breath that sounded like “Way Maker,” which was one of the songs the team had sung earlier in the service. His voice was low, but it sounded like he could hold a tune. For a second, Sienna was tempted to join in, but she held back. It wasn’t that kind of a party. She tapped her chin. But…Joel might be the perfect solution to quash her parents’ matchmaking attempts. Even as the thought came, she rejected it. Sienna didn’t know if she could do anything that put her in Joel’s presence on purpose, and her parents would want to meet him.
Squinting against the sun’s glare, she pulled down the visor before searching in her purse for her sunglasses. She made a mental note to get visors for the rear windows. “Have you heard from your brother?” she asked once she had called in their meals.
“Yes, he called last night. Tessa is in a coma. She hemorrhaged, and that’s why Greg had to rush her to the hospital. He said they had to do a transfusion.”
She gasped, then touched Joel’s arm. “I’m sorry to hear that.” That bit of news helped her decide on Micah’s care. “Well, the next time you speak to him. You let him know that his son is in good hands—mine. And I’ll add her to my prayer list.”
Joel looked over at her briefly before returning his attention to the road. “Thank you. Thank you. You don’t know how much this means to me. You’re good people, Sienna King.”
For some reason, his words of esteem made her cheeks warm. “I’m happy to help your brother out during his time of need.” She was surprised to find how much she meant it.
“Great. Let’s talk money.” As he pulled into the parking lot for Patty’s Pretzels, he rattled off a number that made her brows rise to her forehead. Sienna directed him to park at the pick-up spot marked number three. One of the workers would bring out their food.
“Are you related to the Rockefellers or the Vanderbilts?”
“I minored in accounting and I’ve been investing my money since my teens. Without telling you my business, I have enough to retire right now if I choose. But I love my job, so…”
Figures. “I don’t need that much money.” Turning her head to check on Micah, Sienna relaxed when she saw he was asleep. She flicked dust off her white pants. “Actually, you don’t even have to pay me if you’d do me a favor.”
Putting the Jeep in Park, Joel faced her, his eyes wary. “What’s the favor?”
Sienna gave a laugh that sounded more like a shriek. “You don’t have to get suspicious.” She tapped his arm. “So relax.”
He leaned into his seat and pinned her with an intense gaze. “What do you need me to do?”
Resisting the urge to squirm, Sienna cleared her throat. “I have three weddings to attend, and I’d like you to be a buffer between me and the men who seem to think that because you’re single, you must be desperate.”
He lifted a brow. “We both know you can’t stand me, though I’ve done nothing to you. Why would you want to spend so much time with me? Even though I’m probably invited as well.”
“Because you’re convenient,” she rushed to explain. “And like you said, you’re most likely on the guest list.”
Joel shifted in his seat. “I want your help with Micah, but I don’t know if this is such a good idea. This is a small town, and everyone knows we can’t stand each other.”
“It would be a win-win for the both of us. Weddings and funerals can be chief hookup events. I’m not looking for anyone, and you would have someone to watch Micah anytime since I know news doesn’t just happen from nine to five.”
“You raise a good point. I hadn’t thought of that.” He mulled over her words and then tapped the wheel. “I’d be happy to be your pretend boo.”
“‘Pretend boo’?” She giggled and shoved his arm, causing him to jerk from the impact. “You are so silly.”
A young man headed their way with food bags, gesturing for Joel to roll down his window. Sienna started to retrieve her wallet, but Joel put up a hand to say he would pay. “I don’t need you to pay for my food,” she insisted.
“I don’t mind paying.”
By then, the youth was standing by the vehicle, waiting for payment.
Sienna huffed. “That’s not the point.”
Joel’s voice rose, causing Micah to stir. “Must we argue about everything?”
Sienna hated knowing Micah was getting upset because of their fussing, so she backed down and allowed Joel to settle the tab. She bit into her pretzel and allowed several tense seconds to pass. Then she asked, “For Micah’s sake, can we try to get along?”
“Can you not be so cantankerous? You bait me for no reason.”
It was true. She drew in a breath. “I’ll do better.” She gave him a side glance and returned to their previous conversation. “So do we have a deal?”
Joel sounded doubtful. “I don’t know, because all we do is bicker when we’re within five feet of each other. No one is going to believe we’re dating.”
She gritted her teeth. “We can be civil. I know we can.”
Joel chuckled, releasing the tension in the car. “If you say so.” Then he held out a fist. “All right, I’m in. The way I see it, I’m getting a bargain. I accompany a beautiful woman to a few weddings in exchange for babysitting services. That’s a no-brainer for me.”
She lowered her lashes and joked, “I do have to agree.” They shared a laugh. Sienna felt a pleasant sensation warm her insides, and she questioned why. He wasn’t the first man to compliment her, but he was the first to make her feel like a schoolgirl again in a long time.
*
Pushing a dolly behind Sienna’s cart—which carried Micah in his car seat and a few other items on her never-ending list—Joel made his way to the long checkout line. Within a minute or two of entering the baby section, Joel had known he was dealing with a retail professional. After Sienna had directed him to get a dolly, she then placed boxes containing a swing, bassinet, stroller, diapers, wipes, formula and bedding on top. Then she had added clothes, pacifiers, bottles, a bottle warmer and other stuff she declared essential.
Joel didn’t understand how an infant needed so many things. Sienna had assured him that she would help him organize everything, which was a major relief.
The cashier’s mouth dropped. “You guys waited until the last minute to shop for your baby, and now you’re paying for it.”
Sienna gave her an awkward laugh. “Yes, but our little Micah is well worth it.”
“I hear you.” The cashier proceeded to ring up their order.
She hadn’t corrected the young lady’s assumption about Micah’s parentage, and Joel figured he would have done the same. It would be too long of an explanation. Sienna had already suggested he donate the items to the women’s shelter once Micah returned home to his parents.
As he watched Sienna place items on the conveyor belt, her request for him to be her wedding date came to mind. He wondered why she wasn’t interested in dating and decided to ask her once they had packed everything into the Jeep.
“I have to focus on my dissertation,” she said. “And relationships are a lot of work that I don’t have time for right now—if ever.” Then she turned the question back on him. “What about you? I take it you’re not seeing anyone, or you wouldn’t have consented to be my fake date.”
“What does it matter?” he said, then remembered he needed her help, and tried to keep the agitation out of his voice. Something about her just always put him on edge. “Sorry about that. I… I’m not dating either. And, like you, I have no desire to date.”
“Why not?” She wiggled her eyebrows. “You’re one of Swallow’s Creek’s most eligible bachelors.”
He gave her the side-eye, knowing she was referring to his exposé on Zachary Johnson, her best friend, Kelsey’s, husband. “My boss made me do that. We sold a lot of papers that week.” Zachary, a widower at the time, had moved to town the year before and had captured the attention of Swallow’s Creek’s single ladies.
“So back to my question. If you’re not dating, it’s because you don’t want to?”
He shifted, uncomfortable with her question.
She chuckled. “I see you don’t like being interrogated either.”
Wiping a hand on his T-shirt, he said, “Like you, I’m busy with my career. Plus, I’m sure you heard my sad story from years ago.” Closing the rear gate, the conversation came to a halt until he was close to his home.
“So, are you going to tell me the sad story?” Sienna asked, her brows furrowed.
He slid a glance her way to see if she was being genuine. There were no secrets in Swallow’s Creek. She must have heard about his broken engagement, because it had been the subject of gossip for months. The fact that his fiancée had been of a different race seemed to only add fuel to the fire.
“There’s no need to pretend you don’t know about the disastrous fate of my relationship,” he said, pulling into this driveway. “It’s been about eight years. Believe me, I am over it—and her.”
Her mouth dropped. “I’d forgotten about that. How did I not remember that you got jilted?” Then she added, “I think I was away at school when I heard about it, but I don’t make it a point to keep track of your love life.” Her jab wasn’t lost on him.
He opened the door for her. “Well, I wasn’t left at the altar. Long story short, I was engaged, and my parents didn’t approve. Actually, my father didn’t. He offered Elizabeth money to break things off with me, and she took it. Left me a month before we were supposed to walk down the aisle.”
After pressing the button to open the rear gate, Joel grabbed the box with the bassinet and steeled himself for Sienna’s smart remarks. To his surprise, she touched his arm. “I’m sorry that happened to you.”
He stilled. Their eyes locked before she looked away and fiddled with her braids.
“You surprise me. I thought you would be gloating at my past humiliation.”
“Wow. That stings.” Her voice caught. “I suppose I could see why you would think so, though.” She lowered her chin. Joel wanted to touch her cheek and reassure her that it was okay. But rehashing his past had caused a surprising pang in his heart.
“Let’s get Micah inside.” He headed up his driveway to open the front door while Sienna popped the carrier out of the car seat. When she entered his home, she wouldn’t meet his eyes.
Taking Micah out of the carrier, Sienna laid him down on the sofa and dug into his diaper bag for a diaper. Joel didn’t want things to be weird between them. “Sienna, I’m used to you snapping at me, and I’m just as quick with the comebacks. It’s what we do, what we’ve always done. I just assumed that when you brought up the topic, it was more of the same.” He pried open the box so he could set up the bassinet. Micah had slept with him in his king-size bed the night before, and Joel had been afraid of rolling on top of him.
She looked at him and shook her head. “I wouldn’t make fun of something like that. What she did to you was horrible. Forgive me for saying this, but your father’s actions were reprehensible too.” Sienna’s eyes flashed. “What kind of parent does that to their child?” Her tone mirrored the disgust he felt.
Joel took a step back. Sienna asked the question that had plagued him for months after the incident. It had driven a deep wedge between him and his parents because his mother had defended his father’s actions. She hadn’t agreed with his wanting to marry a white woman. His heart constricted when he thought about the almost nonexistent relationship he’d had with his mother right before his parents passed. In a low voice, he said, “Not everyone was meant to be a parent.”
“I wish I didn’t know firsthand that you spoke the truth,” Sienna said, seemingly more to herself than him. Joel paused. It appeared as if they might have something in common. He wanted to delve into that but decided not to press her for details. Instead, he busied himself with getting the rest of the baby stuff out of his Jeep. He and Sienna then assembled Micah’s room, decorating it with an elephant theme. Joel had chosen the smaller of the two bedrooms closest to the master bedroom.
Next, Sienna walked him through how to change Micah’s diaper properly as well as how to prepare his formula. But in the back of his mind, Joel played back her softly spoken words. He and Sienna were natural adversaries. Joel had never once considered that they shared anything in common or that they could complete a task without arguing. Whenever he was in Sienna’s presence, Joel steeled himself against the insults she would toss out, and he was always seeking a way out. But that evening, once they were done with Micah’s room, they shared a pizza together and watched Micah sleep, and he regretted it when their time came to an end and Sienna went home.
How weird was that?
Chapter Three
“So let me see if I’ve got this right,” Kelsey said, seated at the kitchen table in Joel’s home. The table was a deep-espresso color, with a bench on one side. “You are spending your much-needed summer vacation to be a nanny for Joel’s nephew? Why didn’t you refer him to someone else?”
“It’s only for a month or so. I took the job because I like Micah. That sweet face is hard to resist.” She pulled back instinctively when Kelsey reached over to touch her forehead. Her brows furrowed. “What are you doing?”
“I’m checking to see if you have a fever.”
Jade laughed. “Does she? Because I never thought I’d see the day when Sienna talks about Joel without an ounce of animosity.”
“He’s not that bad…” Sienna trailed off. She noted the shocked looks on her friends’ faces. The three friends got together every other Sunday for fellowship and to catch up on their lives. They usually rotated at one another’s houses, but Sienna had asked for their meeting this Sunday to be at Joel’s house since she would be watching Micah.
She turned up the baby monitor. “Can you two be serious for one moment? We need to get our devotions finished before Micah wakes up.” Joel had called Sienna early that morning to ask if she could watch Micah because he had a robbery turned arson at Mr. MacGrady’s he had to cover for the paper.
Mr. MacGrady’s was a local diner that had become a staple in their town; Sienna and her friends frequented there often. They even had their favorite booth. Sienna had rushed over in her pajamas and had gotten dressed in a plaid jumpsuit and cardigan in Joel’s spare room. She didn’t share that tidbit of information with her friends, though.
Jade shifted, causing her bright yellow earrings to sway. She was dressed in a yellow romper and had coordinated her jewelry perfectly. “Forgive us if our brains are too full with this juicy development to concentrate.”
“Yeah. You’d better take the ribbing, because you were the chief instigator back when I was dating Zachary.” Kelsey gave her a light jab. Sienna noted her friend’s thin fingers, and her heart squeezed. Kelsey had been suffering from terrible morning sickness and had developed anemia. As a result, she wore a light sweater over her T-shirt and leggings to keep warm.
Sienna folded her arms. “Well, this is different. It was obvious that you and Zachary had chemistry. Joel and I can barely stand to be in each other’s presence.” A flash of them eating pizza and setting up Micah’s room came to mind, disproving her words.
“Oh, but you seem to be adjusting just fine.” Jade waggled her eyebrows “After all, pretend dating is still dating.”
“I predict Sienna and Joel are going to be at each other’s throats before the end of the week,” Kelsey said. “You can’t be around each other without bickering.”
Sienna couldn’t hold back her laugh. “You two are a mess. Joel and I called a truce. We’re mature enough to put aside our differences and focus on Micah.” She drummed her fingers on the table. “We both want the best for Micah, and we’re capable of behaving like the professionals we are.”
Kelsey scoffed. “Huh. I’ll believe when I see it.”
“I have my own prediction. After a month, Joel and I will come out unscathed and without a single argument.” On the inside, she gasped. Was her competitive nature the reason for that bold statement? Maybe she should amend it to something like, less than five arguments?
“Mark my words—you won’t last a day. Make that an hour,” Kelsey said with a pointed stare.
“Whatever. You’ll see.”
The women moved on with their devotions. Sienna asked for prayers for Joel’s brother and sister-in-law, and of course, they prayed for Micah. Just as their prayers ended, Sienna’s phone buzzed. Coming home for lunch. Can I grab you something? She smiled.
She replied, Sure. I’ll take a turkey sandwich and a diet cola. Thanks. After she hit Send, Sienna looked up to see Jade’s and Kelsey’s mouths hanging open. “What?” She rolled her eyes. “Don’t go reading anything into that.”
“You two seem so…domesticated,” Kelsey taunted.
Sienna rolled her eyes again, then shifted the conversation. “Watching Micah will be a welcome respite while I revise my dissertation. I plan to work on it during the times when he’s sleeping.”
“Take it easy on yourself.” Jade’s eyes held sympathy. Sienna knew her friend was thinking about her blunder during her dissertation defense.
But she couldn’t. She couldn’t take it easy when that error had been the biggest of her life. Just thinking about how she had gone blank and spewed incorrect facts made Sienna squirm with shame. She nodded, unable to meet Jade’s sympathetic eyes. She hated that she’d messed up. Failed. Her mortification had been magnified by her parents’ presence. She could still see their stern faces. If it weren’t for Kelsey and Jade, Sienna didn’t know how she would have finished her last days at work. Unbeknownst to Sienna at the time, her principal and team had planned a huge celebration. Her friends had made sure to alert her coworkers, even showing up at her school the next day to “volunteer” in her classroom, just to check on her.
“You’ve got this,” Kelsey cheered before slapping a hand over her mouth and rushing to the bathroom.
Both she and Jade rushed to help Kelsey. Jade placed a cool cloth on Kelsey’s forehead, and Sienna made some tea. She had just finished pouring Kelsey a cup when Joel popped in through the door. He was covered in soot from head to toe.
*
He felt the heat of three pairs of eyes. Joel shifted uncomfortably, knowing he looked worse than he felt. Whoever had robbed Mr. MacGrady’s had also set fire to the bathroom, and Joel had volunteered to help with the cleanup. He wasn’t used to coming home to anyone and hadn’t considered the picture he presented when he walked through the door.
Sienna wrinkled her nose. “You look terrible. Why did you come through the front door? You should have entered through the garage.”
“I…uh…” Joel took a step back, their lunch hanging from his hand. He looked around in disbelief. Jade’s eyes were popped wide open. Kelsey coughed, covering her mouth, but he could see her lips twitch. Then he addressed the sassiest of the women. “Last I checked, the deed was in my name only.” He expected her to back off or apologize, but this was Sienna.
Raising her brows, she snapped back, “And last I checked, you have a newborn in this house who doesn’t have all his shots yet.” Then she shooed him outside. Yes—shooed him like he was a nuisance. The gall.
This time, her friends couldn’t hide their mirth, especially when, for some reason, Sienna flashed them a glance, “This isn’t an argument. It’s common sense.”
Joel’s left eye ticked at the common sense jab. It wasn’t like he was a real father. Micah had been in his care for less than a week. Nevertheless, he clamped his jaw and stomped outside, fuming. He was tired and hungry and wanted to eat, shower, and catch a nap. The garage door cracked open, and Jade stood in the doorway.
“Her delivery could use some polish,” Jade said, taking the bag from him. “But you know she means well.”
Joel gave a quick nod and went into the half bath to wash his face and hands. When he saw his reflection, he drew in a harsh breath. He was filthy. Even his beard was covered with soot. His anger subsided, and he acknowledged that Sienna was right. He hadn’t been thinking about his nephew’s welfare when he barged into the house. Joel darted upstairs to clean up and change his clothes. Then he approached Sienna and apologized. “You were right.”
He saw Kelsey and Jade eye each other with disbelief but kept his attention on Sienna.
With a quick nod, Sienna sniffed. “I’m sorry if I sound harsh, but I’m trying to care for the little guy.”
“I know you are,” Joel said.
She gestured to the table, where she had placed his lunch on a plate. Joel had ordered a Mexican rice bowl and salad. He slipped into the chair. Sienna made sure to remind him to bless his meal before eating. Her friends must have seen that as their cue to leave. The women hugged like they weren’t going to see each other again, though he knew they planned to get together in a couple of days for a movie night. He caught Kelsey and Jade giving Sienna warning glares before waving at him and going through the door.
Micah’s fiery defender looked penitent and unsure. She sat across from him, her head lowered. “While you were washing up, my friends pointed out that I was out of line.” Joel nodded as he took a sip of juice. Then she said, “I want to apologize for embarrassing you in front of my friends.”
He almost choked and began coughing on reflex. But he accepted her apology—especially since she seemed so sincere. Although this was so unlike the Sienna he knew. “It’s all good. I have thick skin,” he said.
“Great. We’re fully capable of being civil and communicating with decency.” She bit into her sandwich.
Joel chewed slowly. He had no idea how to react when she was behaving so oddly. “Who are you trying to convince?” he asked. “Me or you?”
“What I’m trying to say here is that I’m going to more respectful,” she snapped. “Why can’t you accept that instead of…” She stopped and drew in a few deep breaths. Then she took another bite of her sandwich, chewing and thinking.
“Just be you,” Joel said. “I like you just fine the way you are.”
Her lips quirked. This time she met his gaze with a challenging one of her own. “So you don’t think my mouth is like a razor?”
“Oh, I do. It’s sharp. But I prefer knowing how you feel upfront than having you gloss over your feelings with a fake smile.”
She released a sigh. “I’m so glad you said that, because biting my tongue around you would be hard work.”
He cracked up. “Good. Now you don’t have to. Besides, I’m going to need your humor when we attend these weddings together.”
Just then, Micah cried out, and Sienna rushed over to tend to him. Joel watched her move, concern etched across her face, and smiled. One thing he could say about Sienna was that spending time with her would never be dull. And though he would never admit it, being in her presence gave him a zing. A zest he didn’t know he had been missing.
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