Strollers & Stilettos: A Sexy Contemporary Romance (In Stilettos Book 4) by Nana Malone Read Free Book Online Page B

have slept with someone else. He loved her.
    But you two were broken up.
    Okay, fair enough, he wouldn’t have had unprotected sex, for sure. She shook her head to clear the niggling voice of dissention. She believed in him. “You know you don’t need to do that for me, right?”
    He nodded. “I know. But I still need to do it. The tabloids are going to get a hold of this at some point, so it’s a preemptive strike.”
    “Okay. If you feel like you need to do it.” Jaya put Alexa in a fresh diaper and onesie. “I know you. I’m not worried.”
    He sighed, the tension rolling off of his shoulders a little. “Thank you.”
    “Stop it. Now aren’t you going to be late, or do you want to help me feed the baby?”
    He glanced down at his suit. “I’m gone.”
    She blew him a kiss, shoving aside the sense of dread and worry. It didn’t escape her that he took every opportunity he could to not touch the baby. What would happen if they eventually got pregnant?
    She picked up Alexa and kissed her soft, dark curls. “You and I are going to have to work hard to acclimate uncle Alec to babies.”
    Alexa merely cooed then grabbed a hank of Jaya’s hair.
    Jaya winced. “I’m glad we’re in agreement.”
    * * *
    After two hours of fifteen-minute first round interviews, Jaya didn’t have much hope for finding a nanny from their current batch. So far, there was the punk girl with the skull rings who’d said she’d likely play Marilyn Manson for the baby. Then there was the one who’d shown up in her husband-stealer outfit of tight skirt and push-up bra and asked three times what it was like being married to one of the former most-eligible bachelors in San Diego. And, of course, there was the one who really wanted a job with Adele Westhorpe and hoped Jaya would put in a good word since she couldn’t get an interview. One had seemed promising, but then Alexa had taken an immediate dislike to her when held.
    “So, what’s this I hear about a kid?” Micha’s voice came from the front door.
    “Shh. Alexa’s sleeping.”
    Ricca was right behind their statuesque friend and smacked her on the arm. “Poor Jaya probably hasn’t gotten any sleep.”
    Jaya nodded. “Yeah, poor Jaya would be right.” Smirking at Micha, she added, “Now what would have happened if you’d walked in on me and Alec in a compromising situation?”
    Micha grinned. “I would have enjoyed my eyeful. Have you seen your husband?” She shrugged. “Besides, Caleb is in a meeting with him right now, so unlikely you can be in two places at once.”
    Jaya nodded. “True.” And to be honest, she was happy nothing had changed with her relationship with Micha and Ricca since she’d gotten married. She’d always made it clear to Alec that the girls were her family.
    Micha modulated her tone. “So, where’s this kid?”
    Jaya pointed to the bassinet. Ricca barely stifled her squeal. Micha was less enthused but did take a peek. Both of them immediately looked up and stared at her.
    “What?”
    Micha glanced down at Ricca. “You want to tell her or do you want me to?”
    Jaya frowned. “Tell me what?”
    Ricca’s normally sweet smile morphed into one of concern. “Jai, you realize that she looks like—”
    Jaya shook her head. “I know what it looks like, but he says she’s not his and that he didn’t sleep with anyone. I believe him. Matter of fact, he didn’t need to deny it. I know what he’s capable of.”
    Micha pursed her lips. “Honey Bear, I’m down for this whole stand-by-your-man thing, but even you have to be a little wary. She’s the fucking spitting image of him.”
    Ricca and Jaya said in unison, “Language!”
    Micha rolled her eyes, but a little muffled cry from the bassinet had her looking chagrined. “Sorry,” she mumbled. Then she turned to the baby. “I’m not curbing my language, kid, so you’ll need to ignore your Auntie Micha.”
    Much to Jaya’s surprise, Alexa gave Micha a wide, toothless grin and