“Time off approved. My mother has been asking to sleepover with Anna anyway, since I’ll be gone at away games next week.”
Slight surprise overtakes her features. I hadn’t shared my schedule past this week when I initially hired her, but now she’s here to stay.
Hopefully, as more than Anna’s nanny.
“I’ll email you my schedule. I’ll be leaving tomorrow morning and coming back Friday evening. Just in time for your… girls’ night.”
As much as I hate the fact that I might not see her when I get back, I feel relieved that she’s reconnected with friends and seems to be in a much happier place overall since she started working for me.
She nods. “Thank you. Will you be gone by the time Anna and I leave for school drop-off?”
“Trying to get rid of me already?”
She smiles as she shakes her head. “Nah, just wanted to know if Anna will have time to sneak a toy into your away bag or not.”
Damn. She remembers.
Only this woman can make me go from horny to sentimental in two seconds flat. At the moment, I’m both.
“Yeah, I’ll be here to see you guys off.”
“Good. So, uh, I guess I’ll be going to bed now. It’s been a long day.” She starts to shuffle toward her room, facing me as she walks back. As if she knows it’s probably not safe to turn her back on me. Smart woman. “See you bright and early. Good night.” She gives a slight wave and finally turns as she makes it to the hallway that leads to her room.
I should let her keep walking. Let her off the hook for the night.
But the sight she gives me makes it damn near impossible.
“Hey, Isabella?”
She stops momentarily, turning her head slightly to catch my wandering gaze. “Yeah.”
“My last name looks good on you.”
And if things go according to plan, I just might make her keep it.
twenty-seven
I’m dreading today.
We fly out to Toronto for six days.
I usually hate the longer stretches of away games, since it means time away from Anna, but after last night, the weight feels heavier.
I feel like Isa is within reach now. That if I play my cards right, I might have a chance of making a life with her a reality.
I rush through my morning routine so I can spend as much time with my girls as I can before I have to leave. I don’t know when I started referring to Anna and Isa asmy girls. Maybe when I spotted them making breakfast in my kitchen, or last night when they wore mostly matching outfits. Either way, there’s no shifting back now.
I head downstairs, hoping I haven’t wasted too much time, only to spot Isabella hunched over my unzipped away bag.
Interesting.
“Stealing on your first official day on the job? Doesn’t seem too promising from where I stand, Isa,” I taunt. She immediately leaps from my bag with a squeak.
She places a hand on her chest, probably in a futile attempt to relax her racing heart from the scare I just gave her. “Good morning to you too, boss. And for the record, I wasn’ttakinganything. I wasgivingyou something.”
That grabs my attention. “Gifts on the first day? Now you’re just brown-nosing, Isa.” I live for the slight blush that rises in her cheeks when I tease her like this. Makes me curious about how else she would respond to me if given the full opportunity to explore.
She’s about to roll her eyes, right on cue, but she straightens and speaks instead. “It’s not agiftgift. Just a little something to help you pass the time while you’re alone in your hotel room.” I raise a devious brow, and that blush threatens to burn brighter. “Jesus Christ, get your head out of the gutter. Go ahead and look for yourself before you get the wrong idea.” She waves at my bag.
