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I took the chuckle that emanated through the house as agreement.

“How much longer?” I whined, bouncing on my heels as we waited outside the school.

Gideon laughed, pulling me into his side, pausing my movements. “How many times have you picked Joey up from school now? You know it’s a few more minutes.”

“I know.” I pouted. “I’m just excited.”

We were going to the local park. Cullen was waiting in the car with my stinky cheese, and Jensen was almost finished with work and would be meeting us for our family outing. Joey was going to love it—she lit up whenever she got all her dads at once.

“Gideon!” a sickly-sweet voice called out from the crowd, making me still. I immediately recognized that voice.

The snotty-looking blonde woman who had been so insistent that the Thanksgiving festival setup was only for mothers was approaching us, an overly friendly smile directed right at Gideon.

“Mrs. Lowe,” Gideon greeted as she approached with a nod.

“How many times do I have to tell you to call me Jennifer?” she said, playfully batting him on the arm. “How are you? I haven’t seen you at pickup for a while.”

I took a step back, no longer clinging to him as much. Technically, I was the nanny. Though a large part of me wanted to cling on tighter and stake a claim on Gideon because the way she was looking at him was downright desperate.

She wanted him.

Maybe she was hiding it well, but I could tell.

“How is Lillian?” Gideon asked.

“Good. She needs to have a playdate with little Joey soon.”

Not if I had anything to say about it.

My hand went to my flat stomach for a moment before dropping it. Thankfully, Jennifer hadn’t noticed. After the way she had spoken about Joey at the fall festival, there was no way in hell I was going to encourage her child and Joey to have a relationship.

Even though, technically, her child was innocent, I could almost guarantee that some of the mother’s toxic, vile behavior had rubbed off on her.

“Sure.” Gideon nodded, his face unreadable.

I swallowed. Was it my place to say anything? My role in Joey’s life was becoming more and more complicated by the day. There was no way I could let her around Joey, though. That was just asking for her to get hurt.

When she placed her hand on Gideon’s forearm, giving him that simpering look, I nearly lost my mind.

“Here, why don’t I give you my number?” she asked, pulling out her phone.

Gideon smiled, turning to me. “It may be best if you take Bethany’s number. She’s far more involved with picking Joey up than me.”

Jennifer’s face dropped. “I am more than happy to take the nanny’s number, but I would also like to talk to you occasionally. We all know staff doesn’t always last.”

My hands were itching to reach out and tug on her perfectly styled hair as she gave me a disapproving look.

Staff.

Was that all I was?

Oh no, what if Gideon agreed?

Gideon frowned, wrapping his arm around me again as he pulled me into his side. “Bethany isn’t a staff member. She’s part of our family.” His words were firm, leaving no room for misinterpretation.

My insides turned to mush as I smiled up at him. It was the first time he’d declared that I was family, and hearing that felt good.

Jennifer’s face reddened. Before anyone could say anything else, she waved at another one of the moms and scurried away.