Temptation on Ocean Drive - Jennifer Probst Page 0,79
few backup babysitters she trusted, but they all seemed to have something better to do than babysit on a weekend. Finally, she called Carter.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“Listen, if I ask you this, you have to be honest with me if you don’t want to, okay?”
“As Avery tells me, I’m a bit brutal with my honesty, so I don’t think that will be a problem.”
She dragged in a breath. “My friend Daisy is desperate to go out for a night—she gets a bit squirrely at the end of winter.”
“Don’t we all. Even Lucy is getting bitchy over this weather.”
“She wants to go tomorrow for a girls’ night, but everyone’s busy. I’d need someone to watch Zoe. And I know you just took her recently, so I understand if you want a night to yourself.”
“Bella, it’s fine. I enjoy Zoe’s company, and Avery is working a wedding all night. We’ll order pizza in. Not a problem.”
“Thanks, Carter, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. I’ll drop her off at seven p.m.?”
“Sounds good.”
Relieved, she tidied up the kitchen and went to check on Zoe, who was coloring a giant poster board of Elsa from Frozen. “Mama, look, I’m almost finished!”
She appraised the artwork, legitimately impressed. “Honey, that’s really good. You may have Aunt Taylor’s gift for art.”
“That’s what she says. I’m definitely going to be an artist when I grow up.”
She smiled. “No wedding planner? You don’t want to work in the family business?”
Zoe scrunched her nose and considered. “I do like weddings, so maybe that will be my backup.”
“I’m impressed by your logic. Everyone needs a plan B. But I’ll be happy with whatever you become, as long as you’re happy.”
“Thanks.”
“Welcome. How about carrots with hummus for a snack?”
“Any brownies left?”
“No.”
“Cookies?”
“No.”
A long-suffering sigh emitted from her small mouth as Zoe furiously colored in Elsa’s gown. “I guess I’ll take the carrots.”
“Wise choice.”
Bella set her daughter up with snacks, then pulled her laptop out to work. A text came in from Daisy, informing her with tons of sad emojis that she couldn’t find a sitter and had to cancel. Damn. She knew how badly her friend needed an escape. Maybe she’d go over there with Zoe, and they’d come up with something fun to do. Maybe a spa night. She’d bring her polish and foot bath, and they’d get Chinese food.
Bella texted Carter to let him know it was off, and immediately her phone rang.
“What happened?” he asked. “I thought it was important.”
“Daisy couldn’t get a sitter for Meg, so she had to cancel.”
“I can take her.”
Surprise hit. “Wait, you’re offering to take two little girls on a Friday night? Are you high?”
He laughed. “Honestly, I don’t mind, Bella. They’re good kids, and they’ll keep each other occupied. Tell Daisy I’m happy to watch Meg.”
“Have I told you you’re my favorite almost brother-in-law?”
He gave a short laugh. “And your only one, but I’ll take the compliment. See you tomorrow.”
She quickly let Daisy know and was assaulted with heart emojis with champagne bottles.
Bella smiled. Good. She wanted her friend to be happy, and a girls’ night out would be fun for both of them.
Gabe got home late from the bridal luncheon, craving a cold beer, a shower, and a couch. The old-fashioned tea party was supposed to have been low key and an easy one to manage. Instead, it’d been like Disney princesses gone wild, with drama, family chaos, and hysterical tears from the bride, who insisted the MOG had been picking on her. He’d had to go into Code Red mode, and by the time it ended and everyone was happy again, he was ready to collapse.
He glanced at his phone, but Bella still hadn’t texted. She didn’t have any weddings tonight, so he’d hoped they could go on a date, or he could take her and Zoe out to dinner, but she’d never responded. As he showered and changed into casual clothes, he couldn’t help the uneasy twist in his gut at her behavior since Adele’s wedding.
She seemed in no hurry to announce they were involved in a relationship. Not even to her sisters. He’d figured she’d be proud and happy to tell everyone, but instead he was still a secret. Sure, he’d been over to the house to hang with her and Zoe, and been invited to her bed at night with open arms. He’d spent every precious hour wringing out her pleasure, his name spilling from her lips a symphony to his ears. But he left before morning