6
Jaynee
It was eight in the morning. Sadie was usually up by now, flitting around the apartment and telling me about her dreams. Dancing and singing, sometimes re-enacting her favorite part. Since the day my sweet girl was born, she’d been the best start to my day.
I tried not to move, preferring for her to wake up on her own. She was snuggled close next to me. It was strange to be up before her.
After Zander left yesterday, she cried for over an hour. When I got her to calm down—to find out why she was upset—she told me Zander was her daddy. An undercover agent with the pretend tattoos.
Zander had done all the things Sadie dreamed her daddy would do. He made her laugh, tickled her, and called her peanut. He was big and strong and would protect her from the bad guys like the Arrow. The certainty in her voice had shredded me. She truly believed Zander was her daddy, even when I assured her he wasn’t.
It cut me deeply to destroy her hopes.
When she yelled, “Yes, he is. I feel it in my heart,” I broke down, unable to hold myself together.
I hated Richard for not wanting to be a real father to our little girl. She deserved to have two parents in her life. Even one as greedy and self-centered as Richard. A rotten father was better than no father at all. Not knowing her daddy tortured Sadie. It was all she thought about.
My poor baby. She had it in her head that Zander had rescued us because he was her daddy. It didn’t matter if he left. She was confident he would return like all superhero daddies did.
Of course, I wouldn’t let her see Zander ever again. It would be cruel to mess with her emotions.
I squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself to not let hopelessness set in. I needed a job. Money to provide for my daughter. We needed to find an affordable place to live, albeit temporary. A hotel would never do.
More than anything else, I was determined to never return to Las Vegas. Richard would find a way to manipulate me into working for him. I couldn’t do it. Sadie and I deserved better.
I had no idea where we’d go, but we sure as heck wouldn’t be staying in Minnesota.
My phone buzzed on the nightstand. If it was Richard, I’d ignore him. If it was Zander, I should ignore him too. I wasn’t sure I could. Outside of Sadie, he was the only person I knew in Minnesota—sort of knew. I should’ve given Eve and Tina more of a chance. They were nice to Sadie and me. I was just too scared to let them in.
What was the deal with Zander? Why did I lower my guard with him? Not like I’d been given a choice. That man had flexed his muscles, taking charge ofmysituation. He definitely had a hero complex, a Mr. Fix It on steroids. At least we were on the same page with only being friends.
I chewed on my bottom lip, eyeing my cell phone.Only friends.I could be his friend… I reached for my device to find out who’d texted.
Knew it.
Zander: Good morning, ladies.
I smiled, happier than I should be that it was him. After he’d rushed out of the hotel room, I didn’t think I would ever hear from him again. I typed out a snarky reply just to annoy him, as a friend would do.
Jaynee: Wrong number. Only a mom and child here.
Zander: Har har. Everything, okay? Just wanted to check in.
I held back a giggle so I didn’t wake Sadie. Why did he have to be such a nice guy? And handsome. I liked his dirty blonde hair, clean-shaven face, intense hazel eyes, and sexy smirk. He was tall with a muscular build. If we’d met under different circumstances, say months ago, I’d be all over him. I guessed it didn’t matter since single moms weren’t his type.
How could a sweet man like him be a manwhore? It didn’t make sense. The way he treated Sadie and me screamedkeeper.
Jaynee: We’re fine. You don’t have to worry about us.
Zander: How’s peanut? What’re your plans for today?
Was he not reading my replies? I meant it. He didn’t need to worry about us. Admittedly, I appreciated the text, but it wasn’t necessary. I could take care of Sadie and me just fine.
Jaynee: She’s good. I’ll be job hunting.
Zander: So you’re staying in MN?
Jaynee: No