Merry with a Brewmaster (The Love Beach Holiday Collection)

18. Vienna

18

VIENNA

B lood pounds in my ears as I walk casually back into the kitchen. My panties are soaked from having Wells’s cock in my mouth, but I won’t apologize.

Because it was wildly hot and I wish we could do it again.

Without sneaking around—so we don’t have to pretend we aren’t tethered together by some invisible force anymore.

I could have Wells, Haven, and my shop, right? Why did I think I had to choose?

Grabbing a bottle of water, I down half of it and will myself to act unaffected as Wells comes back into the kitchen. But he’s…off. The flush on his cheeks has been replaced with something else as a scowl settles on his lips.

I’m about to ask what’s wrong when he hands me his phone, and I have to brace a hand on the island to keep my knees from buckling.

KIM: Great news—I’m picking Haven up today!

WELLS: Why the change? You didn’t give us any warning

KIM: It’s my weekend

WELLS: But you’ve missed every weekend since mid-August

KIM: All the more reason for her to be excited

KIM: I have a ton of fun things planned!

WELLS: When will you be here?

I don’t read the rest.

I can’t.

Because I don’t want her to go, and one look at Wells says he feels the same.

“Haven, I have some good news.” His voice is as weak as his smile as Haven looks up from her painting. “Your mom is coming to pick you up in a little while.”

“I don’t want to go,” she says, almost panicked, her eyes bouncing between her father and me.

“Maybe you can paint those ornaments we got at the store?” I offer as her shoulders slump farther.

“I know it’s been a while since you’ve seen her, but your mom loves you and she’s really excited to have you spend the weekend together,” Wells says, forcing brightness into his tone. “Let’s get you packed. I bet she’d love to see some of the things you’ve made…”

His words trail off as he leads her up the stairs.

This sucks.

VIENNA: She’s a wench

SAIGE: What did she do this time?

VIENNA: She’s coming to get Haven, but Haven doesn’t want to go

SAIGE: That wench

SAIGE: Is Wells being the peacekeeper?

VIENNA: Yes and I get it—I do—she’s Haven’s mom

SAIGE: But she hasn’t been around in months

VIENNA: Exactly

SAIGE: Keep me posted. I’m always up for causing mayhem

VIENNA: I’ll keep it in mind

Throwing my phone onto the counter, I take a couple of deep breaths to calm the storm inside me. It’s insane how much I don’t want Haven to go with her mother when I have absolutely no claim on that little girl.

All I can do is wait and brace for the inevitable.

WELLS

“You’re not going to invite me in?” Kim says as she looks down her nose at her freshly manicured hand before meeting my gaze. Her blonde hair is fluffed and sprayed in a way I used to think made her look professional and put together but really makes her look stuck-up and bitchy.

Stepping aside, I let her pass—for Haven. Because if Kim wants to ruin her relationship with our daughter, that’s one thing, but I won’t ever be the reason.

“Haven will be right down. She just wanted to grab her pillow,” Vienna says pleasantly before turning to leave.

“And who the hell are you?” Kim sneers, and it takes everything for me not to throw her out on her ass.

“Watch yourself in my house,” I murmur so there’s no way Haven will overhear.

“I’m Haven’s nanny,” Vienna says cooly without giving her name.

Kim’s gaze moves from me to Vienna. “ This is the nanny?” she scoffs, and I can already feel the blood heating in my veins.

“What the hell does that mean?” I grit out even though I have a pretty good idea.

“You just have a lot to say about what I’m doing when you’re fucking the nanny right in front of our daughter, babe.”

“I’m not your babe and you haven’t seen our daughter in months, so watch your God damn attitude and don’t ever speak to me or anyone else in this house like you’re better than them because you’re not—not even close. ” I take a step closer, towering over her so she’s forced to crane her neck to look at me. “If you even think about trying to mess with Haven’s head, I will take you to court so fast you won’t have time to blink.”

“It’s such a wonder why I divorced you,” she says, infusing as much disdain into her words as possible.

“I got my pillow,” Haven says somberly as she wraps her arms arounds Vienna’s waist.

“Have the best time, okay? I can’t wait to hear all about it.” Vienna’s smile is forced as she bends down to look Haven in the eye before hugging her again and whispering something in her ear.

“Let’s go, Haven. I have the best surprise for you!” Kim says with a faux brightness that gets no reaction from our daughter.

My daughter.

“Love you, baby,” I murmur as I pick her up off the floor, holding her tight as she wraps her legs around me. And I just hold her back. Because I read this article that said you’re supposed to let the child be the first to decide the hug is over, and today—of all days—Haven definitely deserves to make the decision.

Kim glares at me over Haven’s shoulder but I don’t care. The woman standing in my kitchen isn’t the woman I married, and she’s even worse than the woman I divorced.

With a heavy sigh, Haven releases me, and I set her on the ground.

“Have a good time, all right?” She nods and I silently add you’ll be back before you know it.

Because she will and all will be right with the world.

Until then, all I can do is pray that Kim isn’t half as heartless as she is with me, because if she hurts our daughter, she’ll never see Haven again.