Employed by the Boss (Managing the Bosses 7)

“You really think so?” she asked.

“You've done great with the babies, haven't you? That's hard work. Why don't we just start you out and see what happens from there?” Mark said.

She smiled, and for the first time there was nothing sad in it. “I would really like that, Mark,” she said. “Thank you. So much.”

Mark smiled back at her. “No problem.”

***

Jamie and Alex weren't out as late as Mark had expected them to be, though they were definitely gone longer than it would have taken them just to eat dinner and come home, so they must have stopped somewhere. Mark gave them a cheery wave when they stepped through the door from the kitchen to find him and Christine sitting in the living room and eating ice cream.

“Hey,” he said. “Just went up to check on the kids and they're still sleeping just fine. I think they were tired out from all the games they got to play today.”

Alex nodded, but Jamie was already moving toward the nursery, her attention totally on the kids. He turned and followed her.

“Well, you can see how high we rate on the importance scale,” Mark said, laughing.

Christine gave him one of her uncertain smiles. “The kids are the first priority,” she said.

“Oh, of course they are,” Mark said, taking another bite of ice cream. “And they should be. You'd just think we might get a 'Hello' or something.”

Jamie came back down the hall just then, Alex right behind her. She looked a little more relaxed. “Thank you,” she said. “Both of you. Were they okay all night?”

“Perfect little angels,” Mark said, exchanging a glance with Christine, who looked down to hide her smile. “You know,” he added, looking back at Alex and Jamie, “aside from their deeply held convictions that food is meant to be spread across as many square feet as possible.”

Alex and Jamie both laughed.

“Yeah,” Jamie said. “They're good at that.” She sank down on the couch, tugging Alex down beside her. “I'm glad that you had a good time with them. And we want to thank you again for volunteering to watch them tonight.” She looked from Mark to Christine as she said it, including her sister in the thanks. “We really needed the break, to be honest.”

“I'm sure you did,” Mark said. “We've only been with them for a night and I'm about ready for a break.”

“I enjoyed it,” Christine said. “Thank you for letting me spend time with them, Jamie.”

Jamie looked a little startled. “Of course,” she said. “You're their aunt. We want them to have a good relationship with you.”

“Well,” Christine said, “I know that you were a little worried about it and that's why you didn't have me watch them alone right away. So thank you all the same.”

“We're just glad everyone had a good time,” Jamie said, giving her sister a smile. “And anytime you want to babysit again, just let us know.”

Mark didn't laugh, even though he thought about it. If he were them, he'd want family members to volunteer babysitting every now and then, too. As much as he wanted kids, he wasn't under any illusion that they would be easy to care for.

He finished off the bowl of ice cream he'd been in the middle of and set it aside, standing. “Sorry to rush off, but I've actually got to get going. Stuff to do tomorrow.”

“Oh, of course,” Jamie said. She stood, too, and hugged him tight. “Have a good night, Mark. And drive safe.”

“I always drive safe,” Mark said.

“I should probably be headed home also,” Christine said. “Dad’ll wonder why I'm so late.” She gave Jamie a hug, too, and they headed for the door together.

***

Interviewing to fill positions at a place that wasn't entirely built yet, Mark discovered about a week later, wasn't exactly the easiest thing in the world. He had a general idea of who he wanted and why, and where he would put them to work, but the details were still a little up in the air. Construction had been started on the club house, and it would be done as fast as the contractors could finish it, but it would be a little time before everything was up and running.

He'd interviewed several applicants for landscaping and design positions. If they were going to renovate the golf course, they’d need to get started on it before the club house was finished so that everything would be done together.

The last name on his sheet for the day was one of the applicants for a position that would essentially be golf course tester to start, and maybe continue on into instructor once the business was up and running. Erica Stevenson. He had been a little unsure about hiring a female instructor, considering how some guys could act about being taught anything by a woman, but if they couldn't handle it they could find another club. There were plenty of other people who would be just fine with having a female instructor, and some women who would probably be more comfortable that way. Besides, there was always the chance that he would find other instructors, and have the pros stick to testing the course for him.

There was a knock on the door, and Mark looked up.