I pace the length of the kitchen. Rosa gives me a look but doesn’t comment. “My nanny just quit. Effective Friday.”
“Shit. That’s rough.”
“I need a replacement. Fast.”
“You want me to ask around? I know some EMTs with wives who nanny.”
“Maybe.” I’m still pacing. My brain is working three steps ahead, and that’s dangerous. “Actually. Your sister.”
Silence on the other end.
Fuck.
Why did I say that?
“Jess?” Ethan sounds confused. Wary. “What about her?”
“She’s between jobs, right? She mentioned something last night about needing work.”
Last night. When I sat next to her at the bar and pretended I wasn’t cataloging every detail.
The way she laughs.
The way she deflects.
The way she tastes.
Stop.
“You want Jess to nanny for you?” Ethan asks slowly.
“I’m just throwing out options.” I force myself to stop pacing. “She needs money. I need help. It could work.”
“Man.” Ethan exhales. “I don’t know. Jess is greatwith kids, don’t get me wrong. But she runs on impulse and heart. Not exactly the Monday-through-Friday type. And definitely not the nanny type. She’s more freestyle than follow-the-rules. As you probably noticed last night.”
I pause a moment.
More freestyle?
Shit.
Does he know I fucked her?
No. No fucking way. He’d be chewing the shit out of me if he knew. He might suspect, maybe. But he doesn’t know.
“I can work with freestyle,” I tell him.
Another pause. Longer this time.
“This have anything to do with last night?” Ethan’s voice has shifted. Less casual. More protective older brother. “You two stayed after I left.”
Oh shit. Be very, very careful...
“We talked.” The lie comes easy. Too easy. “That’s it.”
“Just talked.”
“Just talked.”
