I quickly tap out a reply.
So far, you’re an exemplary employee. Looking forward to tomorrow.
A few seconds pass, and I’m walking to the door as the gray bubble floats, indicating she’s typing a reply. For as long as it takes, I’m a little surprised it’s only two words.
Me too.
3
Ruby
“Wake up! Wake up! Church time!” My ears flash with pain as my mother stomps around my room, opening the blinds and talking way too loud. “You want to hoot with the owls all night, you have to fly with the eagles all morning.”
“That’s not how that saying goes.” I growl, pulling a pillow over my head. “Stop being so loud. And turn off the sun!”
I can’t wait to get my own place.
“Get up, Ruby Banks!” She takes the pillow off my head and tosses it aside. “You live in my house, you go to church. Now go and take a shower. We leave in fifteen minutes.”
Rolling onto my side, I look at the clock. It’s not even eight yet. “Church doesn’t start until ten!”
“We signed up to help with the senior breakfast this morning. It starts before Sunday school. Eight thirty.”
“We signed up to help? We?” I like that… I grumble as I stomp to the shower. “I didn’t sign up for anything.”
Warm water rouses me, and the first thing I remember is Remington Key. Hell, what did I agree to do last night? I’ve lost my mind. Or have I?
Remington Key has a straight, white smile and an adorable dimple in his left cheek. He has warm hazel eyes and wavy, caramel brown hair. His hands are long and elegant, and when I slipped off my stool last night, he caught me in the strongest embrace.
His muscles were hard and lined through his shirt, and I didn’t want to let him go. I slid my hands slowly up the hard ridges, imagining what might be under that soft fabric. Water runs down my face, and I tilt my chin up, picturing his sexy lips touching mine, threading my fingers in those soft waves, wrapping my legs around his narrow waist… Damn, that’s hot…
My hand slips between my thighs, and I finger the little bud hidden there. I move my hand back and forth, circling, massaging, rising onto my toes as I imagine his hard dick teasing my entrance, nudging, pushing, pillaging my insides, sliding in and out, all the way to the hilt, pushing me higher, higher…
My jaw drops, my eyes squeeze shut… Oh, god, I’m coming…
“Ten-minute warning!” My mother’s loud voice jumps me out of my orgasm.
“Jesus!” I shout, my heart flying, and my entire body on edge.
“Do not take the lord’s name in vain!”
“Or what?” I shout back, shutting off the tap and feeling very frustrated.
Drying off quickly, I think about what I’ve done. Have I lost my freakin’ mind? I just spent the last several minutes rubbing one out while I dreamed of screwing my new boss…
That does it. I can’t work for Remington Key. He’s too hot.
Then I remember the carrot: Five hundred dollars a day.
Holy shit, that’s fifteen thousand dollars a month! How loaded is this guy? And why the fuck didn’t I remember meeting him at church?
Shaking my head, I apply light makeup—powder on the nose, cat eyes, pale pink lip. He was drunk. He’s going to call me today and apologize, and I’ll be back on the job market.
Still… He seemed pretty serious. What if he doesn’t back out?
My stomach squeezes, and I swallow a squeal. I could do a lot with fifteen thousand dollars a month. Standing in front of the mirror, I take a few deep breaths and evaluate my appearance. I look responsible, competent, professional. I would trust me with my kid.
If this is for real, and ridiculously hot Remington Key really wants to pay me an insane amount of money to be his nanny, I will do it.
He said he needs help, and it’s the right and Christian thing to do.
I can do this.
Leaning forward, I softly order, “Don’t fuck it up.”
By the time we finish cleaning up after those messy old people, service has already begun. I don’t mind being late, because Pastor Hibbert’s sermons always put me to sleep. Also because it means Ma and I get to sit in one of the open pews near the back, rather than her favorite spot right up front.
The congregation is singing “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” and I take this opportunity to turn my eyes upon Remington Key sitting beside a silver-haired woman who I assume is Eleanor, his mother-in-law. She’s dressed in a pale blue suit, and she looks very formal and strict. She’s vaguely familiar. I’m sure I’ve seen her at one of Ma’s many Bible studies.
Remi’s wearing a tailored brown suit, and now that he’s standing, not sitting on a barstool, I realize he’s tall. He’s also slim, but not skinny. I bet he’s hiding a hot, athletic bod under all that expensive-looking fabric. A Jamie Dornan in Fifty Shades Freed kind of bod.
I do a quick scan of the backs of heads. Dagwood is here, sitting with his wife Dotty. Mrs. Stern and her son Ralph are behind them. I do a shiver and continue looking, but I don’t see Drew anywhere. Not that I’m surprised.
We’re instructed to sit, and I watch as Remi makes sure Eleanor has everything she needs. What a gentleman. Just before he takes a seat, those hazel eyes sweep the room, and when they meet mine, a shot of adrenaline sizzles in my lower stomach.
A tiny smile curls my lips, and the side of his mouth moves upward. That dimple appears briefly, and I have to shift in my seat. Damn, he is so effing hot.
No, I don’t think the F-bomb in church.
Yes, my mom is in my head.
Back to my hot boss… I can’t believe he’s lived here four years. Granted, I don’t make it to church every single Sunday, but hell, I must be sleeping through a lot of sermons. Maybe he misses the Sundays I’m here and vice versa. Yes, that has to be what happens.
His head is turned to the side, and I admire his square jaw as he listens politely to Pastor Hibbert talking about helping others. A few natural highlights are right at the tips of his brown hair. I didn’t notice it in the bar last night, and I bet as soon as he gets a haircut, they’ll be gone. The thought makes me sad.
I tune in for a second, and the verse is about some deaconess who helped the apostles. Finally, the pastor tells us to close our eyes and ask God to help us see people in the community who need a little time, a little friendship, a little faith.
Clearly, this is a direct sign God wants me to accept the job working with Remi. I was meant to see he needs help and offer to give it to him. Mission accepted, God.
The Amens ring out, and we’re on our feet, headed to the door as the organ plays the Doxology. Once we’re outside, I linger on the front lawn, wondering if Remi might want to chat while we’re all here together.
“What are you waiting for?” Ma stops her progress toward the parking lot and walks back to where I stand.
“I’m meeting someone… Do you know Remington Key?”
“Remington?” Her head cocks to the side like a bird.
“Um.. yeah. I’ll explain later.” I don’t really want to go into the details with her. No telling what she’ll say when she hears I’m moving into his house and how much he’s paying me.
Anyway, here he comes, and my heart beats faster. Why the hell am I nervous? I don’t know.
“Thanks for waiting.” He walks quickly to where I’m standing, and thankfully Ma falls silent.
“Hi.” I feel like I’m smiling too big, so I clear my throat and glance down at my black platform shoes. I’m so glad I wore them, since he’s tall. “I thought I might hang around and meet Lillie.”
“Eleanor went to get her from Sunday school.” He reaches up to rub the back of his neck while he looks toward the building running parallel to the sanctuary, and I can almost see that bicep flexing in his arm. “I guess that’s something you could do. If you still want the job, I mean.”
I glance across the lawn at the dozens of children, from toddlers to elementary schoo
l-age kids, running out the doors of the other building to meet their parents.
More nerves flutter in my insides. Am I really doing this?
Fifteen thousand dollars, Ruby.
Yes, I am.
“I can do that.” I don’t want to make it seem like I’m not worth it. “It’ll be one of my many tasks.”
Those golden-hazel eyes meet mine, and the flutters turn to butterflies. His eyes graze over my white lace blouse, and I swear I can feel them touching my skin. It’s like he’s undressing me, but carefully, delicately…
It’s fucking hot.
What? We’re on the church lawn.
Blinking away, he pulls a long, white envelope from his breast pocket. “I took some time this morning to write up the contract. You can look over it and bring it back this evening. Once you’ve decided.”
“Sure.” I take it from him and slip it into my bag. “I’m about a hundred percent decided.”
Or fifteen thousand percent.
At last Eleanor emerges holding a little girl’s hand. As soon as she sees us, she tosses her grandmother’s hand aside and takes off running toward her dad.
Light brown pigtails bounce around her shoulders, and she’s wearing a cute green dress with a navy bow and a white collar. She has a little white cardigan on top, and when she reaches Remi, she jumps.
He lifts her to his chest almost as if it were choreographed, and she throws her arms around his neck. “I made you a picture, Daddy, but Gigi said she has to hold it because it’s all wet.”
“I can’t wait to see it.” He kisses her cheek, and I swear to God, my insides are just all mush at the cuteness overload… and possibly a teensy bit envious.
I can’t imagine doing what she just did with my dad.
Not that I care anymore, of course.
“I want you to meet someone.” Remi turns to me, and I see how much they look alike. Her hair is lighter than his, but they have the same eyes, the same cute dimple in their cheeks. “Lillie, I’d like you to meet Miss Ruby Banks.”
She squirms forward, and I totally remember meeting them six months ago. Holy shit. She was squirming all over him, and I took one look and looked the other way. I could kick myself in the pants. Whatever. We’re here now.
“How do you do, Miss Ruby Banks?” Lillie holds out her little hand, and I squat down to her level to take it.
“Very well, thank you.” I shake her hand, and we both smile. “You’re very polite.”
“My Gigi said good manners show people you care.”
My eyebrows rise, and I glance up at her father. Remi shrugs.
“You’re very smart, too. I bet you make good grades in school.”
The little girl nods. “I do. You’re pretty.” Lillie looks up at her dad. “Is Ruby coming over for a playdate?”
“Ruby might be coming over to stay with us. If that’s okay with you.” He lifts the little girl to his hip again just as Eleanor reaches us.
“Like for a sleepover?” Lillie’s voice is loud, and Eleanor’s face is pure shock.
“I’m sorry. What did I miss?” A fake smile stretches her cheeks, and Eleanor’s voice sounds exactly as I expected it would—old, refined, and a touch bitchy.
She places an elegant hand on the top of her chest as Ma finds her voice as well.
“Ruby?” Her tone makes me wince. “What is he saying?”
“Sorry.” Remi steps forward. “I’m Remington Key.”
Ma takes his hand briefly. “June Banks, Ruby’s mother.” She looks at Eleanor. “We met at the ladies’ auxiliary brunch.”
“Yes,” Eleanor nods. “You’re the church secretary.”
Ma hated that brunch. She talked about it for two days, how the ladies there were not very Christlike. I never knew exactly what she meant, but now I think I have an idea with the way Eleanor says secretary. Like it’s a dirty word.
What she doesn’t know is just because my mom is tight-fisted and works as the church secretary, she has a shit-ton of money socked away. Still, even though my dad made us wealthy, Ma never allowed us to act materialistic or better than anyone. To her, valuing people simply because of how much money is in their bank account is as bad as lying.
“Remington.” Eleanor touches her son-in-law’s arm. “What is going on here?”
Remi’s eyes meet mine, and I swear in that moment, the decision is made. “Why don’t we discuss it over lunch.”
I follow his lead, taking my mom by the arm. “Come on, Ma. I’ll tell you everything over dumplings.”
“I made Sundubu-jjigae,” She is not amused, and I know she didn’t miss a thing.
“Sounds great.” I love her spicy tofu soup. “I’ll fill you in at home.”
Elegant bowls of steaming brown soup sit in front of us, and the Asian Inquisition continues. “A babysitting job?” Disgust permeates her tone.
“A full-time nanny position.” I have the contract out on the table beside my bowl, and I’m quickly scanning the list of duties. It’s exactly what he said they would be. “I’ll take care of his daughter, basically like her mother would.”
“You are not her mother.” She spoons the soup, keeping her eyes on mine. “What about your work at the clinic?”
“I’ve been there almost a year.” My lips tighten, and I say what I haven’t even told Drew yet. “I’m not sure I like the work.”
She accepts this, lifting her chin after she takes another bite. “Still, childcare is a step down.”
Nodding, I eat some of my own lunch. “Normally, I’d agree with you, but this is different, bigger than just babysitting, and he’s paying me a lot of money.” That yearning is in my chest again. It makes me feel like I can’t breathe. “I’ll actually be able to pay my own bills. I can get my own place. After all, I can’t live with you forever.”
I add the last bit with a laugh, but Ma emphatically objects. “Nonsense! I lived with my parents until I married your father.”
“You were twenty-one when you married Dad.”
“And we had a long and happy life together.”
“Did you?” I can’t keep the skepticism out of my voice. It’s hard to believe Dad was nice to anybody.
“Ruby Banks. Your father was a good man. He had very high standards.”
That’s one way of putting it. “Well, I’m taking this job.”
She shakes her head. “Remington Key is a handsome man. You cannot work for him.”
I snort a laugh. “That’s just… Looksism!”
“You made up that word.” Her voice is stern as she sips another spoonful of soup. “You don’t know how to cook.”
“I’ll learn.” How hard can it be? I also don’t know anything about kids, but Lillie’s not a baby.
“You will be living in sin with him.”
“I will be living in the lap of luxury, getting paid a lot of money I will then use to figure out what I want to do with my career.”
She sits back in her chair and crosses her arms, still not smiling. “What you will do is get in trouble.”
My stomach squirms, but I won’t give in to this feeling. I will not let her be right. Emotions come and go, and I will not blow a great opportunity just because the guy holding it out to me happens to be obscenely sexy.
I’ve dated more guys than I can count, and I’ve always been in control of the situation. There is no reason this time should be any different.
Even if it is, I will not let my hormones or Ma’s negative attitude screw it up. Steeling my resolve, I focus on my vow to myself in the bathroom mirror.
“Will you have a little faith? Please?” I can’t believe how calm my voice is. “I will not get in trouble. I’ll get what I want.”
“Only if you know what you want.”
That’s the problem—I think I do.
4
Remi
Lillie chases a macaroni noodle around her bowl with her fingers, and Eleanor grabs her wrist, wiping her small hand with a cloth. It’s the only thing that
breaks her lecture.
“Use your fork, Lillian.” Just as fast, she’s back on me. “You cannot hire that girl to live in this house.”
“I can do whatever I want.” My voice is level. “It’s my house.”
Eleanor’s voice goes low. “I saw the way you spoke to her at church. You have chemistry with that girl. It’s a bad idea.”
“If I thought it was a bad idea, I wouldn’t have given her a contract and asked her to start this evening.”
Lillie looks up from her plate, where she’s putting mac and cheese on her fork with her fingers. “What’s chemistry, Daddy?”
Her question makes me grin. “Remember Bill Nye the science guy?”
She nods quickly, that cute little dimple appearing in her cheek when she smiles. I wasn’t sure I could love someone this much until she was born. Now I can’t imagine my life without her.
“Well,” I continue. “He does chemistry.”
Her little eyes widen. “He makes things go boom! Will you make Ruby go boom?”
I cough a laugh, shifting in my seat and imagining how that might go… and how it might sound. “It’s different with people, honey.”
Of course, Eleanor’s face is a disapproving, I told you so. “Lillian, take your hands out of your food.” She wipes my daughter’s hand again. “What are her qualifications?”
Sitting back, I cross my arms over my chest. “She has a master’s degree, and she’s a licensed therapist.”
“Therapists are all crazy. It’s why they do what they do.”
“She is not crazy.” A little nutty, maybe, but not crazy.
“We don’t need her.”
“We do.” I fight to keep the edge out of my tone. “Friday night was the perfect example.”
“I was right Friday night.”
Anger rises in my stomach, but I fight it down. I won’t let her bait me.
Instead, I take a different approach. “You’re her grandmother, Eleanor. You should be spoiling her, not worrying about following my rules.”
She sits back, daring to act offended. “I guess you think I was a horrible mother.”
Tempt Me: A First Class Romance Collection Page 67
