He smiled, and it lit up the entire room. “So, tell me about yourself. Other than the monetary necessities everyone else has on this planet, why do you want to go back to nannying?
5
Gavin
Iwatched Eva contemplate my question, and watching her gave me a chance to really study her. Dammit, she was more beautiful than I even remembered—and those eyes. They looked more piercing with that lipstick on her full, lovely lips.
“To be honest? I hadn’t really considered it,” she said.
I blinked. “Really? Why’s that?”
She shrugged. “Well, as you can tell by the dates on my resume, I was recently fired from a job I had at a restaurant where I worked for years. And I’m in dire need of filling that financial void before some payments come due. A lot of the nannying and babysitting I did wasn’t for the money but just to help people out. They needed someone to watch their kids, and I was more than willing to give of my time.”
“That’s very virtuous of you.”
She reached for her wine glass. “Oh, I loved it. Children and I get along spectacularly. But, the girls at the spa caught wind of my losing my job, and then you hired Guadalupe’s niece to work for you during the day. I figured this could be a way I could help someone out in need and fill the financial void in the process.”
I reached for my wine glass as well. “I appreciate your honesty. And forgive how formal this all feels. Asia wanted to get dressed up and go out tonight, and who can say no to something like that?”
She giggled. “I think it’s really sweet.”
My heart warmed at her words. “Thank you, genuinely. And you’re right, I have hired Guadalupe’s niece for the day shift to help me out. But, I still need someone for a night shift. Possible overnights, too.”
I saw her turning over my words behind her eyes, and I knew she was hung up over the “overnight” issue. The truth of the matter was that sometimes I didn’t get home from a set until one or two in the morning. I couldn’t just leave my daughter at the house by herself to sleep. Someone needed to be there.
I sipped my wine. “This will be a lot easier if you simply spit out what you’re thinking.”
Eva sipped her own wine before she drew in a deep breath. “Well, Monday through Friday, I work at the spa. Every weekday, from six in the morning until two in the afternoon. And while I’m not sure where you live, I know that with this constant traffic, anywhere outside of a ten-block radius is going to take me at least forty minutes to get through with my car, versus just walking from my place.”
I leaned back in my seat. “And going home in the middle of the night would detract from the sleep you can get for your other job.”
“Exactly.”
I puffed out my cheeks with a sigh. “Well, I’ve got guest bedrooms and a guesthouse that you’re more than welcome to stay in. My home would be your home. Most of the bedrooms have attached bathrooms, so your privacy wouldn’t be an issue. And if you’re too tired to drive yourself to work, I don’t see why you can’t borrow Lucas to take you to work.”
She blinked. “Lucas?”
I nodded. “My driver. I know that doesn’t fix the whole ‘lack of sleep’ issue, but there are a ton of great coffee places he could take you to before getting you to the spa for your shift.”
I knew it was only a temporary solution, but I grew excited when she smiled. She sipped her wine, and I had to resist the urge to watch her lips as they wrapped around the edge of the crystal glass. What was that color? Black? Dark red? Navy?
Eva cleared her throat. “I could make that work, definitely.”
I chuckled. “Sounds like we have a promising future, then.”
I felt a tug on my pant leg before Asia’s voice sounded. “Is our food here yet?”
Our waiter’s voice rang out into the room. “Got your soup right here, actually.”
Asia climbed up into her chair. “Yay!”
Eva sniffed the air. “That smells amazing. What kind of soup is it?”
The waiter set our bowls in front of us. “A ginger and tomato bisque with parsnips. Our house special.”
Asia picked up her spoon. “Is there bread, too?”
The waiter put the basket of bread right in front of her. “As much of it as you want.”
