I headed straight for Taeyang’s office, walking toward the back, where he’d built a wet bar, and grabbed a bottle of scotch and three glasses, carrying it all to his desk. I filled the tumblers with several fingers’ worth and handed one to each of my brothers, who happened to be sitting there, in the middle of a meeting.

They’d said nothing when I walked in.

And still didn’t as they accepted the glass I gave them and stared at me.

“Drink,” I ordered and raised the scotch to my lips, swallowing.

“Yes, sir,” Soohyuk replied. “Even though it’s not five yet … and I have a meeting in an hour.”

“Cancel it,” I said. “I need your help.” I looked at Taeyang. “And yours.”

“What’s going on?” Taeyang asked.

“Oh ,” Soohyuk said. “Something tells me this is going to be good.”

I downed the liquor and poured myself more.

“Yep,” Taeyang responded to Soohyuk. “I think you’re right.”

I waited for the burn to subside and lifted the glass off his desk, squeezing it between my fingers. “I had three nannies come in today to interview. Guess who the last one was.”

Taeyang shook his head. “Dude, I have no idea. An ex? One of my exes? If that’s the case, .”

“Dara,” I told them.

“You mean, the girl from the bar?” Soohyuk inquired.

I nodded. “Yes. That one.” I downed another mouthful. “The girl I’ve been balls deep in—twice.” I drained more from my glass. “Why does this happen to me? I finally find a girl I would like to get to know better, and she ends up interviewing to be Everly’s ing nanny.”

“Dude, I don’t know. But it’s ed up.”

I wasn’t sure who had said that, but I agreed and nodded again.

“Seems she’s doubling her duties, huh?” Soohyuk joked.

“er.” I punched his arm. “It’s not funny. I’m in a ing situation, and I don’t know what to do.” I glanced at Taeyang. “You used to about Hyorin’s age.” I stopped and glared at Soohyuk. “And you didn’t want to date a client when you first got with Chaerin. Well, none of that compares to this.” I took another sip. “She’s twenty-two. After graduating high school, she went straight to work as an au pair, traveled the world with the family she worked for, basically raising their three kids. Four years later, she decided she wanted to be a teacher, moved back to LA, enrolled in college, and I met her on her first night back.”

“How’d she find out you were hiring?” Taeyang asked. “I assume that’s why she applied, right?”

“No. It’s a coincidence. When she applied, she had no idea it was me.” Still looking at him, I said, “Yours was just graduating. Mine is just starting.”

“Notice how he called her mine,” Soohyuk said.

“It means nothing.”

“Bull,” Soohyuk shot back. “But we’ll go with it, for s and giggles.”

I sighed, annoyed with my brother. “She needs a job to support her while she’s in school.” I quieted for a moment. “Since she’d be so good for the job, I gave her an ultimatum. My daughter or me.”

“That’s very lawyerly of you,” Soohyuk said.

“Listen, it can’t be both. It wouldn’t work. There’s far too much crossover and—no. If things ended between us and Eve lost her and—no, again.”

“Which did she pick?” Soohyuk asked.

“Everly,” I told them.

“Of course she did,” Taeyang said. “Because how the hell could she pick you? You don’t run toward relationships; you sprint the away from them. You don’t think Dara can tell that by now?”

“No,” I snapped. “And that’s not true.”

“It’s not?” Soohyuk pushed. “I can think of three chicks from the past who would have given up their implants to have more with you.”

“You’re such a .”

“It’s true,” Soohyuk said.

“It is,” Taeyang agreed.

“I didn’t come in here to talk about the problems you think I have.” I swallowed the rest of the scotch and filled my glass again. “I came in because, damn it, she’d make the perfect nanny and I don’t know what the hell to do.”

“You hire her,” both of them said.

I ran my hand over the top of my hair, digging in to tug at the roots. “Just like that? Ignoring the fact that we’ve been together? And I have her move into my house, like I’m not going to picture her every time I see her bent over?”

Soohyuk smiled, recrossing his legs. “Can you stop yourself from sticking it in when she’s in that position?”

My head dropped as I tried to get that perfect image out of my mind. “No.” I glanced up. “Yes.” I took a long, deep inhale. “I’m asking for ing trouble, aren’t I?”

Silence ticked between us until Taeyang rested his arms on his desk and said, “Kids are her passion, obviously. She has experience. She’s going to be a teacher. Hell, there isn’t anyone better suited than that. And if I remember correctly, you said Everly really liked her when they met.”

“She did.”

“Then, what’s the problem?” Taeyang said. “Because you always put Eve first, you’ll keep your in your pants. You’ll have the perfect nanny for your daughter. Life will be all good.”

Me.

I’m the goddamn problem.

There was something about this girl that I couldn’t get enough of. That I wanted more of. That was different than the dates I’d gone on in the past.

But every time I started talking to a woman, things would fizzle out when I couldn’t give her more of myself.

I was sure this would be no different.

That, somehow, I would up between us.

It was better that things had ended before they even began.

“Maybe you’re right,” I said. “Maybe there is no problem.”

Soohyuk’s hand went to my back, patting just below my shoulder. “There’s no law that says she has to move in right away. See how things go for a few weeks. Make sure you don’t have to take ten cold showers a day. Then, make the transition.”

I nodded. “I can do that.”

But could I?

Goddamn it, yes. Of course I could.

Taeyang held out his glass in front of me. “Congratulations, brother. You’ve finally got yourself a nanny. Now, we can drag your out whenever we want.”

“Hardly.” I laughed as I clinked glasses with him and then Soohyuk. “She’s going to relieve Yeji’s duties, not mine. Nothing’s going to change with my availability.”

“That’s right; he’s going to stay home, but now, he’ll be cuddling with Dara,” Soohyuk teased.

“Such a dickhead,” I groaned.

“I’ve got a question for you,” Taeyang said, pausing. “When you last saw her and went back to her place, did you schedule another date with her?”

The morning following my meetup with Dara, I’d texted my brothers, telling them how it had gone since one of them had asked.

I was wondering if my honesty had been a mistake.

“We didn’t set a date, but I was definitely going to see her again.”

Taeyang looked at Soohyuk and then back at me. “Now, I know why you’re down that scotch like it’s water.”

“Right … me,” I sighed.

“My advice,” Taeyang said, “skip the glass and just start drinking from the ing bottle.”

Me: I’d like you to come over and hang with Everly for a bit. I want to see how she interacts with you under normal, expected circumstances. I know this is last minute, but are you available tonight?

Dara: Hi! Yes, I can make it tonight. What time?

Me: Would 6 work?

Dara: That works. Usually, I lesson-plan, carving out time for learning, fun, outdoor activity, and exercise. With me, it’s not all play time. Would it be okay if I planned something for Everly and me to do? I realize it’ll be dinnertime, followed by a bath and reading her a story in bed. I promise I’ll account for all of that.

I stared at her text, blown away by what I was seeing, and it wasn’t because there was a hell of a lot of scotch flowing through my veins.

Granted, I’d never had a nanny before, but I was positive Yeji did none of those things. Her time with my daughter was all about fun. But that was what Yeji was there for.

This—Dara—was different.

Me: You can do whatever you want. My plan is to sit back and observe you two together.

Dara: Perfect. Thank you. See you tonight.

There was no question that Eve was going to immediately connect with Dara. My daughter wasn’t shy. She didn’t lack for personality. She found a way to charm everyone she encountered. And the moment Dara walked into my house, surprising Everly, I saw my little one in action.

She flew off the couch, running straight toward Dara. “Dee!” She hugged Dara’s waist. “You came back!” She glanced up at her, smiling. “And you brought presents!”

Since I was nearby, Dara handed me everything she was holding and reached down to pick up