“Yeah, but you saved my ass. Seriously, Sloane, I don’t know how to thank you.”
“You’re paying me.” She laughs.
I can’t help but laugh along with her. “I guess I am.” I chuckle. “About your pay. The salary is $120,000 a year, plus room and board. You can drive the SUV in the garage anytime you have Cam with you, or when running errands for the house.”
She coughs, and I sit up, ready to assist her. She taps at her chest. Her mouth is hanging open, and her eyes are as big as saucers. “Can you repeat that?”
I smirk and repeat the pay and benefits. “Mrs. Ward didn’t need it, but I can also offer you an independent healthcare plan. I’ll call my attorney on Monday, and he’ll set it up when he writes up your contract.”
“Be careful, Daddy Sin, I might never leave,” she says. Her tone is teasing, but the look in her eyes tells me that she’s not kidding at all.
“We can talk about that, too,” I tell her. Having Sloane here full-time would be easier than going through the interview process, but then again, I’m not sure having a sexy-as-hell nanny permanently is the right move.
Did I forget to mention that? Sloane Peterson is a smoke show. Dirty-blonde hair, dark brown eyes that remind me of melted milk chocolate, a bright smile, legs a mile long, and add in her personality, and she’s the whole package. Oh, and my son loves her, as does everyone else in my family. So, somehow, I need to make myself forget that she’s a knockout and only see her as my son’s nanny.
Yeah, it would be easy if she took this gig full-time, but it would also be harder. No pun intended.
“Tell me about his routine.”
“Like Mrs. Ward said, he’s a pretty easy kid. Breakfast, playtime, lunch, nap, playtime, dinner, playtime, bath, and bed.” I rattle off my son’s routine.
“He’s still taking good naps?”
“For now. He’s down to one long nap in the afternoon. He no longer takes a morning nap, unless he’s had an adventurous day.”
“No allergies, right?”
“None that we’re yet aware of. Hopefully, it stays that way.”
“I know you like to limit screen time.”
“Yes, but there are some days he’s just fussy, or I am, and it happens. I trust you with him, Sloane. Hell, we didn’t even need this meeting. You know a lot about his routine already just from being around us so much.”
“I know, but it’s still good for me to hear it from you now. This conversation ensures we’re both on the same page.”
“You’re right. Thank you.” I feel like I’ve said that a lot tonight, but I can’t help it. I’m so grateful for her help.
“Anything he’s not allowed to do or have?”
“No caffeine. Natasha gave him a pop once before dropping him off. Not only is it full of sugar, but the caffeine had him wide-awake and cranky most of the night.”
“Yikes.”
“Yeah, it wasn’t a good night.”
“What about pediatrician numbers and all that?”
“I’ll get a list together with names for you. I’ll also call and update their system, taking off Mrs. Ward and adding you.”
“Great. Do you have any questions for me?” she asks.
“Not that I can think of. It helps that I know you. That Camden knows you. He’s not going to cry when I try to leave you with him.”
“Nope, he’s my little buddy.” She grins, flashing me her beautiful smile of perfectly straight, white teeth.
Fuck me, now is not the time to be thinking about how gorgeous she is. I need to push that to the back of my mind. I don’t know why it’s hitting me so hard in this moment, but I can only guess it’s because it’s just the two of us here in my home, and she looks perfect on my couch, like she belongs there, as if that cushion has been hers from the very start.
“It’s all going to work out, Baker,” she says softly. “You’re a damn good father, and that little boy sleeping peacefully upstairs is lucky to have you. More than that, he’s peaceful because of the love and protection you give him every single day.”
