He was condescending.
Rude.
Abrasive.
Arrogant.
And, on top ofthat, he was too darn sexy for his own good, which was a huge distraction.
Like now, I was utterly distracted by his amazing eyes –andhow good he looked compared to anyone I'd seen in, well, forever, actually.
The lunk-blaster.
And, as awful as he was, I could only imagine how he'd treat an employee he'd hiredonlyout of obligation.
Even so, I still might've accepted, if not for one sobering fact. Taking the job would be cruel, and I didn't mean to myself.
"Listen," I said, "I can't take it, because it wouldn't be fair to Willow."
Mason frowned. "Why not?"
"Because," I said, "don't you think she needs some stability in her life?"
His frown deepened. "You don't think she has that now?"
According to Arden, Mason was a surprisingly good dad to his little sister. Willow, who'd just turned eight, even called him "Dad" – not because Mason had asked for such a thing, but rather because Willow had apparentlybeggedto call him that, after she'd been the only girl at her preschool to not have a dad of her own.
Both of Willow's parents were dead, which meant that she was technically an orphan, just like her three older brothers.
My heart went out to her. It went out toallof them, even Mason, whoseownheart went out to no one, well for except his own family.
He was notoriously protective when it came tothem.
But to strangers?Not so much.
So yes, I was sympathetic. And heaven knows I needed the money – but not so badly that I'd solve my own problems at Willow's expense.
To Mason, I clarified, "I meant stability with a nanny."
"So you're unstable, huh?" He gave me a look. "You mean mentally, or…?"
Oh, for crying out loud."No. That's not what I meant, and you darn well know it."
I swear, his lips curved ever so slightly as he said, "Do I?"
"Of course you do," I said. "I'm just saying that even if I did accept – which I can't – I'd only be there 'til next fall."
"So? That's a year from now."
"Nooooo," I said in my overly patient voice. "It's eleven months."
"Which is eleven times longer than thelastnanny lasted."
I blinked. Maybe four or five months ago, he'd fired the only nannyI'dbeen familiar with. But according to Arden, she'd been replaced right away.
And yet, the way it sounded now, the replacement nanny had been fired, too.Or had quit. Or whatever.
So she'd lasted only a month?
