Page 16 of Always Be Mine
She was right, and that pissed him off more than anything else.
“You are an amazing father.” Kat nodded slowly, her red ponytail swishing. “A nanny isn’t a parent replacement. It’s an enhancement. Think about it. She can do the things you don’t have time for, or don’t want to.” Kat took a step closer and whispered, “Like making cupcakes for snack day instead of sending granola bars for the second time in a row.” She nodded smugly. “Oh yes, I heardallabout it.”
Craig glanced behind him, where Meri had gone into the back room.
“She’d be able to do the after-school pickup. Do homework with Meri and make a hot dinner instead of fish sticks every night.”
He shot his sister a glance.
“Yup,” she added. “I’ve heard about that, too.”
She wasn’t entirely wrong. There definitely were a few things that would be helpful about a nanny.
“It’s not forever,” Kat said. “It’s only for six months. Summer is right around the corner, and that’s your busiest time. Meri isn’t going to sit in the corner and color forever, you know? If you ask me, the timing couldn’t be better right now.”
He groaned and scrubbed a hand over his face. Craig hated it when his little sister was right.
Six months.
Summerwasbusy, and Kat wasn’t wrong. Meri deserved more than afternoons spent at the ice cream shop when he couldn’t give her the attention she deserved, followed by frozen meals and rushed mornings that always seemed to turn into a fight.
Plus, he didn’t have a friggin’ choice in the matter.
The jingle of the bells pulled his attention.
Lucy, still in her ridiculous purple coat, but sans bags of groceries, or large orange cats, walked through the doors. “I hope I’m not too early.” Her smile was warm, if not a little unsure.
Kat turned, got a look at Lucy, and turned back to Craig with big eyes and raised eyebrows.
He didn’t even want to know what she was trying to communicate withthatlook.
“You’re right on?—”
“Iloveyour jacket!” Meri appeared from the back of the store and made a beeline toward Lucy. “Purple is my very favorite color. See?” She grabbed at her T-shirt and held out the hem. “I have purple, too.”
Lucy dropped to a crouch in front of Meri. “We’re purple twins. You have excellent taste.”
Kat’s eyes got even wider as they both watched the little scene play out in front of them. Without looking away, she jabbed an elbow into his ribs.
He scowled in his sister’s direction and took a step forward. “Lucy?” He waited for her to turn toward him. “You’re hired.”
“I’m…” Lucy glanced away from the little girl and her big smile. Slowly, she rose to standing and looked at Craig. “I’m what?”
“You’re hired.” Craig wiped his hands together and grinned broadly.
A petite redhead woman next to him shook her head, a small smile on her face, which only added to Lucy’s confusion.
“But I didn’t interview yet. And I told you I didn’t have any experience with ice cream.”
“Ice cream?” The redhead almost choked.
Craig ignored her and focused on Lucy. “It doesn’t matter.” He smiled confidently, as if the matter was settled.
But it was far from settled. She still had a ton of questions.
Like, what her hours might be and how much she was getting paid. Not that the answer to either of those questions mattered. Not really. It’s not like she had anything else to do during the day, and shedidneed a job. Even if it was just scooping ice cream.
Still. Never in her life had she been hired for any job without at least a basic interview.
