Misadventures with a Manny Read online

  Riana cuts a look to me. “You were married.”

  I twist my lips in dissatisfaction. “Wow. Guess I’ll never get my chance with him.”

  Riana grins. “Why not?”

  “If he’s as good as you’re saying, I can’t risk ruining it for some hot sex,” I whisper as I watch him wrap his arm around Charlie, squeezing him as they laugh.

  “Ah, I disagree.”

  “What? How?”

  “Hey, I understand what you’re saying, but jeez, Vera, you haven’t had a good time with someone since before Simon cheated on you the first time. You’re due.”

  I consider that, but while I agree, I know that it is all a long shot. “None of this matters.”

  She makes a face. “Why?”

  “Because it isn’t like he wants me like that anyway,” I say, holding my hand out to him. “I mean, look at him. Greek god. Look at that ass, Riana.”

  She giggles. “Now that you point it out, it’s hard to look at anything else.”

  “Exactly! Then look at me, pudgy, middle-aged mom.”

  She rolls her eyes so hard I’m worried they’ll get lost in the back of her head. “Oh, for the love of God. You just turned thirty-one, and you aren’t pudgy, you’re curvy.”

  “Middle-aged, baby,” I say simply. “Curvy is what skinny girls say to fat girls to make them feel better.”

  “They do not!” she says, throwing her hands up. “You’re so dramatic.”

  Smacking her, I laugh, but before I can tell her to shut up, I hear, “I’ve been saying that for years.”

  Ugh. Simon’s voice makes my skin crawl. Kaia is on his arm.

  Riana, always her lovely self, makes a face. “No one is talking to you.”

  “Ah, don’t be mean, little sis. I came to say hi. Look at you, all big and glowing.”

  She glares before looking over at me. “I can’t stab him, can I?”

  I shake my head. “He’s the boys’ father.”

  “Small complications,” she says before crossing her arms and looking at the field. I want to do the same, but before I can, he says, “So funny story.” I doubt it’s gonna be funny at all, but I listen as he goes on. “Kaia told me about the man at your house when she came to pick the boys up—”

  “Did she tell you she came extremely early? I had just walked into the house. Next time, call.”

  He ignores me, going on. “And I was like, wow, that’s good. She’s moving on, but then we find out you hired him to nanny our boys.”

  Riana turns in her seat, glaring up at him. “So? You aren’t helping in any way.”

  “Doesn’t matter. I’m their father.”

  “So? He’s a good guy, a friend of Phillip’s.”

  “So? I didn’t hire him.”

  “Well, that’s because you can’t sleep with him,” she snaps, and I lay my hand on hers.

  Bless her, but she doesn’t know how to control her mouth around Simon. Not that I can blame her. “Riana, go over with Phillip.”

  She glares as Simon just laughs. “Yeah, go on, little sis.”

  “Are you sure I can’t at least kick him?”

  Simon’s laughter sets my teeth on edge as I shake my head. “Just go.”

  When she stands, I do too, folding my arms across my chest as I turn to him. “I hired nine different nannies, and none of them worked. So far so good with Lincoln.”

  “But it isn’t right. At least to me it’s not. I’m not okay with it. He’s Phillip’s friend, right? The guy from the other night.”

  Ugh, I should have told him earlier. I point to Lincoln, who was standing with Phillip, but then I see him striding over.

  Holding out his hand to Simon, he says, “Hey, I’m Lincoln Scott. We met the other night, but I don’t think we’ve met properly. I’m the one caring for the boys when Vera is at work.”

  Simon looks up at him before looking at me, ignoring Lincoln’s hand. “No way.”

  “It isn’t your decision. I’m paying for him,” I say simply.

  Simon’s eyes almost come out of his head. “He’s a man! What if he—”

  “I can send you every single one of his recommendations. If you ask the boys, they respect him. We need that. I don’t think you realize how bad we need that for the boys. They haven’t respected anyone, but they respect him. He is a great caregiver, and I don’t care what you have to say about it.”

  “They’re great kids—”

  But Simon cuts Lincoln off, like the jackass he is. “I know. I am their father.”

  My temper starts to boil. “And I am their mother. I don’t want them going to the school you’ve chosen, but because they somewhat like it, I don’t fight you on it.”

  “It’s a good school,” says Simon.

  “He’s a great nanny.”

  “Fine, we’ll go to court over it, then.”

  “Jesus, is that all you do? Throw that at me? I’m not scared of you, Simon,” I say, my voice rising. That is until Lincoln’s hand comes to the small of my back. Breathing heavily, I look over at him, meeting his heated gaze.

  “Charlie is within ear shot, and while I get your ex is a douche, I don’t think you want to upset your son.”

  “A douche? You don’t know me, kid. I can ruin you.”

  “Jesus Christ,” I mutter, exhaling hard as I look at Riana trying to talk to Charlie so he can’t see. “We can discuss this later.”

  “I’d love to see you try,” Lincoln says.

  That surprises me. This isn’t his fight; he doesn’t even have a dog in it. Well, except his job, but he doesn’t know this man from Adam, and in a way, I feel like he is trying to protect me.

  I don’t think Simon even notices. He says, “Or you can just agree to let me take the boys for spring break, and I’ll let it go.”

  “Oh, go fuck yourself, Simon,” I say simply. “Honestly—”

  “Mom, you good?”

  Charlie’s voice stops me, and I press my lips together. Lincoln moves his hand along my back soothingly.

  “Yes, love. I’m fine.”

  Charlie doesn’t seem convinced before he says, “You look upset. Are you two really fighting during Louis and Elliot’s game?”

  “No, not at all,” I say, reaching for him and squeezing his hand three times. “No worries.”

  He eyes me and then his father before shaking his head. “Leave her alone, Dad. Go back to the bleachers.”

  “We’re just talking, son—”

  “I don’t care. She was happy before you got here.”

  Charlie’s eyes cut to Lincoln’s, and I don’t miss the way he nods to my boy. With that, Charlie turns, heading back to where Riana and Phillip are standing. Riana wraps her arms around Charlie, kissing his cheek, and of course, he tries to get away, but she doesn’t let him get far. I smile and take a cleansing breath. I feel Lincoln looking at me, and when I turn my face just a bit, he’s there, his eyes on me. “Wanna go over with them?”

  “I do,” I say softly, and he gives me a weak smile. Nodding his head, he presses into my back, urging me toward them, but I pause, looking back at Simon. “We can discuss this another time when our children aren’t around. Excuse me.”

  I want to be giddy over the fact that Lincoln is touching me, but Simon ruins that within seconds. “So easy for you to walk away when this is serious, Vera. I’m not joking. I don’t want him to watch our children.”

  I just shrug. “I’ll see you in court, then.”

  And I’m not lying. I am over it. I won’t keep fighting, especially when it was my job to find a caregiver. I am paying for him—that is that. I refuse to allow him to think he can threaten me with court. I have been a victim of his for too long. Not anymore.

  Now, I choose to be happy.

  Just as we reach Riana, Phillip, and Charlie, Lincoln’s hand falls from my waist, and I wish it hadn’t. It felt right there. But Charlie is looking at me, so I know Lincoln not touching me is for the best. “Are you okay?”

  “I�€