Page 2 of Summer Fling (The Kingston Brothers #5)

Chapter Two

Blake

T oday was move-in day. I was grateful for the room because there weren't many affordable places to rent on the island. Everything was designed for tourists, not graduate students who needed a cheap room.

Thankfully, Ivy had mentioned Dalton's need for a nanny to me. Ivy hadn't wanted a live-in nanny since she only needed me part-time and her relationship with Cooper was new.

But Dalton was very single. I'd seen him at a few family events over the last year, and he'd always been preoccupied with his daughter or the drama surrounding her mother.

I'd been aware of what was going on, but not close enough to him to comment on it. But now, he was inviting me into his personal space. It would be impossible not to see what Oakley was doing and ignore it.

But I was there to watch Lilliana. Dalton wasn't one of my clients. He wouldn't want me to psychoanalyze him, and it wasn't my place.

I didn't have much to move, just clothing and books, and the room was already furnished. When I pulled up to Dalton's house, he was standing with Shep on the porch as if they'd been waiting for me.

Shep moved past the driver's side door. "Pop the hatch. We'll get the boxes."

I clicked the button for him, then grabbed my purse and duffle bag from the front passenger-side seat.

The guys brought in the boxes, stacking them in the guest room.

Shep dropped three on the floor with a huff. "These boxes are heavy. What are you moving, bricks?"

"Books," I said.

Dalton frowned. "There're no shelves in here though."

"That's okay. I can leave them in the boxes." I opened the closet door. "You can put them in here for now."

Shep stacked the boxes on the floor.

"I can build shelves for you," Dalton said.

"That's not necessary," I said, but Dalton had already left the room, probably to get another load of my stuff.

Shep stepped back, his gaze on the stacks of boxes. "You should let Dalton build shelves. He needs something to do when Lilliana isn't here."

That coincided with what Dalton told me himself. He enjoyed working with wood, and it helped to keep his mind off Lilliana when she wasn't with him.

Shep nodded. "If Oakley gives him trouble, let us know."

I wasn't sure how I felt about that. "Will do."

When Shep left the room, I began hanging my clothes in the closet, thinking about what he'd said. Was it my place to keep his family informed about Oakley? Was I getting into something that would be more than I could handle?

I didn't like the dynamic between Oakley and Dalton. I suspected that Oakley was used to pushing him around to get what she wanted. I was disgusted by that because he enjoyed spending time with his daughter.

I unpacked my clothes, wanting the space to be neat before I went to bed. I didn't know when Oakley would drop off Lilliana again, and I needed to be settled in before that happened.

Dalton popped his head into the doorway. "I'm going to grill out for dinner. Is there anything you don't like?"

"Anything sounds good. Lilliana went back to her mother?" I asked carefully.

"Oakley's mom was over, and she wanted Lilliana there."

Did Oakley like to pretend that she was a good mom, having her daughter around when family was near but otherwise using Dalton as a babysitter? I shouldn't judge the situation because I didn't know nearly enough to draw any conclusions. But so far, I wasn't a fan of Oakley. She seemed manipulative.

Dalton was caught between her and wanting to be a good dad. I felt for him, and I wasn't sure how long I'd be able to keep quiet about how this arrangement was affecting him and his daughter. But I was here in my capacity as a nanny, not as a psychologist.

"Come down when you're done," Dalton said.

He was a good man. He wanted to be a good dad and provide a home for his daughter, which only made him more attractive. The more I learned about him and his situation, the more sympathetic I felt.

I finished unpacking my clothes and toiletries, leaving my art supplies in the boxes by my nightstand. I was already itching to get them out, but this wasn't my house. I wasn't sure that Dalton would appreciate it if I got out my supplies and started painting.

I was just a guest here. I wasn't paying rent for the room. Instead, it was part of my compensation package. I commanded a higher income as a nanny because of my degrees, and I needed the work to pay for my student loans.

Any time I thought about quitting my doctorate program to do something else, I was reminded that I should have something to show for all those student loans.

"Dinner's ready," Dalton called up the stairs, and I closed the flaps on my blank canvases and went to meet him.

He was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. "Did you get everything unpacked?"

"Most of it."

"You should have time this week unless Oakley drops Lil off at some point."

I couldn't wrap my mind around not knowing when your child was going to be in your house. How did he plan anything without a nanny or a sitter? The lack of schedule would drive me crazy. But I got the impression he was just grateful for time with his daughter.

I remembered vaguely Ivy and Cooper talking about times when Oakley wouldn't let Dalton see Lilliana at all, claiming that he didn't know how to care for a newborn. As if she'd had experience before Lilliana was born. The thought made my chest burn with irritation.

We headed outside. His home had a pool and a hot tub with a lovely patio to entertain guests. He'd cordoned off the pool with a childproof fence, which I appreciated. It made me nervous to work in homes where the pool was easily accessible.

"Do you have enough room?" Dalton asked, setting the chicken on the table.

I sat down, admiring the food he'd prepared. Watermelon cubes, corn on the cob, and barbecue chicken. "It's just right. Thank you for letting me stay here."

Dalton spooned the watermelon cubes onto his plate. "You're doing me the favor. I never know when Lilliana will be here, so it will be a huge help to have you living here."

"I don't know how you managed by yourself," I murmured.

"It was difficult." He passed me the watermelon. "Do you have everything you need? I can order anything you want."

"I'm okay for now." I had visions of setting up my easel by the pool and letting Lilliana play with paint. But some parents didn't like their children getting dirty in that way. I'd learned to take my time before I brought up my love of art.

I placed a little of everything on my plate, suddenly starving from the long day. "It was nice that your brother could help me move in."

"Shep's a good guy. My brothers think he's not responsible, but he's been here for me since this whole baby thing came up. All of my brothers have been."

"You weren't planning on having a baby?" I didn't know the situation with him and Oakley, but I was curious.

"I was planning on breaking up with Oakley the night she told me she was pregnant."

I raised a brow. "You're serious."

He nodded, placing the cloth napkin on his lap. "I tried to make a go of it, because I wanted to be involved in their lives, but Oakley made it impossible."

I cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. "How so?"

"She raged at me whenever she wanted something.

I was supposed to live in her apartment but not have any say in how things went.

She wanted me to build the nursery when it was convenient for her.

When I asked about how life would be after the baby was born, she was evasive.

She said she was contemplating not putting my name on the birth certificate. "

I sucked in a breath. "That means you have to get a paternity test to prove you're the dad."

Dalton nodded. "Then she said she might not want me in the delivery room.

I had a feeling she said these things so I'd do whatever she wanted.

She held all the power. My brothers suggested I get my own place and reclaim my independence.

They said it would be better for Lilliana if one of the parents was stable. "

I nodded, neither of us eating yet.

"So I bought this place and worked with my brothers to renovate the kitchens and bathrooms. We babyproofed the outlets and redid the floors so there weren't any issues when the baby is crawling or walking."

"How did Oakley take you moving out?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Not well. She raged at me, calling and threatening me.

It was out of control, and it made me feel like I'd made the right decision.

Of course, I worry about how she is with Lilliana.

I'm not there all the time, and it scares me.

I hope that her desire to manipulate only extends to me and not our child. "

I wasn't sure what to say. It wasn't a great situation. "You have no reason to think that she's not a good mother. You can only react to the facts you have. If that changes, then you can make a decision. Did she let you in the delivery room?"

His mouth turned down. "Not until after."

"Do you know if she put you on the birth certificate?" I couldn't help but press.

"I think she had a change of heart in the hospital.

After Lilliana was born, I thought things would get better, but as soon as she went home, it was the same.

She never hesitated to tell me all the reasons why I couldn't be trusted with Lilliana.

She always had her mother there to help her, and I felt useless. "

Now I understood why he let so many things slide.

He was scared she'd take things to an extreme, not letting him see his daughter at all.

I wondered if she'd claim he wasn't a good father to prove her point.

She seemed like the kind of person who could make things difficult.

I tended to think he should have gone the legal route, but it wasn't my place to give an opinion.

I had to remember my role in this situation.