Page 16 of Mr. Wrong (Hollywood Knights #1)

Sixteen

Lex

I can hear them walking around the house—Landon taking Ellenore on a tour. Showing her around. Telling her to make herself comfortable.

“Dad says she’s my new teacher—that she’s going to live here with us for a while.”

I look down at Cassie, standing on a step stool beside me, her face aimed up to look at me. We’re making cinnamon apple pancakes—one of her favorites.

“That’s true.” I scoot the bowl closer to her and hand her an egg.

She frowns at the egg, her little tongue poking between her teeth when she gives it a sharp smack on the countertop. “I did it!” she says with a grin when the egg cracks on her first try.

I watch while she splits the eggshell and drops its insides into the mixing bowl. “Here,” I say, handing her another egg when she drops the empty shell into the bowl I have set up for garbage. “Crack this one on your forehead.”

“I’ll crack it on your forehead,” she tells me, giggling and jerking away from me when I poke her in the ribs.

Second egg added, I help Cassie pour a measured mixture of milk and applesauce on top of the eggs. We’re both quiet, trying to listen to the conversation going on in the sunroom off the kitchen that Landon decided would make a good place for Ellenore to set up shop.

“I won’t like her if you don’t want me to,” Cassie whispers to me, leveling an earnest gaze at mine. Hearing her say it makes me feel like shit because it’s exactly what I want. I don’t want Cassie to like Elle. I want Elle to go away so things will go back to normal around here.

The real mind fuck is that as much as I want her to go away, I want her to stay.

Hell, I just plain want her.

“ Do you like her?” I say, making sure that my tone is light and neutral.

“I dunno.” Cassie shrugs while gnawing on her bottom lip. “Maybe…” She shakes her head at me. “But I don’t have to if you don’t want me to.”

“Well,” I say, focusing on whisking the eggs and milk together. “I like her.” Even though it’s true, I have to make myself say it.

“You do?” She sounds skeptical, like she thinks I’m lying.

“Sure.” I point to the measuring cup full of pancake mix. “Hit me,” I say and Cassie giggles. I watch the cup wobble in her hand a bit while she dumps the dry mix into the bowl. “I think she looks nice.”

Liar.

What you think is that she looks nice naked.

Better than nice.

“She’s pretty.” She’s whispering again, like she’s telling secrets. “And she carries dinosaurs in her purse.”

“Exactly,” I say, handing her the whisk to keep her busy while I chop apples. “How can you not like a woman who carries dinosaurs in her purse?”

She doesn’t say anything for a second, concentrating on mixing the pancake goop together. “Is she gonna be my new mom?”

I feel my jaw clench at the thought. “No,” I say, focusing on chopping apples.

I don’t say anything else, mainly because it was something I never even considered.

Before I found her hopping around on the front porch, I thought Ms. Pierce was some dowdy, middle-aged schoolmarm.

It never occurred to me that she’d be someone like Ellenore. Someone I’d like.

Someone I’d want.

Someone that my brother might want too.

“Well…” She gives the whisk a careful turn. “So where’s she going to sleep then?”

I add my pile of chopped granny smiths to the bowl. “She’s going to live in the pool house.”

“But you live in the pool house.” Her brows slam down over her eyes again.

Shit.

I’m going to have to tell her I’ve decided to move out. Because that was my rash, asshole decision—not my brother’s.

Don’t be an idiot, Lex. I’m not asking you to move out. I’m just asking you to think about what’s best for Cassie.

Before I can say anything, Landon pushes through the doorway, Ellenore on his heels, a stack of catalogs hugged to her chest like a shield.

As soon as Cassie sees my brother, she hops down from her stool, hands on her hips as she stomps over to the doorway. “Dad, if Elle lives in the pool house, where is Uncle Lex going to sleep?”

“Well…” I watch Landon usher Ellenore into the kitchen. Pulling out a stool for her at the breakfast bar—the perfect gentleman. Right now, I want to stab him in the neck with my paring knife. “That’s something you should ask your uncle.”

Shit.

I can feel all three of them staring at me.

Ignoring them, I sprinkle a bit of cinnamon into the mix and add a little brown sugar before carrying the bowl of pancake batter to the pre-heated griddle.

“Uncle Lex?”

I set the bowl down and look at Cassie. She’s standing a few feet away, hands still stacked on her hips but her chin is trembling again because she knows. She knows what I’m about to say.

She knows I’m going to tell her that I’m leaving.

“Cass—”

“We’re going to share the pool house.”

Everyone stops and looks at Ellenore. Until now, she’s been quiet, dutifully following Landon from room to room, nothing more than the occasional quiet murmur of her voice to offset my brother’s more commanding tone.

Cassie divides a narrow-eyed look between Landon and me before she turns to look at Ellenore. “Serious?”

“Serious.” Ellenore nods. Standing, she skirts the breakfast bar, avoiding eye contact with everyone but Cassie. “We’re grown-ups, right?” When Cassie nods her head, Ellenore continues. “And grown-ups are always telling you to share your things and be nice to other people, right?”

Cassie nods again.

“So, since your Uncle Lex and I are both grown-ups, we should be able to share and be nice to each other, right?”

Cassie nods again. Neither Landon nor I say anything to dispute her. I think we’re both too stunned to speak.

“So, your uncle and I will share the pool house,” Ellenore looks up at me, practically daring me to call her a liar.

When I don’t, she re-focuses on Cassie. “I’m not here to hurt anyone, Cassie.

” She aims it at my niece but I have a feeling she’s talking directly to me.

“I just want to do my job—and that’s getting you ready for kindergarten in the fall. ”

Cassie crosses her arms over her chest and shrugs. “I can already tell time.” She sounds smug when she says it. “And I can write my name— Uncle Lex taught me.” She aims that one at my brother and I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing out loud.

“It sounds like your uncle has made my job a heck of a lot easier.” Ellenore holds out her hand to Cassie. “Want to help me pick out some stuff for your new schoolroom?”

Cassie’s arms drop and she looks at me. Before she can say no, I shoo her away. “Go on,” I tell her. “You help Ellenore and I’ll make the pancakes.”

She stands there for a second before she turns away from me and takes Ellenore’s hand while I pretend it doesn’t hurt like hell when she does.