On second thought. I remember that woman’s picture. Elegant brunette.
“Sure. Okay. I can stay for a bit.”
“Are you…unwell?” Grayson asks, eyes raking over me.
“I have the wine flu,” I admit. “Mostly I’m just tired. Glad to see I’m fooling you, though.”
He laughs. “You don’t look terrible. Just not quite yourself. Too much wine with James and Cas?”
It doesn’t sound like he cares one way or the other if I got drunk with his next-door neighbors. Nor is he offering to let me off the hook now that I’ve told him I don’t feel great.
“Yes.” I take another sip of water.
I can’t blame Cas or James or even Frannie for my head pounding. This is my fault. I know better. It’s why I don’t really drink. I also have always gone with a safety first mentality since I travel so much. It’s never wise for a woman traveling by herself to get drunk in an unfamiliar place where she doesn’t speak the language.
“I’m not going to say I’m never drinking again, but I’m going to stick to my one glass of wine policy for the foreseeable future.”
“That’s smart. I don’t see myself drinking too much either. I can’t imagine taking care of a baby with a pounding head.”
I blink. I stare. I wait for him to realize what the hell he has just said.
Nope.
He doesn’t even register the irony of that statement.
Instead, he’s clearing off the dining table of the mess from several meals. Grayson still seems to be running behind on general housekeeping, though he is taking the trash out every day.
Itishard to take care of a baby with a pounding head, like I’ve been doing all day.
But, temporary or not, I’m a hired employee, so I can’t leave him in a lurch because I don’t know my limit. Though I actually know my limit, I just ignored it and blew right past it, partly because of the man making a face at his own dirty dishes.
He’s stacking plates in the dishwasher and loading it with bottles when his phone dings. “She’s here.”
He sounds excited, which annoys me.
I touch Evelyn’s chubby leg, running my finger down over her soft skin. I’m going to miss this little girl. I feel a surge of protectiveness. This nanny better bring it.
Forcing myself to sit up, I straighten my sloppy bun and rest my back against the sofa as Grayson opens the door and enthusiastically greets the woman. All I can see is slim legs in a pencil skirt.
“Thank you for coming,” he says. “So you’re interested in the nighttime position? The hours are eleven to seven.”
“Yes, I am. Thank you for meeting with me.”
She has a nice voice. The right tone. Not too upbeat but not too flat either.
I pull Evelyn onto my lap and kiss the top of her head.
“Oh, is this little Evelyn?” she says, as Grayson leads her into the living room.
She’s hotter than she was in her picture. She’s dressed like she works in a law office. White button up shirt, navy skirt, sensible pumps. She has shiny, straight, non-frizzy hair, which reminds me just how rough my own hair is today. It’s sloppy and frizzy and my skin is dull, my face puffy from the wine.
“Hi,” she murmurs directly to Evelyn, dropping down into a squat like she’s not wearing a slender skirt and heels. “I’m Kyle.”
She glances up at me and gives a shrug. “My parents wanted a boy,” she says, rolling her eyes a little and smiling at me. “Are you the day nanny?”
“Yes,” I say, omitting that this is a temporary position for me. I’m feeling a little territorial. “I’m Caroline. It’s nice to meet you.”
Kyle gives Evelyn another smile, who is staring at her unblinkingly. Then she stands up and allows Grayson to pull a chair out for her to sit down.
