***
I felt happy about Karly, and admittedly, I was taken by her. She was going to be great for my Alexis. I could sense it in my bones. Not to mention her amazing looks. God. She had shoulder-length dark hair and bluish-green, mesmerizing eyes. Dimples. And curves. She was totally gorgeous in body, mind, and spirit, it seemed. This one might have just been a keeper.
My attention snapped back to reality at Alexis’s voice. “Dada, I want a rainbow one. And Clara says she would have a peppi-mint one, but she still has a sore tummy from falling off the bookshelf at kindy.”
I widened my eyes. “She didn’t fall off, did she?” I looked at her cute face. “And I think the word you were looking for is ‘peppermint.’”
Miss Six placed her newly given ice cream into her mouth and licked it with a huge slurp. She said, “Dada, stop correctin’ Clara, because it makes her angry, and she’s already gotta sore tummy!”
I smiled at her, trying to hold back my belly laugh. How could I argue with the cutest, sweetest, most headstrong person I’d ever had the pleasure of knowing? She was going to love what I had to tell her next. “Alexis, do you remember the interviews we did the other day? The ones we did for a nanny, just for you.”
“Yes, I remember.” She looked at Clara. “Clara hated that! Except for Karly-good-girl. She was fun and pretty.”
“Karly-good-girl?”
“Ahaaa. She’s always good, and she liked Clara the bestest.”
“The best.”
“Dada! Is Clara going to be looked after by Karly-good-girl?” She took another rainbow lick. “I like her a big lot much!”
I refrained from correcting her words because I wanted to tell her the happy news. I was bursting to. “From tomorrow and after kindergarten, Karly will be looking after you and Clara while Dada goes to work.”
Her big eyes widened, and I waited for her words to envelope me. But there weren’t any. It was just a huge cuddle with wet ice cream on my ear and a squeeze that made my heart melt away with the complete joy that only she could bring.
“Dada loves his favorite girls!” I said as I wiped my ear.
“Clara and I loves you too.” She looked at me with a smiley ice cream face. “I mean love you. Oh, and Karly-good-girl too. Dada, can I have another ice cream after this one, please?”
“No, sweetheart. One is plenty.”
“But, Dada,” she said, giving me a confused look, “how am I going to be sweet enough without more ice cream?”
I gave her my widest smile. “Good try, sunshine.”
Alexis rolled eyes. “Now Clara is mad at you again!”
I laughed. “Again? Goodness me, it’s super hard to keep her happy lately, isn’t it?”
She licked her ice cream. “Uh-uh.” I tried to hug Clara but she “wasn’t in the mood.”
Chapter 4
Karly
I thought about how cute Alexis, with her gorgeous long hair and her beautiful, wonderful, inspirational personality, had been when I’d spent time with her the other day at the interview. Cuteness had been coming out of her like little rays of sunshine. I wanted to make a difference in her life. I’d make sure I was always on time and absolutely bouncing with love for her. Children needed so much love, and they thrived when you let their imaginations run wild. Clara was a good thing for her.
My heart skipped a beat as I looked at the door handle. The gold lion peered out, looking at me like it knew the whole story of me. Who had come up with the novel idea of adding a lion to a door knocker? It was such a striking and weirdly good idea.
“Okay, twenty minutes early and ready to be the best nanny I can be,” I said to myself. I pressed the button and wondered if the lion secretly wished it could be used instead of the more modern chime. My imagination was just as good as Alexis’s was, it seemed.
The navy door opened wide, and I wore my ready smile. It was the super handsome Damon who stood there in a pale blue shirt while fixing his maroon tie. “Hey, Karly. You’re early!” He gave a rugged smile. Today he was clean-shaven and smelled like a masculine aftershave. It was gritty with a hint of spice. It took over the whole atmosphere.
I followed him down the hallway. “I didn’t think you would mind if I came a little early. I know you have a client.”
“Actually, I have the really big one and three others today too. I might not be home until seven.”
“Oh, that’s okay. I have just you on my schedule from now on anyway. Well, all week at least.” I felt that lump in my throat annoy me, but it settled a little more easily than it had the other day. A new job was always a nerve-racking experience. I would do great, I hoped.