I watch her face. Caroline doesn’t seem happy about that.
“Right. I thought that was the plan,” I say. “You were just filling in.”
She nods. “I know. Of course, that was the plan. It’s a good thing.”
She doesn’t seem to really think it’s a good thing. “Have you met any of them?” I ask.
“One. The one applying for the night shift. Kyle.”
She says the name with a touch of derision that doesn’t make sense. “A male nanny?” That would maybe be great for Grayson to see a guy interacting with Evelyn.
“Nope. A very pretty, young, single woman who Evelyn seemed fine with.”
I lift a brow. Caroline sounds irritated by all of that.
“And what did you think?”
Caroline shrugs, her eyes on the top of Evelyn’s sock. She’s running her finger over the embroidered duck on the side of the baby’s sock.
“She seemed…okay.”
Just okay. I don’t know if I believe her. Caroline’s getting attached. Of course, it’s impossible not to fall for Evelyn, in my opinion, but I love seeing Caroline sweet for her.
Caroline is a teacher, so obviously she has a soft spot for kids, but I don’t know that she’s been around a lot of babies. I love how natural she’s been with both Evelyn and Noah.
“You don’t think she’s qualified?” I ask.
I doubt that very much. Grayson Ross is not the kind of man to even bother to interview someone who doesn’t check every single box on his likely ridiculous list of qualifications for any position. Nanny for his daughter? Yeah, I’m sure to even get a meeting, these women are more than qualified.
“She’s qualified. She’s just…stiff. She was wearing a skirt. And heels. Like she was dressing for an office instead of for taking care of a baby.” Caroline runs a hand over her own rumpled clothes. “How’s she going to get on the floor and play with Evie in a pencil skirt?”
“Maybe that was just because she wanted to look professional for the interview.”
“Hmm.” She sounds less than convinced.
“I thought it was the night shift, anyway,” I say. “Won’t Evie be sleeping?”
Caroline frowns. “Whatever. I’m just saying she doesn’tseemlike a nanny. Which sheisn’t.She’s going to law school.”
Smart too. “Wow, that’s impressive.”
Caroline glares at me as if I’m the one who talked Kyle into being a lawyer. “Is it? Or does it mean she’ll be distracted from taking care of Evelyn? And does Grayson really need more suits in his life? Seriously? Did he even look past her uptight clothes or did he just see the button-down and think ‘well, of course, she knows what she’s doing’?”
I laugh. “I think Grayson Ross bases hiring decisions on more than wardrobe.” I look her up and down. “Look at you. You’ve got possession of his daughter right now and you look like you just rolled out of bed.”
Her cheeks suddenly flush pink. “Oh. Well…I did. And, I, um…I’m not… I mean, Grayson was…” She stammers to a stop and shrugs. “He was desperate when he hired me.”
“True,” I agree. There’s no arguing that. “But still, he trusts you completely with Evelyn, and you don’t wear pencil skirts and heels and aren’t going to law school. I think he’s basing this decision on more than all of that. Don’t worry. Evelyn will be okay.”
She runs her hand over Evelyn’s head. “Yeah. Okay. You’re right.”
But I sense there’s something more. She’s a little jealous of someone else spending time with and being important to Evelyn. But she’s also jealous of this person getting close to Grayson. This person she thinks is more his type than she is.
Dammit.
Caroline takes another breath and meets my gaze. “I don’t suppose you could keep Evelyn and start class without me?”
I frown. “Sure. But that doesn’t sound like everything’s okay.”
