Playing the Player

by Lisa Brown Roberts

  Two hours later, I was hot and sweaty, but the beds were set up and Trina looked so happy I could hardly take my eyes off her. Was this what it took to make her smile? Do a good deed? Wrestle and joke around with Alex and make her laugh? Maybe I needed to change my strategy.

  “You two are my heroes.” Sharon leaned against a wall, wiping her face with a bandana. She and Trina had moved the boxes and smaller furniture out of the room to make space for the beds.

  “We aim to please, ma’am,” Alex joked, flexing his biceps.

  Trina rolled her eyes, and then smiled at me. I returned it and held her gaze. She didn’t look away.

  “So.” Alex’s voice was loud enough that Trina and I broke our stare to look at him. “If we’re done here, I kind of need to get going.”

  “Of course,” Sharon said. “I’ve kept you all long enough. I’m sure you kids have fun plans on a beautiful summer night.”

  Trina looked at the floor. I wondered if she wanted to bail on our dinner date. I could give her an out, but I didn’t want to. She glanced up at me then Alex. “Um, would you guys mind giving me a ride? I took the bus here.”

  “The least he can do is give you a ride, since you’re buying him dinner,” Alex said, before I could even open my mouth to reply.

  “What he said,” I agreed.

  Trina smiled shyly at me then turned back to Sharon. “I’ll see you next week. Tuesday?”

  Sharon nodded, wiping perspiration from her forehead. “Absolutely. And if you can bring more picture books, that would be great.”

  “Sure,” Trina said. “I’ll check with the library.”

  At my car, Alex leaped into the backseat before I even had a chance to offer Trina shotgun. Subtle was so not his middle name.

  I caught a faint whiff of lavender as Trina settled herself next to me, and it made me smile. I glanced in the rear view mirror and locked eyes with Alex. Crap. His cocky grin told me he hadn’t missed anything between Trina and me. I wanted to slap the smug right off his face, but didn’t think that would win me any points with Trina.

  “So where to?” I kept my eyes on Alex in the mirror.

  “Home,” he said, still smirking like a satisfied cat.

  “I thought you had a date.”

  “I do. But I’m going to shower first. So should you. For Trina’s sake.”

  I sighed, embarrassed. I was going to kill Alex once I got him alone.

  “It’s okay,” Trina said. “We don’t have to go to dinner. You probably have other plans.”

  “He doesn’t,” Alex said at the exact same time I said, “I don’t.”

  Death was too good for him. I’d start with torture. Slow and painful.

  “I’ll drop Alex off first,” I said, glaring at his mocking face in the mirror. I glanced at Trina. “You can hang out at my house while I shower and change.”

  Trina stiffened next to me. “Y-your house?” She sounded panicked.

  “Yeah.” I wondered why she sounded so worried. I didn’t look in the rear view mirror because I knew Alex’s eyes would be bugging out. I never asked girls to my house.

  “Um,” she sounded hesitant. “Maybe I should go home and shower, too? You could drop me off…then pick me up in an hour?”

  “Nah,” Alex piped up from the backseat. “You don’t stink. Girls never do.” He leaned forward and waggled his eyebrows at Trina. “Girls don’t sweat. They glow.”

  I snorted and gave her a sympathetic grin. “I could just make him walk home.”

  “But then I’d be late for Tim,” Alex said. “And he hates that.”

  “You two are like an old married couple,” I muttered.

  He sighed dreamily from the backseat. “I should be so lucky.”

  Trina giggled softly, which made me stupidly happy.

  “Make sure he treats you right, Trina.” Alex leaned forward again, shoving his head between our seats. “If he’s not a perfect gentleman, just text me. I’ll beat his ass.”

  She turned to laugh with Alex, and my breath caught at the sparkle in her eyes and her sly smile. I accidentally slipped a gear, grinding and popping the clutch.

  “Drive much?” Alex smirked. He turned back to Trina, talking like I wasn’t there. “So, a few things you should know. He hates sushi. Likes country music. Pathetic. His music taste is almost as bad as his fashion sense.” He took a breath. “Movies: action flicks, of course. Nothing with subtitles, God forbid. But…” He leaned in close and stage whispered in her ear, “Chick flicks? He’s your guy.”

  Trina’s deep laughter bubbled through the car. If I didn’t need to shift gears, I’d have grabbed Alex by the hair and launched him right out the window.

  After we dropped off Alex, I turned on the radio because I had a desperate need for background noise to calm my nerves. “So, how long have you volunteered at the shelter?”

  “About a year. I started out reading to the kids one night a week, and then it expanded from there. I do whatever Sharon needs me to do.”

  “That’s cool. It seems like a good place. Not that I have anything to compare it to.”

  She relaxed into the seat and stretched out her legs, which I tried not to notice. “It’s a safe place for women and kids. Not that all homeless men are trouble, but sometimes bad stuff happens at the bigger shelters downtown.”

  I nodded, considering this. I remembered how some of the kids had scooted closer to their moms, who’d eyed me anxiously when I stuck my head in the living room to ask the score of the baseball game on the TV.

  “I really appreciated you and Alex coming today, last minute and everything. Sharon was thrilled.”

  “Like I told you, my body’s always available for a good cause.”

  She laughed softly. “So that’s it. All those girls you…hang out with…you’re, uh, doing a good deed?”

  Her words hung in the air between us.

  I could go two ways with this: laugh it off like the man whore I supposedly was, or protest that I wasn’t that kind of guy anymore. The thought startled me. When had I stopped being that guy? Two weeks ago, maybe three? I thought of the girl from the park, and my hands clenched on the steering wheel.

  I darted a glance at Trina. She stared at her lap, twisting her fingers. I noticed her purple nail polish was chipped. I’d never actually noticed a girl’s nail polish before.

  “Not everyone’s as noble as you or Alex,” I finally said. “Some of us are just…I dunno. Loser slackers who have everything handed to them.”

  She tensed and turned to face me. “I didn’t call you…any of those things.”

  I met her gaze as we stopped at a red light. “Not to my face, maybe. But I got the message.” I forced a grin. “Contrary to popular opinion, I’m not just a pretty face. I do actually have feelings.”

  She swallowed, and her cheeks flushed. God, I wanted to kiss her.

  “Slade, I…I’m sorry. You must have heard that from Desi.” She frowned, and I guessed that she’d chew out Desi later, kind of like me and Alex. “I did say that…but it was before I really knew you.” She raised her eyes. “I don’t think that anymore.”

  The light changed, and I tore my gaze away from her as I accelerated. “You don’t think I’m a man skank?” I made my voice light, but my gut tightened as I waited for her answer.

  She took a deep breath before she spoke. “I don’t think you’re a loser, or a slacker. You’re actually…a nice guy. You’re great with kids. You, um, seem to care about people.” She didn’t speak for a long moment. “I, uh, don’t really know about the other part. Not that it’s any of my business.”

  What should I say? Yeah, I dated a lot of girls. But I hadn’t slept with all of them, just a couple. My reputation was bloated with exaggerations and other people’s lies that I’d never bothered to correct. For the first time ever, I wished I had.

  “Home sweet home.” I pulled into the driveway and jumped out of the car. “Come on in and meet the shrinks.”

  She sat in the ca
r, not moving. I walked toward her, leaning into the open window. She stared at the floor mat, and I noticed how her eyelashes brushed her cheeks.

  Damn. I was worse than any of those guys in the stupid movies I watched.

  “Come on. I promise they won’t bite. They’re shrinks, but they take off their mad scientist coats when they’re at home.”

  I forced myself to put my slacker Slade mask back on, to be the cool guy who wasn’t totally rattled about bringing a girl home to meet his parents. A girl who might or might not think I was a total ho. Who might not be interested in pushing this nanny gig beyond the boundaries of work and friendship.

  She finally looked at me, and I was shocked to see how nervous she seemed.

  “Hey,” I spoke softly, like she was a deer that spooked easily. “They’re probably not even home. They go out all the time.” I grinned at her. “Movies with subtitles. Sushi. My favorite stuff.”

  Relief flooded her face, and her cherry lips widened into a relieved smile. “Okay.”

  She stepped out of the car and I wondered why she was so bothered by the idea of meeting my parents. She was the type of girl parents loved. I groaned inwardly, imagining how thrilled they’d be to meet her. I hoped they didn’t embarrass me.

  “So, do they ever, like, psychoanalyze you?” She scuffed her sandal on the sidewalk, not looking at me.

  I touched her shoulder, hyperaware of the warmth of her skin under my hand. “Don’t stress, BB. They’re cool.”

  “If you say so.” She smiled up at me, shy and sweet. My mouth went dry, and I ran up the steps ahead of her.

  Dad stood in the kitchen pouring coffee, even though it was hot as hell outside. His eyes widened when Trina stepped into the room behind me, but he recovered quickly. “Your nose for fresh coffee never fails you.”

  “Dad, this is Trina Clemons. My nanny partner.”

  He stepped forward and held out his hand. “Hi Trina, I’m Dad. But you can call me Mike. Want some coffee?”

  I watched Trina blush as she shook his hand. For the hundredth time, I wondered how I’d never noticed her—actually noticed her—for so many years.

  “Hi, um, Mike.” Her hand looked so small in his. Fairy hands, complete with chipped purple nails. “Nice to meet you. And, yes I’d love some coffee. It smells awesome.”

  Dad’s smile widened. “Fair Trade. Arabica. Shade grown. I know a roaster across town who gets me the best beans.” He poured her a cup and held it out. “Cream? Sugar?”

  I knew it was a test.

  “No thanks.” She took the cup. “I’ve had your coffee before. It’s so good I’ll take it black.”

  Dad raised an eyebrow at me. “She’s a keeper,” he said.

  I didn’t have to look at Trina to know she was blushing. I glared at Dad, whose eyes glinted with laughter behind his glasses. He leaned against the counter and studied me like a lab specimen.

  “You’re kind of a mess. I didn’t think you were nannying today, but you look like the kids put you through hell and back.”

  I grabbed a cup and poured my own coffee. I dumped in a heaping spoon of sugar just to piss him off.

  “I was moving furniture. At a shelter. Trina asked me for help.” I glanced at him in time to see shock quickly replaced by speculation.

  “Shelter? Which one?” He flicked his eyes to Trina, then back to me.

  “Redemption Family Shelter,” Trina answered. “I’ve volunteered there for a while. We needed to move some beds down from the attic for a new family, so I called Slade. He and Alex were awesome helpers.”

  She sucked down more coffee, smiled at Dad, then stared at her toes. Also painted purple. They matched her fingernails. Huh. Was that a thing girls did?

  “Awesome helpers, eh? I’m so…pleased to hear that.” He studied her carefully then turned his speculative gaze to me.

  I hoped she wasn’t freaking out, because he was totally psychoanalyzing the situation. I shot him a warning glare, which he ignored.

  “Slade! I thought I heard you. You’re just in time to—” Mom stopped short, staring at Trina like she was an alien. “Well, hello there!” She put her hand on her throat, gawking at us like we were celebrities. She was practically giddy. Probably because there was an actual girl in the house. Between her and dad, our date was doomed before it even started.

  And they wondered why I never brought girls home.

  “Karen, this is Trina,” Dad said. “Slade’s nanny partner. And conscience prodder.”

  Mom kept her eyes on Trina, who stared at the floor. “His what?” Mom asked. Trina’s face was so red I hoped she didn’t burst into flames.

  I was never bringing a girl home again. Ever. “Dial it down, docs,” I snapped. “Trina, if you want to ditch my parents and go hang out by the pool while I shower—”

  “Oh, what a wonderful idea,” Mom chirped. “Follow me, Trina. I was just about to head out there. I’ve had a long day.”

  Trina followed my mom, still staring at her feet, Mom chattering one hundred miles per hour. “It is so nice to meet you, Trina! For the first time!”

  What the hell was wrong with my mom tonight?

  Before I could escape the kitchen, Dad speared me with a look. “To what do we owe the honor of meeting your girlfr—”

  “Not my girlfriend,” I interrupted. “Nanny partner, remember? She’s taking me out to dinner to thank me for helping at the shelter today.”

  Dad’s jaw tightened. “You’re making her take you out? You couldn’t just help without expecting something in return?”

  “I’m not making her. At all. She wanted to.” I dumped my priceless coffee down the drain, knowing it made him crazy. No way was I telling him that the dinner was an excuse for me to spend time with her. And that I was planning to pay.

  Why had I listened to Alex about showering? Better to have stunk up the restaurant than to have subjected Trina and me to the parental inquisition.

  “Just leave her alone, okay? You guys are freaking her out.” I dashed out of the room and pounded up the stairs to my bathroom.

  I leaned my head against the shower tiles, letting the water beat down my back. I tried not to imagine the embarrassing questions my mom could throw at Trina.

  So do you think Slade will ever get his act together? He’s really very smart, you know. It’s so exciting that he brought you home! Are you two dating? Is he behaving himself?

  I was losing it. This girl had me spinning in ten directions at once, and I didn’t know what the hell to do about it. I shut off the water and toweled dry. I had to rescue Trina, if she was even still here.

  If I were her, I would’ve bolted.

  Chapter Thirty

  Trina

  June 20, Thursday

  Dr. Edmunds and I spoke in frantic whispers, both of us darting anxious glances at the patio door. She pumped me for information about Slade’s progress, and then asked why I hadn’t cashed all of my paychecks yet.

  “He’s doing great. We need to end the deal,” I whispered. “No more payments. Or reports.”

  She didn’t look convinced. “Really? He’s improved that much? It’s only been a few weeks.”

  I should’ve told her that he didn’t need mentoring. That he’d helped me as much as I’d helped him. But I was terrified he’d appear at any moment.

  “So…” Dr. Edmunds leaned close to me, her eyes bright with interest. “Tonight…is this…are you two actually going on a date?”

  How did I answer that? Was she worried I’d bill her? Time and a half for kissing? The idea made me snort with suppressed laughter and nervous energy. I did not handle stress well. At all.

  “I…uh…” My superior verbal skills fled when I needed them most.

  “Because I have to tell you, Trina. Slade never brings girls home. Well, not since Kristen, but that was ages ago.” She looked ecstatic. “Maybe this nanny job is going to work out even better than I’d hoped.”

  Was she hoping we’d become a thing? While she
was freaking paying me? I needed to set her straight.

  “It’s just a thank you dinner. For helping out at the shelter today.”

  She waggled her eyebrows at me. “Mm hm. Sounds just like a movie. If you want to watch any romantic comedies later, Slade has a…” Her voice trailed away. I followed her gaze to the patio door.

  He stood framed in the doorway, his damp hair loose and brushing his shoulders. His white polo shirt set off his perfect tan. It was ridiculous to expect any girl to maintain long-term immunity to him. It just wasn’t possible.

  “Not wearing a T-shirt,” his mom whispered. “This is definitely a first.”

  Slade kept his eyes on his mom as he crossed the flagstones, glaring a warning at her.

  Too late. He had no idea how many secrets she and I shared about him.

  “We need to get going,” he announced. I caught a whiff of his familiar cologne, reminding me, as always, of pine and sunshine.

  His mom beamed up at him. She shifted in her chair, tucking her feet under her tanned legs. She must spend a lot of time in the pool, when she wasn’t making soul-stealing deals with innocent nannies.

  “Of course, sweetie. You kids have a great time.” She turned her full wattage smile on me, reminding me of her son. “It was great meeting you, Trina. Come back and swim any time!”

  Yeah. Like that was going to happen. I rose from my chair.

  “It was, um, nice meeting you, Dr. Edmunds.”

  Slade looked back and forth between us, frowning slightly. I wondered if he sensed our weird energy.

  “Call me Karen,” she said, shooing us away with a wave. “Go on, you two. Have fun!”

  Slade drove faster than usual as we headed to a Thai restaurant on Broadway that he wanted me to try. “Sorry,” he muttered, increasing the speed.

  “For what?”

  He glanced at me and rolled those topaz eyes. The ones I’d never be immune to again.

  “My parents.” He sighed. “They were in rare form tonight.” He hesitated. “I, uh, don’t bring many people by the house, so when I do, they—”

  “Girls,” I interrupted. “You don’t bring many girls by the house.”