Leo's muscles hurt when he woke on Monday morning. The shed looked great, but he would owe Zach for the rest of his life.

It had been an odd weekend. First, he had his date. The sex was good, but it was just sex. Reagan had texted him both Saturday and Sunday. She wanted him to come over, but he told her he couldn't. Leo needed to figure out if he meant couldn't again that weekend or ever. He felt conflicted when he thought about it, mostly in ways which didn't make sense. He was legally divorced and could date if he wanted to.

When he took a break and went in for beers, he found Lilli and Isla with their heads together in the kitchen. Isla looked vulnerable. The woman was an enigma. She could be so competent, but other times looked innocent and naïve.

He thought of Isla as he watched the train speed into South Station. She wore sneakers for the first time. He wondered why she wouldn't have worn them sooner. She had been cleaning his house and cooking in a pair of old leather loafers. The bright blue shoes were her only color except for her eyes, her lips, and her cheeks. The nanny blushed over the slightest attention from anyone. She was like a butterfly who came out of her egg a drab brown caterpillar.

Shaking his head, he switched his thoughts to Reagan and his lack of decision about seeing her again. A few weeks before he was a guy who couldn't keep a nanny.

After arriving at the office, he went to see how Zach was feeling. His office was empty, but Lilli's wasn't. He walked in to find her typing on her laptop.

"Where is he?"

"He'll be along. I wanted to get in early." Lilli's voice lowered.

She enjoyed keeping her and Zach's relationship a secret. At one point, she confided she didn't want Kendall at Roche-Sumner to question her position. Leo didn't think it was the editor's business.

"Is he hurting like me?"

Lilli smiled. "Probably not as bad as you."

Leo frowned. "Do I look that soft?"

"No, but you have kids and don't workout all the time. Did your lady friend complain you were soft?"

Leo wagged his finger and laughed. "You're skirting the line. What were you and Isla talking about?"

Lilli frowned. "She didn't tell you?"

He sighed. "I didn't ask."

She bit her lip, but there was a smile trying to break through. "You'll find out. I guess. One of the old ladies at church has a son who asked her out."

"Did she say yes?" Lilli nodded. Leo said, "She went out last week."

Lilli shook her head. "It wasn't a date. I get the feeling she doesn't have experience dating."

"Did she live under a rock?"

Lilli shrugged. "You should ask her. I know she borrowed shoes so she can go for a walk with the ladies she met at church. I bet they'll know all her secrets."

He shook his head. "I wouldn't bet on it."

Lilli smiled. "He's here."

Leo turned around. Zach was at reception. "What are you a hound dog with his scent?"

Lilli snickered and held up her phone. "He texted me from the elevator."

Leo shook his head. "With coffee in his hand?"

"Voice to text. You are so old." She rolled her eyes.

He walked away. He could use a phone. Again he thought of Isla. "Hey Zach. How do you feel?"

Zach smiled. "Great. Slept well after the fresh air. You need to work out more. That shed was nothing compared to the swing set."

Leo had suckered Zach into building the play set after he moved into his house. It was a long hard day. While helping with the shed, Zach kept telling Cody to go swing, because he broke his back building it.

Chelsea walked in and Leo looked at his watch. She was five minutes late, but he hadn't started working either. He had a call with a studio later to work on the Clark deal. In the meantime, he had plenty of work to do.

As the week went on talks broke down at the studio. He immediately contacted his second choice. Starting fresh wasn't good news, but Matthew wanted to be involved. He didn't want his books to become movies about a story he never wrote. It meant pushing off his travel to the west coast.

He reluctantly made plans for Friday night. When he told Isla, she told him she would be out on Saturday evening.

"Any special plans?" He pried.

She blushed. "Dinner with a friend. What about you?"

She looked at him like she could tell if he were lying. "I'm having drinks with Ryan's mother."

She frowned. "You make a nice pair."

Her words didn't match her face. He didn't think she liked Reagan anymore than Riley. On Friday, Isla picked him up at the station, and he went home to change into jeans before kissing his kids and leaving. Riley asked where he was going, but he kept his reply simple. "To visit a friend."

At Reagan's house, she smiled and purred behind him after she let him in. She wore a low cut top which didn't require Leo to use his imagination.

He cleared his throat. "You don't have Ryan this weekend?"

"He's with my parents. My mother encourages me to have a social life."

Would his mother encourage him? Not the kind he was getting with Reagan. He wasn't sure he approved of his behavior either.

Reagan poured the wine and complained about her co-worker. He didn't care enough to understand her job. He felt shallow as he realized he had only agreed to a second date for one reason. With his drought over, it was hard to close down the swimming hole. One more plunge, he promised himself.

"So should we get the boys together to play? We could make it a family thing, if you came over with Riley."

Leo shook his head. "I think the boys would be happier having a regular play date."

"Fine. I wasn't changing the rules." She pouted, but Leo was pretty sure she was.

Later, when he slipped on his jeans, she was still nude on her side. "Can't you stay? You have your nanny at home. She's so frumpy."

The description was accurate, but he turned to defend Isla. He didn't like her tone, but many people liked to criticize others. He strived to teach his kids to be kind.

"She's a great nanny. Not affording new clothes doesn't affect her ability to do her job."

"Touchy. Touchy. I like to touch you, but you insist on leaving." Once again she pouted.

His daughter pouted less and she could manipulate to get her way. Riley had been sweet and agreeable since Isla started. If her explanation was true about the younger nannies having an interest in him, then Isla would not be a threat. She acted afraid of him. Apparently, her unease was only with him since she was dating.

Reagan's persistent hands would not convince him to stay longer. As he left he waved. "I'll see you later." She let him leave without getting off the bed.

At home his house was quiet. He pulled ingredients out of the fridge to make a sandwich. He had just taken a bite when his phone rang. It was Autumn's brother, the only member of her family he had a relationship with.

"Hey. How...?"

"The same. My mother wants to send Easter clothes." Percy said.

Leo hadn't thought about Easter which was in a couple of weeks. "They don't like dressing up. Riley will wear a skirt with leggings but not a dress. I'd rather have my friend take them clothes shopping. She's good with styles."

"Your friend? So you're seeing someone?"

"No!" He answered too forcefully. "She's a coworker who is dating a coworker. I'm not looking for a relationship."

Percy sighed. "You're divorced. Don't live like a monk."

Leo sighed. "I'm fine. Tell her not to send anything. It just confuses them."

"I know, but they're her grandchildren."

"She made her choice. I have to go. It's um, late here."

"Okay. I get it. I'm sorry.."

Leo put his phone down and raked his fingers through his hair. It used to be the three of them on some great adventures. Everything changed and Leo was on his own. It hit him he would rather be alone than with a woman he didn't even like. Hopefully, he'd have the balls to say no next time she texted to make plans.

On Saturday, he announced he and the kids were getting pizza for dinner. He didn't want Isla to feel obligated to cook for them before she went out. Leo watched as Isla walked out the door to the car waiting in his driveway. The guy didn't come to the door, so he couldn't get a look at him. Leo felt a wave of pity for Isla. He wished she had something other than her long skirt and navy blue sweater to wear on her date, at least it brought out her eyes unlike her drab, gray sweater. The acid of uneasiness churned in his gut. Hopefully, the guy was a gentleman, because Isla seemed ill prepared for any other situation.

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