Can't Help Falling in Love - Samantha Chase Page 0,9

housekeeper? No way.

Plus, hiring someone meant firing Katie, and he didn’t want to do that either. She had been a complete godsend to him when he desperately needed daycare options for Eli that were flexible. When Brian had mentioned how his wife did in-home childcare, it had been a no-brainer.

Although…she was advanced in her pregnancy and was going to need some time off soon, so maybe the timing wasn’t quite so bad.

Shaking his head, he stood and walked into the kitchen to get himself something to drink.

And some ibuprofen because his head was pounding.

“It’s all too damn much,” he muttered.

He walked back into the living room and over to the small desk he kept in the corner. It was where he kept his laptop and decided he’d maybe feel a little more at ease if he made himself a list of things he needed to do tomorrow.

Calling the lawyer was number one. He knew nothing was going to be accomplished and finalized right away, but it was a way to get the ball rolling. After that, he figured he’d start calling Melissa’s friends and family to see if any of them had heard from her.

“Probably should have called some of them earlier,” he said with a hint of disgust at himself.

Next, he added going to the park, making lunch, naptime…all the usual stuff he and Eli did together, and then added going to see Katie. Rather than waiting for the next time he dropped his son off there, he figured he should bring her the flowers and cupcakes sooner rather than later. It would also allow him to get her input on how he should move forward with childcare options as a single parent.

God, he hated airing his dirty laundry to everyone.

Like earlier today with Katie’s friend Violet.

The look of pure disgust on her face when he showed up had done something to him. The last thing he wanted was to have people pitying him and judging him and making him feel even worse about the current state of his life.

Although the look Violet had given him was purely judgmental, no pity.

No doubt Katie had told her everything about his situation by now. Not that it was going to make any difference. He had a feeling she would always see him as the guy who forgot about his kid.

And that was the last thing he wanted anyone to think about him.

Ever.

Leaning back in his chair, Hunter wondered how he was going to face her when he went to Katie’s the next day. It was clear she was here in Magnolia Sound for at least a couple of months, and if she was staying with Katie, there was no way he could realistically avoid her.

No matter how badly he wanted to.

Although…

Once he had gotten Katie settled and had found Violet in the kitchen with the kids, he had a chance to really look at her. Dark brown hair and even darker brown eyes, petite and curvy figure…if they had met under any other circumstances, he would have been tempted to flirt a little and offer to show her around Magnolia Sound himself. There was nothing wrong with initiating a little flirtation and some potentially casual dating, right?

Except, in this case, there was.

Even if she got past seeing him as a neglectful parent, Hunter had a feeling he wasn’t going to be able to forget how they met.

Again, none of this mattered. The last thing he had time for in the foreseeable future was dating anyone.

Casually, temporarily, or otherwise.

Three

“Okay, Mrs. Williams,” Violet said as she studied her laptop screen. “That’s everything. Your itinerary is all set and I’m emailing it to you right now!”

“Oh, that’s wonderful, Violet! Thank you so much for everything you’ve done. This is going to be the best vacation ever!”

“I’m so excited for you and your family!” Violet gushed as she hit send on the email to Mrs. Williams, which basically said everything Violet just had.

Five times.

Fortunately, the commission on this one last-minute trip was going to make her life a lot easier while she was staying in Magnolia Sound with Katie. Not that she had any financial issues, but the extra money meant she could spend some time visiting with her friend and not be thinking about–or obsessing about–her business.

Standing, she took her headset off and stretched. It didn’t take long to realize someone was here visiting. First, she heard Katie laugh, and then someone else.

A male someone.

She recognized Hunter’s voice immediately and heard him asking Katie