“Yes.” Then I scratch my head. “I’ll always miss her…” But maybe it’s time to stop being alone? I don’t know. “I’m starting to think I need help.”
She leans forward. “It just so happens I have a lot of openings in my schedule. And I mean a lot.”
“I think my most urgent concern is my daughter, Lillie.”
“Does she have special needs?”
My bright-eyed little sunbeam flickers through my mind. “No, she’s just four. She goes to preschool half days and then she’s home while I’m working. She’s active and playful, and my mother-in-law doesn’t believe in listening to me—”
“Because she’s the grandmother.” Ruby nods as if she understands completely. “Grandparents are supposed to spoil them, feed them cake for breakfast. Not make them mind.”
“Eleanor doesn’t feed her cake, but Lillie’s schedule is erratic. She never naps, so she’s cranky in the evenings. And the Barney videos—”
“Oh, stop! Barney is the worst.” She holds up her hand, making a horrified face.
“Tell me about it.”
“He’s a big purple freak with weird eyes and a creepy voice.”
I snort in my glass. “You clearly have strong feelings about him.”
“Why does he move his arms like that? Goody goody!?
? She pins her elbows at her waist and does a hilarious T. Rex flap. “If I were a kid, I’d pee my pants crying.”
It’s all too perfect. I know in that moment, this must happen.
“Come work for me.” The words are out so fast, I can’t stop them. I don’t want to stop them.
Ruby freezes mid-T. Rex flap. “You’re drunk.”
“I’m serious.” Sitting straighter, I snap into boss mode. “You’re a licensed therapist. You’re clearly qualified, and I need help.”
“Do you know what therapists do?”
“I know what I do. I’m a problem solver, and we have parallel problems.”
Her arms lower slowly, and I can tell she’s curious. “What would I do for you?”
“Be Lillie’s nanny.” Her full lips quirk down, and I keep going. “You would live at my house, drive Lillie to and from school, do educational things with her in the afternoons… help with her meals and light housekeeping, bathe her, put her to bed…”
“You want me to be a live-in nanny?” She’s not convinced, but I’m liking this idea more by the minute.
“I’ve got plenty of room. You’ll share the whole top floor with Lillie, and that way if she needs anything during the night, you’ll be there to help her.”
“Why can’t you help her?”
“I have to work.”
Concern lines her pretty face, and I decide to sweeten the deal. “I’ll pay you five hundred dollars a day.”
She straightens so fast, she almost falls off her stool. I swallow a laugh and jump forward to catch her. The move puts us shoulder to shoulder, chest to chest, and heat surges through my waist. She smells good, like flowers in the spring… she feels even better in my arms.
In that moment, I’m vividly aware of how long it’s been since I’ve had sex.
Her hands grip my biceps, moving higher as she regains her balance. She blinks up, and our noses almost touch. It’s amazing… until she steps back, out of my embrace.
“You said five hundred dollars a day.”