Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 137077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
“I knew you’d come crawling back,” Riley teases with a sassy smirk, confidence oozing from her despite the casual shrug she adds after the comment.
I am not crawling. I don’t do submissive shit like that. I’m usually the one people are killing themselves to impress, not the other way around. But I do sit back down across from her, which might as well be the same thing, so I rest one ankle on the other knee, aiming for casual yet commanding as I take up as much space as I can on the couch.
Seeming completely at ease as she leans back in the chair, Riley chuckles lightly. “Grace has you wrapped around her finger, huh?”
I blink, surprised by her bullseye accuracy. “Maybe a bit,” I confess, and she laughs harder. I notice she covers her mouth with her hand and wonder why. She has a lovely smile, straight white teeth with a slightly longer canine tooth on the right that looks like a teeny-tiny baby fang. Her smile seems as quirky and interesting as she is.
“Teenagers, right?” she offers, and I relax slightly at having someone understand what it’s like to live with a child who confuses and astounds me at every turn. More seriously, she continues, “Grace and I are getting along great, and I’d love to spend more time with her, but that’s not all there is to this. You and I would have to work together too, because having a nanny spend long hours with your child is a big deal. It needs to be someone you trust.” As she talks, her hands are in constant motion, her bracelets virtually playing a tune as she moves. Putting her hand over her heart for a quick moment, she says, “If I’m not it for you, that’s okay.” She waves that same hand airily, going back to gesturing with virtually every word. “You’ll eventually find the nanny meant for you.”
Her smile is easy as can be, like she could take this job or leave it and either way would be just fine by her. It’s honestly unsettling. I’m used to sitting across conference tables from CEOs and investors and outright powerful, wealthy people who are either trying to woo me or whom I’m trying to pursue for a deal. Never have I felt as off-kilter as I do by this woman who seems to give zero fucks about what I think.
“I’m still not sure, but Grace…” I glance toward the back door, seeing my daughter playing fetch with Peanut Butter, except she’s not only throwing the ball. She’s chasing it too. Meanwhile, the dog is watching her with vacant eyes and a smile on his face, his tongue slowly hanging out longer and longer.
“Cole said you’re kinda in a tough spot, so how about this? I’ll be Grace’s nanny while you search for the perfect Mary Poppins. If you find her, great. If not, we’ll revisit things in… say, three months?”
“A trial run?” I summarize, thinking over her proposition.
“Yes, the full Riley Stefano experience,” she says brightly, splaying her hands wide like her name is in lights on a marquee. “I’ll live in, take care of the morning duties with Grace, run any household errands, and then pick her up after school for activities and homework. I’m happy to make dinner so that the two of you can spend as much time together as possible.” She pauses, and I realize I was nodding agreeably through her entire speech.
“That all sounds perfect,” I confess, knowing she virtually quoted back to me exactly what I said I’m looking for.
She flashes a triumphant smile, showing that cute little fang. “Good. At contract pricing, of course. Cole is paying double my day rate for my time with Emmett. I think that’s fair, considering…” There’s a tiny hint of a tease in her voice as she trails off, then closes her mouth and waits for me to negotiate back.
I do a quick evaluation of the situation. One, Cole gave Riley his stamp of approval, which is a rare recommendation. Two, Grace really wants Riley as a nanny, which could detour a considerable number of arguments. And three, I’m desperate and Riley knows it, so there’s no rock and hard place. This is more like I’m being swallowed by quicksand and might as well quit fighting it.
“Okay, it’s a deal. You drive a hard bargain, Miss Stefano.” The compliment is genuine. She knows what she’s bringing to the table, values herself, and read me clear enough to know that I’ll pay whatever she’s asking. Hell, I would’ve paid more if she’d required it. “When can you start?”
“Tomorrow?”
Relief washes through me. I’m going to have help again, without putting the extra demand on my family the way I’ve had to since the last nanny.
“I’ll handle the morning stuff, and then you could pick Grace up from school at four o’clock?” I confirm, already plotting out my schedule, Grace’s routine, and where the nanny has traditionally stepped in. “I can put you on the pickup list.”