“Okay. Thank you so much,” I said, trying not to feel discouraged.
A guy? How would Sophia feel about having a guy as a live-in nanny? How would Cal feel?
You know what? Fuck Cal. He was the one who’d put me in this position in the first place. He’d lost the right to have a say in the matter the moment he ditched his daughter.
By the time I navigated to my inbox, Renata’s email was waiting. Preston’s background check was spotless, not that I’d expect anything less from the Hartwell Agency. In addition to Lauren’s recommendation, I’d done some research of my own. A few of the other parents at Sophia’s school had nothing but good things to say about their experience.
Preston’s file was even more encouraging. He was an honors student studying for his bachelor’s degree in social work and spoke Spanish fluently. When Renata said he was a bit older than most of their nannies, I’d expected a senior citizen, not a senior in college. And the more I read, the more intrigued I was. The more hopeful, too.
I opened one of the attachments—a personal letter. He wrote with passion and enthusiasm, and he seemed genuine. I’d already wanted to interview him, but this sealed the deal. Assuming he and Sophia clicked, I was ready to hire him.
My mind was whirring with possibilities. I wasn’t sure I’d be comfortable with him staying in the house, but… I glanced toward the pool house, which had a fully furnished apartment. The previous owners had used it as a mother-in-law suite, but I’d never needed it for that purpose. And while I’d considered renting it out over the years, I never had. Now, I was glad it had remained vacant.
I emailed Renata, and we scheduled an informal interview with Preston for this afternoon. By the time the doorbell rang, announcing Sophia was back from her friend’s house, I wasn’t dreading it as much as I’d feared.
I opened the door and pulled Sophia in for a hug as I waved at her friend’s dad, Nate. Why couldn’t Cal be more like him? Dependable, loving—present.
“Hey, baby,” I said, helping her carry her stuff to the laundry room. “Did you have fun at Brooklyn’s?”
She nodded. “Tons. When’s Dad coming?” She skipped through the house, her presence like a ray of sunshine. I didn’t say anything, wishing this brief moment of bliss could’ve lasted longer.
“About that…” I finally said, knowing it was inevitable.
She stopped skipping, and her face fell. “He’s not coming?”
I shook my head slowly, crouching down to her level so I could peer into her beautiful blue eyes. They were so like her father’s. “Daddy loves you very much. And he wishes he could be with you more than anything, but he had to work.”
It wasn’t an outright lie, but it wasn’t the entire truth either. Still, I wanted Sophia to feel loved. I wanted her to know that her parents were there for her, supported her. It was one of the reasons I’d stayed with Cal long after I should’ve ended it.
A few tears slid down her cheeks, and I swiped them away with my thumbs. “Don’t cry, Soph. You’re going to have lots of fun this summer.”
“With Gabby?” she asked hopefully.
I gripped her shoulders, rubbing my thumbs back and forth. “No. Remember, she went home to visit her family. But you know what, I have someone new for you to play with.”
“You do?” Her eyes were wide, and I sensed her curiosity. “Who?”
“Well, his name is Preston, and he’s coming over this afternoon.”
“Does he go to my school too?” she asked, and I realized then that she thought he was her age.
“No.” I laughed. “But he’s friends with one of the boys at your school. And if you have fun with Preston, we’ll ask him to hang out for the summer. Okay?”
She nodded, but I sensed she was still upset about her dad. Understandably so.
“Besides,” I said, scrambling for something that would make up for it. Or at least give her something positive to focus on. “This gives us more time to plan your birthday party.” I ruffled her hair.
“Yay! Yay!” she shouted as she jumped around. “I want to do a pool party. With mermaids. And shells. And—”
I laughed. “Okay. We can do whatever you want.”
“Can we have Juliana help?” she asked, referring to my friend, a party planner to the stars and occasional wedding planner.
“Sure,” I said, relieved she was more focused on her birthday than Cal bailing. “But first, let’s go pick out an outfit for this meet-cute.”
She sped toward the stairs but then paused. “Mommy, what’s a meet-cute?”
I laughed, more at myself than anything else. “It’s when two people… You know what, never mind. Let’s just go pick out a cute outfit. ’Kay?”
“Okay!” she squealed and bounded up the stairs to her room.
The rest of the afternoon, Sophia played dress-up, while I worked on my laptop. “Mommy, Mommy,” she said.
I was so close to finishing this email, but she kept interrupting me. If this thing with Preston didn’t work out, I didn’t know what I was going to do all summer. As much as I loved Sophia, I didn’t have the time or luxury to dedicate my full attention to her right now. Work was just too busy.
“Yes?” I ground out, forcing a smile. It had only been a few hours, and already my patience was waning.
“Watch this!”
She did a cartwheel in her dress, then took a bow while I clapped. “Very nice. Look, Soph, Preston will be here soon. I need to finish up a few emails first. If you let me get some work done now, we can have fun later. Deal?”
“What kind of fun?”
I smirked. My daughter—the great negotiator. I couldn’t wait to see what she’d do with her life. She was full of potential. And I was working my ass off to provide her with the opportunities I’d never had. Opportunities I never could have dreamed of.
“Well,” I said. “We could go out to eat at Zaza’s.”
She frowned, and I was surprised. She usually loved getting dressed up and going to Zaza’s. It was a special treat, something we did just the two of us.
“Would you rather do something else?” I asked.
“Could we…could we build a fort and watch a movie?” She was practically bouncing on her toes.
“That sounds great.”
“And…and no phones allowed.” She raised a hand triumphantly into the air.
Talk about mom guilt.
I hated to let her down, but I needed my phone. I had clients relying on me, employees relying on me. I’d built my business from the ground up, and the pace was relentless. I was lucky to be able to agree to watching movies. Even so, it meant I’d be staying up late into the night answering emails. Still, it was a sacrifice I’d gladly make to spend time with Soph, especially after Cal bailed on her.
“Sweetie, I’d be happy to build a fort and watch movies. But I have to keep my phone on me. You know that.”
She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “Cece’s mom doesn’t have her phone on all the time.”
I wanted to retort that Cece’s mom was married to a well-known movie producer who would prefer she be nothing more than a trophy wife. But I bit my tongue.
“Well, it’s part of my job.” I wouldn’t apologize for it. I just had to hope that, one day, she’d understand.
“Sometimes I hate your job,” she huffed and stomped off down the hall just as the doorbell rang.
Great. I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. This summer was already off to a great start. And it would be just my luck that she’d hate Preston too. Unfortunately, we didn’t have many options.
Okay, no options. He was our only option. I had to make this work.
I spied a man’s silhouette through the frosted glass of my front door as I approached. Tall. Muscular. Surely this wasn’t the new nanny.
I opened the door, expecting a college kid, but he was all man. And I couldn’t stop my eyes from roaming his features. Dark chestnut hair that was longer on the top than the sides. Skin with a
golden hue. He was dressed professionally—wearing a pair of fitted chinos and a button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. But it did nothing to hide the magnificent body beneath the clothes. He looked like someone who belonged on a Hollywood set, not…I swallowed…a nanny. Still, he could just be my new neighbor. My new, incredibly hot neighbor.
“Hi,” he said, and my knees nearly buckled at the richness of his baritone voice. At his dazzlingly white smile. “I’m Preston Hawthorne. From the Hartwell Agency.”
My mouth went dry, but I forced myself to speak. “Yes.” I smiled. “I’m Alexis Black. Please,” I said, opening the door wide. “Come in.”
I could feel his eyes on me as I led him through the house. “Soph,” I called. “There’s someone here I want you to meet. Sophia?” I called out again when she didn’t answer.
I turned to Preston. “She’s probably in her room.”
He smiled, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. Seriously, the man was hot. Like, fry-my-brain hot. And I realized he was staring at me expectantly, as if he’d asked me a question and was waiting for an answer.
“I’m sorry. What?”
More like, what the hell was wrong with me? We lived in LA—Hollywood. I interacted with beautiful people all the time, especially in my line of work. Beautiful, wealthy, successful people. And I never felt intimidated. Never got tongue-tied. But Preston seemed to have a strange effect on me, and I wasn’t entirely sure what to make of it.
He chuckled, the rich sound sending vibrations through me that resonated deep in my core. “I asked if we should go find her. The first time I meet a kid, I like to do it on their turf—where they play.”
I smiled brightly, wondering how much of a disaster Sophia’s room was. Usually, she and Gabby would play and then pick up. But I’d just been thankful she’d entertained herself while I worked. I hadn’t cared about the cleanup. Until now.
I resisted the urge to rush up the stairs ahead of Preston to check. It was tempting, but…if he was going to spend the summer with us, he deserved to know what he was getting himself into. Especially if he was going to be sleeping here.
Not here, I reminded myself. In the pool house. With at least two locked doors between us.
“Have you nannied for many girls, or has it mostly been boys?” I asked when we reached the upstairs landing.
I could hear Sophia talking to her toys in her room, and I leaned against the banister, interested to know more about Preston.
“I spent the last year with a little boy Sophia’s age. But it was part time. I watched him after school and during breaks, as well as the occasional evening.”
“So, it wasn’t a live-in situation.”
“No,” he hedged. “But I did travel with his family to the Bahamas over spring break. And, yes, I’ve nannied for girls. It’s just that my longest, most recent, placement was for a boy. He goes to the same school as Sophia. Well, at least, he did.”
I nodded. “And they’re moving, right?”
“Yes.”
His blue eyes were so expressive, framed with dark lashes and dark brows. I was tempted to stare into them all day.
“Well,” I said, pushing off the banister. “I hope you’re comfortable with dressing in drag,” I teased. “Because Sophia loves all things pink, glitter, and dress-up.”
He coughed a few times. “I’m game for anything.” He leaned in, brushing against me as he passed.
My heart was racing, and I stood there a moment, staring after him. Had I imagined the seductive lilt to his tone?
I closed my eyes and took a few calming breaths. Get it together, Alexis.
When I entered Sophia’s room, she was in her closet. Dresses and accessories were flying through the open doorway. I watched Preston’s expression for annoyance or surprise, but he merely seemed amused.
“Princess Sophia,” he said, projecting his voice.
All movement stopped. There were no more flying shoes. No boas or tiaras being tossed from the closet. She peeked her head around the doorway, tentatively glancing between Preston and me. I gave her a reassuring smile.
“Princess Sophia,” he said again, addressing her as though she truly were royalty. She perked up, straightening. “My name is Sir Preston, and I’ve been sent to your kingdom on a noble quest.”
Her eyes went wide, and I knew she was eating this up. “You have?”
He nodded, and I watched their interaction with rapt interest. Sophia was outgoing by nature, but it often took her a while to warm up to new people. With Preston, she seemed as captivated by him as I was.
I couldn’t help but stare. The sight of this tall, muscular man sitting on the floor and playing with my daughter while wearing a crown was almost more than I could handle. He smiled at her the entire time, spoke with an impressive British accent, and made her laugh. I didn’t know if Sophia liked Preston as much as I did, but I was already under his spell.
Was he attractive? Yes. But I didn’t think it would be an issue. As Lauren would say, “I can appreciate the candy without sampling it.” I needed help, and Preston was willing to step in. He was here to do a job, nothing else.
Chapter Four
“Sir Preston,” Sophia said in a very serious tone. “I have another quest for you.”
“Does it involve raiding the pantry again?” I teased.
She giggled. “Maybe.”
She was entirely too precocious for her own good, or maybe just for my own good. I hadn’t been offered the placement yet, but I had a good feeling. Sophia and I had clicked, and I found myself feeling hopeful for the first time in days.
This girl was too adorable. And her mom… I shook my head, stealing a glance at Alexis. What were the chances I’d be placed with her? The mystery woman who regularly inhabited my fantasies.
I couldn’t believe it when she’d opened the door. I couldn’t believe the same woman who was seeking a new nanny was the same woman I’d often seen at Theo’s school. The same woman I often found my mind drifting to.
And now, I not only knew her name and address, but I was in her home. Talking to her, getting to know her. And the reality was even better than my fantasies. Well, except for the fact that in my fantasies, I wasn’t her nanny. And she was usually wearing a hell of a lot less.
She stood against the doorframe, scrolling through her phone. She was deep in concentration, her brow pulled together. I used the opportunity to watch her, admiring the loose waves in her hair, the bow of her lips, the swell of her breasts. She was wearing some kind of short-shirt combo that revealed a large expanse of bare skin on her back. And that wasn’t even the best part. The best part was her toned, tanned legs, which were begging to be touched.
Her phone rang, snapping my attention away from her and back to her daughter. The one I was supposed to be keeping my eyes on.
“I have to take this,” Alexis said before excusing herself to the hall.
I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but I could hear snippets of the conversation. She sounded confident, in her element, and she seemed to be negotiating something—a property deal. It only made me more curious about her, and I was already extremely curious as it was.
I wanted to know everything about her. More than anything, though, I wanted to know if she was single. Her ring finger was bare, and I hadn’t once heard her refer to a husband. One hadn’t been mentioned in the file either. Not that I’d spent a ton of time reading it, but I certainly would now.
“Does your mom spend a lot of time on her phone?” I asked.
I’d worked for a number of affluent families, and I’d seen the crazy hours the parents sometimes pulled. Working evenings and weekends was often the norm. And Alexis had a nice home, more than nice. It was a stunning two-story with pale wood floors, lots of natural light, and a huge pool. Considering the location and the size, I knew it wasn’t cheap.
Sophia nodded. “Like you wouldn’t believe. I asked for a phone for my birthday, but she says I’m too young.”
I nodded, though I was surprised by her answer. A number of the kids I’d nannied for had their own phones, even one as young as four. “That’s a bummer. Do many of your friends have phones?”
“Tons of them,” she said. “I’m the only one without a phone.”
I tried to school my features into a neutral expression. I couldn’t understand why anyone under the age of maybe twelve needed a phone. What they needed was less screen time and more human interaction. But, hey, I wasn’t a parent. At least Alexis seemed to have a sensible approach.
“Who would you talk to if you had a phone?” I leaned in, whispering conspiratorially. “Do you have a boyfriend?”
“What?” She jerked her head back, scrunching up her nose. “Eww. Gross.”
I laughed, gratified by her response. But then her expression turned more serious, and I wondered what she was thinking.
I nudged her shoulder with mine, surprised by how quickly we’d developed such a good rapport. How could we not? She was a cute kid with good manners. And I was happy to do anything and everything she wanted. Only an hour into the placement—correction, interview—and I was already wrapped around her little finger. If it were up to Sophia, I was pretty sure I’d already have the job.
“I wish I had a phone so I could FaceTime with my dad.”
“You don’t get to see him much?”
My heart was beating rapidly, but I was pretty sure Sophia didn’t notice. She was too absorbed in her own thoughts.
She stared at the floor, her lips pulled into a frown. “He travels a lot for work.”
“I’m sure you and your mom both miss him very much,” I said.
“My parents are divorced.” Her voice was completely devoid of emotion, and I realized this likely wasn’t a recent thing. “My dad is a musician.”
“Whoa,” I said, latching on to how proud she was of that fact. “That’s cool.”
“Yeah. He’s pretty amazing. What do your parents do?” she asked, as if we were friends, as if she were an adult and we were having a conversation.
She seemed so mature for her age. Whip-smart and funny. She was a firecracker for sure.
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