Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75408 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Palmer chewed on her lip. “Maybe.”
I leaned forward and reached for Palmer’s hand. “Hey, why does Dr. Bryan, I mean, Mason, being here have you so out of sorts, Palmer?”
“It doesn’t. I was just surprised to see him.”
Addie glanced toward the door to the house, then back at us. “He’s been interviewing people for the nanny position. The girl who’s been watching Charlie is graduating high school early this December and planning on going to Europe before she has to come back and start college. I just feel so bad he hasn’t been able to find anyone.”
We all looked at Palmer.
She raised her hands. “Oh, no. I already declined. Do not try to guilt me into taking that job.”
Addie pretended to be surprised. “What? I’m doing no such thing.”
Palmer rolled her eyes. “Uh-huh. Sure, you’re not.”
At that moment, Jennifer walked out onto the porch. “Hi, ladies! The guys are all talking sports, so I thought I’d track you down and see what you’re gossiping about!”
“We don’t gossip,” Harlee said.
Jennifer’s friendly grin faltered. “Oh, well… am I interrupting? I can leave.”
Addie gave Braxton’s date a warm smile. “You don’t have to leave. We were just discussing how Dr. Bryan is looking for a nanny.”
“Oh yeah! He mentioned that, and I told him I might be available for the job.”
Both Palmer and Harlee sat up, suddenly taking a bit more interest in the conversation.
“Are you a nanny?” Harlee asked.
Jennifer shook her head. “No, but I do love kids, and I went to school for early education. I want to be a kindergarten teacher.”
“You have a college degree?” Palmer asked in a surprised voice. I saw Addie kick her, and Palmer jerked, then rubbed at her ankle.
Luckily, Jennifer missed all of it. “Yep!”
“You’d make a perfect nanny,” Addie said, clearly not seeing the daggers that Palmer was sending through her death stares.
“Is…is Mason…I mean…is Dr. Bryan going to interview you for the position?” Palmer asked.
Jennifer bounced in her seat, her breasts nearly popping right out of her tight shirt. “I think so! I gave him my cell number. He’s hot, too, so there’s that. I might get a little bonus working for him…if you get my meaning.”
Palmer snarled her lip up in disgust while Harlee asked, “Wait, aren’t you dating Brax?”
Jennifer let out a laugh that sounded like nails going down a chalkboard. “Brax, serious about dating? That’s funny. We’re just friends.”
“Friends?” Harlee repeated.
Jennifer nodded, smiling down at her perfectly manicured nails. Then she looked Harlee right in the eye. “Fuck buddies. I like his big co—”
I jumped to my feet. “Okay…well, I think we need to steer this conversation in another direction before my Thanksgiving dinner comes back up.”
Not five seconds later, Brax poked his head into the sunroom. “Jennifer, you ready to leave?”
She jumped up. “Yes, I am!” Turning back toward us, she waggled her brows and then waved goodbye. “Thanks for the conversation, ladies.” Brax put an arm around her waist as they headed for the door.
“I’ll see you guys later?” Braxton asked, glancing around the room. His smile seemed to slip for a moment when his eyes landed on Harlee. He quickly removed his arm from around Jennifer’s waist.
“See you later,” Palmer and Addie said at the same time.
“Bye, big bro.” I blew him a kiss and his smile came back.
Then he looked at Harlee again. “See you around, Harlee.”
She pulled out her phone and focused on it intently. “See ya around.”
He gave a quick nod, then ushered Jennifer away.
“I’m pretty sure I threw up in my mouth a little.” Addie covered her lips and gagged.
“Same,” Palmer and I both said before we all fell into a fit of laughter.
Once we’d all calmed down, Palmer stood. “Well, I think I’m going to go see if Mom and Dad need any more help, then head on home.”
Harlee followed suit. “Same. My dad asked me to look at some things for the paper, then I need to start organizing stuff for this year’s Christmas boat parade. We’re still opening an hour early tomorrow for Black Friday, right?” Harlee asked me.
“Yep! But don’t worry if you can’t make it in that early. Palmer will be there to help out too.”
“Are you kidding me?” Harlee said. “I want to watch all those women go crazy over the naughty loft sale. Plus, I saw a new toy come in, and I want to snag one before everyone else does.”
Addie shook her head and chuckled. “One of these days, your dark side is going to get exposed in the gossip column.”
Harlee scoffed. “That’ll never happen. Why do you think I do all this volunteer stuff?”
“You evil genius,” Palmer said. Both women let loose an equally evil-sounding laugh before they walked out of the sunroom.
I exhaled and then stood. “Well, I’m exhausted. Think I’ll track down my husband and head on home.”