Like Never Before Read Online Free Page A

Walker.”
    Theo. Theo with his wife waiting for him at home at night. Theo who couldn’t possibly understand, despite his best intentions.
    â€œTell me you’re going to fire that nanny, though.”
    Logan shifted Charlie to his other shoulder. She barely stirred at the movement.
    â€œHe doesn’t have to fire me. I quit.”
    Both Logan and Theo pivoted at the voice. Krista stood with her hands on her waist, ponytail askew and frown glued in place. Gone were the tear streaks from earlier. In their place, a biting resentment hardened her eyes.
    â€œYou quit?” Logan’s arms tightened.
    â€œThat’s what I said.”
    Theo visibly bristled. “You’ve got some nerve, kid—”
    Logan cut Theo off with a glance, then pinned Krista with the kind of glare he used to give when his younger brother hustled him at basketball. “You left my daughter in a building on fire, and you’re the angry one?”
    She cocked her head. “Yeah, I’m angry. She wouldn’t answer. Charlotte never answers.” She flung her hand toward Charlie. “I’m yelling for her, panicking, looking everywhere I can think of. Do you have any idea how freaked out I was?”
    â€œ You were freaked out? I’m her dad.”
    â€œThen act like it.” The words burst from Krista, pummeling Logan with their force. “Get her some help. She’s three. She should be talking by now. She should at least be able to answer when someone calls her name.”
    Every defensive nerve in his body surged, anger throbbing through him. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Their argument had begun to attract attention. He could feel the curious stares of neighbors he’d never had time to get to know.
    â€œKeep telling yourself that if you want, but it doesn’t take a child psychologist to know something’s not right.” Krista swung her backpack over her shoulder. “And I can’t handle just standing by and watching while you neglect—”
    â€œThat’s enough.” Theo’s firm voice severed Krista’s tirade. “You obviously don’t know the person you’re working for. Neglect isn’t even in Walker’s vocabulary. You want to quit, quit. But no one needs to hear your lectures.”
    Krista’s frown deepened, and she looked from Theo back to Logan, then to Charlie’s still-sleeping form draped over Logan’s shoulder. For a fraction of a second, her expression softened. She met Logan’s eyes. “If you need two weeks—”
    â€œI don’t.”
    She nodded stiffly and turned as if to leave. But then she looked over her shoulder once more. “Did they say where she was hiding?”
    â€œMy walk-in.” The fireman hadn’t needed to be any more specific. Logan had known. Emma’s side of the closet, behind her dresses, wrapped in the tulle of her wedding gown.
    A shudder ripped through him now, the ache pleading for release. And Krista saw it, didn’t she? Saw the panic-induced pain threatening to undo him right here on the lawn, in front of everyone.
    But she only turned, walked away.
    Logan made himself blink. Swallow. One deep breath and then another. And the second he’d lured the grief back into its hiding place, a bevy of questions rocketed to the surface. What would he do without a nanny? Who would watch Charlie during tomorrow’s press conference? Was their apartment still livable?
    Charlie stirred in his arms, a tiny whimper feathering against his skin. He pressed a kiss to her head. He’d figure it out. He’d figure it all out. Because that’s what he did. What he’d been doing for two years now.
    â€œListen, I should probably get back.”
    He blinked for what felt like the hundredth time and turned to Theo. “Of course. Need to take my car?”
    â€œAlready called a cab.” Theo patted Charlie’s back.