By the time I’m seated at Anna’s ballet class, another member is added to the chat. Nikki’s best friend, Amelia.
I don’t know how I went from curtsying in front of my boss to feeling like I’ve joined a girl gang. But I do know that I feel safe, cared for, and thoroughly entertained.
God bless women.
twenty-one
For a minute there,I thought I shat the bed when I called her my “teammate.”
Don’t know what I was thinking, calling her that.
Actually, I wasn’t thinking at all. Because the plan to ask her to have dinner with me must have materialized the moment the words left my lips.
But that seems to be how it goes when it comes to me with Isabella. An unmistakable force leading me right to her, no matter how hard I try to keep things professional.
Well… except that one time I caged her between the kitchen island and my bare chest after I caught her rummaging in my fridge at midnight, wearing next to nothing. Or that other time, when I licked the sugar off my thumb and leaned in so close, I could have easily licked her lips.
Aside from that, I’m a total professional.
I sigh as I look up to the second floor where Isa is putting Anna to bed. Of course, I offered since I always do it when I’mhome, but she insisted. A part of me feels like she needed those extra moments with my daughter before she heads down and has dinner with me. Her boss.
My stomach revolts at the title.
I’ve never been one to want to be a boss. I thrive better being part of a team, working in collaboration. Not being the sole person responsible for someone’s paycheck.
And I’m not blind. I can see the power imbalance between us from a mile away.
Even though I know she’s stronger than she seems at times, I’m still a rich man who controls her current livelihood and living arrangements. One she believes is one strike away from firing her and sending her packing.
If only she knew what my strikes really meant.
No matter what develops between us, I want to make sure she knows that she is not at my mercy. Which is why I think this dinner might actually turn out to be a good idea.
And if I ever try and pursue something with her, it would be nice to at least say we’ve sat down together as friends first.
Footsteps on the stairs bring my attention to Isabella, who cautiously makes her way down.
I think it’s incredibly adorable that she and Anna change into their pajamas at the same time of night. I know it makes Anna feel like Isa will be going to sleep when she is, and therefore, she won’t be missing out on any fun downstairs.
Isabella’s night wear has been very conservative since the night I caught her in my kitchen. Usually lounge pants and some sort of long-sleeve top. I want to tell her that she doesn’t need to cover up completely for my sake, but then again, it might be a small reprieve for my sanity, so I say nothing.
Tonight, she sports black leggings that mold her thick thighs and perfect ass, as well as a loose navy top that hangs off onebare shoulder. By the twitch in my pants, you’d think she walked down in lingerie.
Her hair, curly and in a loose bun on the top of her head, bounces as she makes her way over to me with a small smile playing on her lips.
“We hit a new record tonight.”
“Let me guess, you read two books for her, and she made up… three,” I predict.
She grins. “I read one, and she made up five. Although I think I egged her on by asking so many follow-up questions. Each one sprouted a new idea in her mind for a completely new story, so, of course, she had to start from scratch.”
My heart melts. No matter what goes on in my life, I know I’ll forever be the luckiest man alive to be able to call myself Anna’s dad. I don’t know how I won the kid lottery, but I really did.
I know most parents are biased, but Anna is such a creative and loving soul. How she went from asking for one more bedtime story to creating her own is beyond me.
What I do know is that I’m grateful to Isabella for helping foster that imagination and not trying to dim it to make her job easier.
“Thank you, by the way. I’m not sure I’ve thanked you all week for how you’ve cared for Anna. I hope you know it doesn’t go unrecognized. Although I am kicking myself now for not making that clearer to you.”
