Chapter 2

   

" Be my nanny. You look like the type who'd poison me instead" he smirked.

" What makes you think I have the time to play nanny with your kid"

" You don't? Aren't you looking for a job? You're a college student right? "

" Don't be the first stranger I hit", she warned through gritted teeth.

"Oh, my bad. So you're unemployed?"

She shot him a glare and her eyes widened in realisation.

"My bag of congratulatory treats!!", She shrieked in horror.

" Your bag of what? ", He queried with an amused grin.

*Urgh! I must've dropped it when I ran after his car!*

"Gosh, I have to go back and get it?!", She whined under her breath.

" Are you going trick or treating?", He teased.

"Very funny. It's not candy, it's comfort food"

" Same category", he shrugged.

" Okay", Paisley sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. " As much as I *enjoyed* our little conversation, I've got better things to do"

She walked away.

"We're not done with our conversation! Hey! Nanny!"

"Goodbye!", She snapped back at him and increased her pace to get as far away from him as possible.

He stared at her till she was out of sight and let out a chuckle.Just then, his phone buzzed and he shoved one hand into his pocket and entered his car.

*

" Ah. You're here", Eli announced when Carter walked into the office.

"Good morning Eli", Carter chirped and placed the Infant safety seat on the couch. He took off his coat and hung it on the coat rack.

"You're in a good mood. Even with bags under your eyes? "

" I'm as surprised as you are. This morning took an interesting turn", he chuckled.

" Oh? How so? ", Eli asked as he walked over to a sleeping Karter and gently patted his head.

"I forgot to park my car and it speeded off with Karter inside"

Eli's eyes widened and he immediately whipped his attention back to Karter, just to make sure he wasn't touching a dead baby.

"He's breathing", sighed Eli in relief. He got up and leaned against the large table containing a laptop and several neatly arranged files. "You almost killed your baby?"

"Almost", Carter sighed as he loosened his tie and sat on his swivel chair. "It was fucking scary. Luckily, I had help"

Eli raised a brow.

"I met the strangest woman. She's the most interesting thing to have happened today"

"She? You talked to a woman?", Eli chuckled. "That's a first"

" Shocking ain't it? I actually enjoyed the conversation"

" What did you two talk about? The fact that you almost killed your son? "

Carter glared playfully at Eli and turned around on his chair.

"She scolded me", he explained with a small smile and earned another eyebrow raise from Eli.

"And this is interesting how?"

"I don't know...", He trailed off, "I even offered her a job as Karter's nanny"

Eli's eyes widened. " It didn't occur to you that she might have a job or a family?"

"It did. I just wanted to see how she'd react", Carter smirked.

" And? "

" No different from how any woman getting such offer from a stranger would react. Yet somehow, she intrigues me"

" I'm one hundred percent sure she thought you were insane", Eli affirmed.

" She didn't hide it", Carter grinned and leaned back on his chair. " Ah. What about your meeting with our next big author?"

" It went well. We'll sign the contract after you two meet next week"

"Good. Then, I'll get some work done", he stretched and let out a yawn.

Eli nodded and exited the office. Carter rubbed his eyes and ran his fingers through his hair.

" Fuck, I'm tired", he cursed.

*

"You spent your morning doing what?", Kori asked through the phone and plopped down on her bed.

"Eating lots of chocolates and procrastinating. Mostly procrastinating", shrugged Paisley with a sigh. " I feel like I'm dried out"

"Well, you are. You haven't had sex in over a-"

" I wasn't talking about that"

" What were you talking about then?"

" I-", Paisley paused and breathed out a sigh. " Never mind. How did your appointment with the doctor go?"

" Not good", Kori exhaled. " I've been there  a thousand times and I still get nervous sitting there and waiting for the doctor to say something"

" Hey, it's normal. It's a freaking hospital. Doctors creep everyone out"

" You say that like they're ghost's or something", Kori chuckled.

"Doctors are right next to ghosts. Now, Doctors with injections, they're the devil himself"

Kori burst out laughing and earned a chuckle from Paisley.

"Oh, yeah. I forgot to ask. What are you working on?"

"What am I working on?", Paisley repeated.

"You're writing a new book right? Ain't that why you're procrastinating?"

Paisley laughed. " Oh no. No, no, no. I haven't started anything. Like I said, I'm dried out"

"So you currently have nothing going on?"

"Absolutely nothing. I'm-", Paisley paused and her jaw dropped.

" Hello? Hello? Paisley?"

"Oh.my.gosh, he was right"

" Who?"

" I'm unemployed!" Paisley yelled.

" Unemployed? You just scored a contract, what the hell are you talking about?"

" A contract to publish books I've already finished! I don't have anything new! I'm not doing anything!"

" Paisley calm down"

" Will I spend the coming days eating sweets and binge watching Netflix?!!"

" Paisley-"

" Will I get fat?!"

" Paisley!!", Kori yelled, shutting Paisley up immediately. "Geez! What was that all about?"

"Sorry", Paisley muttered.

"Listen, I have no idea what this unemployment shit is about, but you've gotta see it the right way. I mean, you've spent sleepless nights and days sitting at your desk, writing and consuming coffee. It's time you rest. Your manuscripts are done, the contract is a sure thing. So just focus on yourself and what you wonna do"

" That's the problem, I don't know what I wonna do. All I've ever done is write"

" There's a first time for everything, Paisley. Don't worry too much about it. Take an interest in knitting maybe"

" Yeah, sure. Why don't I get five cats while I'm at it", Paisley snorted.

" You know what I mean", Kori chuckled. "Get a hobby or a part time job even. Until you start getting busy with the book signing and stuff, you should keep busy to avoid Netflix and sweets"

Paisley smiled and exhaled. " Yeah. I might take you up on that. Thanks"

" Don't mention it"

Kori heard the door to their living room open and sighed. "I gotta go.Jordan's back. See you later?"

"Yeah"

And Kori hung up. She heard shuffling outside the room and soon enough, her husband walked into their bed room.

"Hey", she greeted, noticing his ruffled hair and the bags under his eyes.

"Hey", he greeted with a sweet smile and planted a kiss on her forehead.

"Work was stressful huh?", She asked, though she knew what the answer would be.

" Yup. I'm too tired to raise a finger"

"You should get some sleep, then. I'll make you something to eat", she smiled, then got up to leave and he grabbed her hand.

" How was the visit to the hospital?"

Kori's face fell and she shrugged his hand off.

"The same as every other visit", she replied. His brows knotted and he ran his fingers through his hair.

"Are we doing something wrong? Are they sure there's nothing wrong with you? "

"Jordan", she called, grabbing his attention. " There is nothing wrong with me"

"Well, I'm not impotent,  So there must be *something* wrong"

"Jordan, don't start this now", she warned.

"Start what now?"

" This! This right here! The interrogation! Every night it feels like I'm being put through some kind of investigation"

" I just want to have a baby with you", he breathed.

" I get it, Jordan. I do too. But it's not working. There's nothing wrong with the both of us, ergo, you should also consider patience"

" We're not getting any younger, Kori"

" We're not forty,Jordan. We're still young. We still have time to wait. Why the hell do you feel the need to rush?"

" Babe-"

" I'll go make you something to eat", she cut in and walked out of the room. Jordan stared out the door after his wife and looked down at his hands, several thoughts running through his head.

***

"A large chocolate milkshake please", Paisley ordered.

"Coming right up", the waiter announced.

Paisley sighed and looked around the cafe, humming softly to the song that played on the café's radio.

Her eyes wandered the spacious corners and right at the end of the room, She noticed something scary and extremely amusing.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me", she scoffed.

"Here's your order", said the waiter. Paisley grabbed her beverage and change and walked over to the baby who held a stuffed bunny tightly in his cute little hands.

He looked up at Paisley when she approached him and smiled brightly, giggling uncontrollably.

"Meeting you two days in a row. Must be my lucky week", she said sarcastically.

"Where's your oaf of a father?"

Karter did nothing but giggle and clap his hands, dropping the stuffed toy.

Paisley picked it up and looked around, searching for a glimpse of the man who apparently had the child.

"First, he leaves you in a speeding car and now, alone in a cafe.Yet he's scared of Nanny's kidnapping you", she scoffed and the baby boy giggled again, as if entertained by her snarky remarks.

She sat beside him and crossed her legs.

"Shall we have a little chat till your daddy comes back?"

Karter squealed.

"I'll take that as a 'yes''

*

Carter entered the cafe and was faced with a delightful sight. Karter had a big smile on his face, both of his tiny teeth on display as he clapped along to whatever it was Paisley was singing.

Some of the customers were entertained by the two, leaving comments on how cute little Karter was, most of them even asking if Paisley was his mom.

She held his tiny hands in hers and gently moved them to imitate a dance, to which Karter bounced up and down in his booster seat, giggling even louder.

Carter walked towards them and shoved his hand in his pocket, the other holding his phone as he looked down on both of them with a smile.

Paisley barely noticed his presence till Karter looked up at his father and squealed "Daa!"

She had no idea if it was a poor pronunciation of 'Daddy', but found it extremely cute.

She looked up at Carter, unable to hide her grin and folded her arms.

"I don't know if I should scold you or just walk away"

"Scold me. It's exhilarating seeing you mad", he teased and earned an eye roll from her.

"Just what do you think you're doing? Does this look right to you? Is it fun?"

" What exactly are you referring to? 'Cause if it's our conversation right now, then yes, I'm having fun", he smiled.

"You left your child in a cafe *alone*", she pronounced.

"Uhh...", He trailed off and furrowed his brows, " I feel like I'm meant to say something....but I don't quite know what it is"

Paisley facepalmed and let out a groan. "Baby. Strangers. Dangerous" she spelled out, glaring up at him and Carter snickered.

"Is that supposed to be funny?", She growled through gritted teeth.

"It's not?", He questioned, feigning shock and burst out laughing when she glared at him.

Paisley turned to Karter and held his hand. "Goodbye, you adorable bundle of joy. Your father is an idiot. Learn the word 'idiot' and use it on him whenever he pulls something stupid, okay?"

" Wow. What a nice thing to say to a toddler", Carter praised sarcastically and watched as Paisley stood up, shot him a glare and left the cafe.

She walked a short distance and stopped in her tracks, feeling a little down. "The kid is really sweet. If only his dad didn't frustrate the hell outta me, I'd have spent a little more time with him"

The loud honk of a car startled her and she turned to a Bugatti and the sight of Carter smirking at her.

"Our conversation is no where near over", he affirmed.

"And you think saying that while inside a Bugatti will increase the chances of me agreeing to such bull-"

" Hey, hey hey", he cut in, " Baby here", he reminded and gestured to the back seat.

" Why is he always in the back seat?"

"It's easier to strap him in with multiple seatbelts", he half shrugged. " Now are you gonna get in, or?"

" Why the hell should I get into a stranger's car?"

"Stranger? Now, that's awfully harsh. I'd prefer the word acquaintance"

" Acquaintance is an exaggeration"

" Don't you want to spend a little more time with Karter?"

" His name is Karter?", She beamed, feeling extremely excited from hearing the child's name.

Carter smirked. *Bingo*

"I believe he's taken an interest in you. We could go for a drive and you two could spend some time together"

Paisley tightened her grip on her bag as her brain went through major turmoil.

*Be honest, Paisley. Do you have anything to do besides sit at home, eating food all day?*

She walked around the car and stood at the back door. "Fine", she said, "but I'm sitting with Karter"

Carter grinned. "Good girl"

***

"Karter is a charming name. Did *you* come up with it?"

"I'm gonna pretend that wasn't a dig at me, but yes, I came up with it. I named him after myself"

" Oh dear God", she sighed. " It's never a peaceful conversation with you, is it?"

" Not usually, but I don't understand why this isn't"

" I thought you were gonna say something like; 'He reminded me of my grandfather' or a 'soldier during the world war'"

" Why the hell would I name my child after a soldier from the world war?"

" I don't know, admiration?"

" I admire myself", he boasted with a smirk and Paisley scoffed.

" He looks just like me. Emphasis on the good looks. My name starts with a 'C' and his, a 'K'", Carter explained.

" I prefer the Karter with a 'K'", Paisley said.

" Of course you do"

She turned to Karter who was now fast asleep in her arms, snoring softly.

"He's so cute", she cooed. Carter glanced at her through the rearview mirror and he smiled.

"You love children, huh?"

"What?"

"You don't really hide it"

" Oh...", She trailed off. " It's not like I want to hide it"

" You seem to get along with them too"

" Yeah, so I've heard"

" Do you have younger siblings?"

" No... ", Paisley trialed off, so did her mind. " I didn't", she added.

The car stayed silent for a while, the vibration of the engine being the only thing they could hear.

" I feel like I brought up a sensitive topic. Should I not have pried?"

" It's fine", she assured and looked out the window. " I'll get off at the next turn"

Once again, he glanced at her through the rearview mirror and hummed a reply. At the next turn, she shot him a strained smile, waved at a sleeping Karter and walked away in a daze.

He watched her till she was out of sight and leaned back with a sigh. Seeing a frown on her face bothered the hell out of him.