Chapter 20

20

ROAN

A s soon as the plane landed, I checked my phone. Three missed calls from Alaina and a long-winded text from my nanny, informing me she had found a deal on a flight to Miami to visit her boyfriend and was quitting effective immediately. I would have gone nuclear but there was a text from Alaina asking me to call her but reassuring me Rafe was fine.

The woman was a lifesaver.

Alaina had left a voicemail too. I listened to the voicemail as I walked through the airport, the noise of travelers and announcements fading into the background. Alaina's voice was calm but tinged with concern. She explained that Rafe's nanny hadn't shown up at school, and after trying to reach me without success, she had taken Rafe to our home. She was staying with him until I got back.

Guilt washed over me as I listened to her words. I had failed again. Failed to be there for my son when he needed me.

"Fuck."

A gray-haired old woman gave me an ugly look, and I forced my frustration to remain silent.

That fucking nanny. I'll have her thrown in prison. How dare she abandon my kid like that?

After collecting my luggage, I hailed a cab and made my way back home. It was late. I didn't dare call Alaina, assuming she would be asleep. I hoped she was at least. She had done plenty by keeping Rafe under her protective wing. I didn't want her to lose sleep too.

I couldn't believe Kim ditched my son. The rage I felt was nothing I had ever felt before. If I ever saw that woman again, one of us was going to end up in jail.

Thank God for Alaina.

It was after midnight when I walked through the front door, exhausted and feeling like the world's worst dad. The house was quiet, but as I entered the kitchen, I found Alaina there, standing at the sink and washing dishes. Rafe's Legos were scattered over the table, evidence of their evening together.

"Alaina," I said quietly, my voice hoarse with fatigue.

She smiled. "Hi. I'm sorry for the mess."

I shook my head, feeling low as dirt. "No, I should be apologizing. For a lot of things. I cannot believe you're here. What the hell happened?"

She turned off the faucet and dried her hands before walking over to me. "I'm going to assume Kim quit," she explained. "Or got hit by a train."

"No such luck."

"She didn't show up this afternoon. We called her several times. Rafe was upset. I brought him home and she apparently left. I tried calling you, but…" Her voice trailed off.

"I'm sorry you got dragged into this, Alaina." All the words of apology I had formulated during my cab ride home seemed to vanish in the face of her patience. She was here, while my son's nanny had abandoned ship.

"It's not a problem," she said, smiling.

"How did you get here?" I asked with confusion. I knew she didn't have a car.

She grinned and shrugged. "We took the bus."

I blinked. "You did what?"

"We took the bus. I was going to try and get a cab, but that cost a fortune and I thought the bus might be fun for Rafe."

"Fun?" I repeated. "A city bus? I don't want to sound like a snob, but holy shit. My kid on a bus."

Alaina laughed. "It wasn't all that bad. There were like four other people on there. Sure, they had about sixteen teeth between them, but they kept to themselves. Rafe is upstairs safe and sound."

I chuckled, unable to hide my amusement at the thought of my son going on a little adventure. "Well, I'm glad you both made it back in one piece."

She nodded, her expression softening. "He's a great kid, Roan. You should be proud."

"Thank you, Alaina. Really, thank you for taking care of him."

"It was my pleasure," she assured me.

Alaina had stepped up and filled the gap when I hadn't been there for my son. It was a humbling feeling.

"I owe you," I said finally, meeting her eyes with sincerity.

She waved off my words with a smile. "Don't worry about it. I'm just glad Rafe is okay. Plus, you saved my life once. If anything, we're even stevens."

"I can't believe that reckless airhead abandoned my kid," I said with exasperation. "I'm so sorry. I am a terrible fucking dad. How long did you guys wait?"

"You are not a terrible dad," she said, smiling. "We waited about an hour before it became pretty clear the nanny wasn't showing up. She didn't actually get hit by a train, did she? Because I'll feel like a real jerk for making the joke earlier."

I ran a hand through my hair and shook my head. "She hopped on a plane to Miami to see her boyfriend. She'll never show her face in this city again if she's smart."

"Which we know she isn't," Alaina replied.

I chuckled a bit, despite feeling guilty and angry. "Maybe I'm the moron for hiring her. What a disaster."

Alaina's eyes softened as she reached out and placed a hand on my arm. "Roan, you're doing the best you can. Rafe knows you love him, even if things don't always go as planned."

"Thank you, Alaina," I whispered, grateful for her understanding and support.

She gave me a gentle smile before stepping back slightly. "You should go see Rafe. He was asking for you."

"Don't leave," I said. "Hold on, please."

"I'll finish up the dishes."

I looked around and noticed the number of dishes. "Did you make dinner?"

"We had spaghetti," she said.

"There are meals in the freezer."

"We wanted something that wasn't frozen." She waved a hand. "I wanted him to have something fresh."

I shot her a look. "Fresh, like you made your own noodles and sauce?"

She grinned. "Fresh, as in I served it fresh out of the pot, Mr. Food Critic. Now go see your son and stop distracting me."

I made my way to Rafe's room. His nightlight was on, and he was sound asleep. My heart squeezed at the sight of him looking absolutely perfect and safe. I quietly walked in and pulled the blanket up to his neck.

Rafe was my entire world. I couldn't quite explain the fury I felt knowing my son was put in serious danger. If it wasn't for Alaina and her connection to Rafe, the situation could have turned into a nightmare.

I leaned down and kissed his forehead before quietly walking out of his room. I took a second to calm the anger that was practically boiling my blood.

When I walked back downstairs, Alaina was wiping down the counters. "Is he asleep?" she asked.

"He is. He looks normal ."

She laughed. "You didn't think he would? It was a fifteen-minute bus ride. I was kidding about the teeth. Everyone was normal."

"Not that," I sighed. "I need a drink. Can I pour a drink?"

"It's your house."

I opened the cabinet and grabbed the bottle of scotch. "Want one?" I asked.

"My own bottle? No, that's too much."

"Just a glass," I said, smiling. "It's good. Smooth."

She shrugged. "It's not like I'm driving."

With drinks in hand, we both took a sip, although mine was more of a swig. It sent heat through my veins.

"By normal, I meant he looked like he does every night that I put him to bed. He doesn't look like he was abandoned. He looks like he had a good night. A homecooked meal. He put on his pajamas, and I assume he brushed his teeth before he went to bed. He's normal and I feel like my world almost shattered."

She smiled. "He's resilient. Yes, there was a little bit of tension, but I was with him the whole time. Once we were home—I mean, he was home—he relaxed. He showed me around the house, which by the way, that's an awesome theater. He made me swear I'll watch Star Wars with him."

"That kid," I said, laughing. "He can't get enough of that movie right now."

"Then he did his homework. I made dinner. A fresh dinner." She grinned. "Then we built things with Legos, and I had him in bed by eight-thirty."

As I listened to Alaina recount the evening's events, gratitude washed over me once again, knowing that he had someone like her looking out for him. The woman was a blessing.

I took another sip of the scotch, letting the warmth spread through me as I processed everything that had happened.

"You did all that in just a few hours?" I marveled, impressed.

Alaina chuckled. "It wasn't that much."

"I owe you more than just a drink," I said.

"Not at all. It was just one of those things."

"You often have abandoned children in your school?" I joked.

She shrugged. "Well, it's my first year, but I'm sure it happens on occasion."

"I shouldn't have left him with that woman. I knew she was a flake. Seriously, thank you so much. I'm glad it was you. He likes you."

"I like him," she said, smiling. "Anyway, I should probably go home now."

I reached out, catching her arm gently. I didn't know why I did it, only that I didn't want her to leave. "Alaina."

She turned to face me, her cheeks flushing the prettiest shade of pink. I stared at her. Without thinking, I leaned in and kissed her again.

This time, she didn't pull away. Her lips were soft and warm against mine. I felt a rush of relief and desire. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer, deepening the kiss. Alaina responded eagerly, her hands coming up to rest on my chest.

When we finally pulled apart, I rested my forehead against hers, my heart pounding. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "Should I stop?"

Alaina's breath was warm against my lips. "It's okay," she murmured. "I'm here."