A plan took shape in front of me as she spoke.
Going for nonchalance to cover the sudden thrum of anticipation in my chest, I placed one hand in the waist pocket of my clown costume, my other hand still held my damp shirt to my chest. It almost seemed too perfect. She needed a nanny. I needed a place to live. I liked her kids. And I’d be getting paid to see Polly, every day.
My mind wandered to what she might look like in the morning. Was she an early riser? Or did she wake up slow, all sleep rumpled and soft, yawning as she said good morning with a lazy smile? A wave of profound want swept over me, the desire to know her, the real Polly Alberton, becoming irresistible in that instance. But in the back corner of my mind, a small voice warned this job would only make her more off-limits.
“I have an impeccable driving record,” I blurted out, apparently deciding to hell with warnings.
Polly’s head snapped in my direction. “What did you say?”
“I’ve never been in trouble with the law, I have tons of experience with kids, and I could give you glowing references.”
“But”—she paused, disbelief in her tone— “there’s no way a twenty-four-year-old guy would be interested in being our nanny.”
I didn’t recall telling her my age, so the fact she knew it made me stand up a hair taller. I raised my eyebrows. “A guy can’t be a nanny?”
She sucked in a breath, then released it. “That’s not what I meant. But I don’t know anything about you other than you valet at the country club and work with kids at the school during the week. How do I know you’re not a murderer that preys on small families while dressed as a clown?”
I chuckled, looking down as I shifted my ridiculous shoes. “I was born and raised in Green Valley. The house I’ve been living in is being sold, so I’ve been looking for a new place. Besides working for the school, I valet on Sundays, drive for Lyft most days of the week, and the rest of the time I work jobs that my buddy needs help with. I’ve lived next door to the county sheriff for years. I don’t know how to do a background check, but I know he’d vouch for me.”
Polly still didn’t look convinced. “The kids have summer school a few days per week, but otherwise you’d have to be with them all day. I’d need you Monday through Friday, about seven to five, sometimes earlier. And I have overnight hospital call every five days. I usually only get calls I can answer from home, but if I’m called in, I need someone here just in case. I would only need you through August. I’m a doctor, a pediatrician. I started with Mercy Health at the beginning of June.”
A doctor.The pieces were making more sense now. I shifted my weight, switching the hands that were holding my shirt to my chest as I remained quiet, sensing she had more to say.
“Does that really sound like a job you want?” I could hear the tension in her voice, so I gentled mine.
“I’d already figured it was a live-in nanny job, and as I’m looking for a place to live, that’d work out just fine for me. And I assumed that watching the kids means helping them get ready, picking them up from school and stuff, and playing with ’em would all be part of it. I’ve babysat kids plenty in the past, this doesn’t sound too different. My other jobs are flexible. The only thing I can’t miss would be the Young Wills nights on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I’m sure the two women who run it with me would be more than happy to have Ryla or Max there, too.”
Polly wasn’t smiling, but if I had to put a label on her expression, I’d say she looked more curious than angry. “Don’t you want to know the pay?”
“Alright, what’s the pay?”
“Twenty-five dollars an hour.”
Hot damn! Why hadn’t I become a nanny years ago? I merely nodded as if I was calmly mulling that over. “I can work with that.”
Polly went back to pacing, obviously thinking over what I’d just offered so I took the opportunity to shake out my still damp shirt. My skin itched just looking at it.
To hell with it.
I pulled it over my head, my burning skin protesting. After tugging it down, I looked back to Polly.
She was staring at me, then gave her head a little shake. Her voice was quiet, the low rasp driving me wild. “It’s a very tempting offer. But really, Jace, why would you want to work for us?”
Her expression was surprisingly unguarded. There was a sadness in the curve of her mouth and exhaustion in her posture. But in her eyes, I saw the flash of reluctant hope.
“Are you offering me the job?” I asked.
Taking a deep breath in and out, she nodded. “Yes.”
“Then I’m in. When do you need me to start?”
“Whencanyou start?”
“I could start tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?!”
“Tomorrow.”
