Zoey giggled. "You don't gotta die, mister, it's just a dress."
The man nodded. "Wise words." He turned to me with a brilliant white smile. "Are you this little lady's father?"
My face heated up when I realized he was talking to me. I smashed my frazzled brain cells together to answer him.
"Y-yes, that's right," I said. "That's Zoey. I'm Chris."
"Name's Roshan." He extended a hand. I shook it, hoping my palms weren't sweating. He had a large warm hand with pronounced, sexy knuckles.
"Nice to meet you," I said. God, keeping my voice steady was an Olympic feat.
"Likewise." His black eyes sparkled.
In my peripheral vision, I saw Forest smirk knowingly. Dammit, could they tell I was crushing on this man already? Forest nodded their head in the direction of the new flyer. My brain slowly caught up with me.
Right. Roshan was the manny they'd been telling me about.
As if to give me an opening to read the flyer, Forest said, "Why don't I help you up front, sir? We just baked a new batch of your regular order."
Roshan hesitated, his gaze still on me. It was almost like he was afraid I'd disappear if he stopped looking at me. He slowly nodded and said, "Yes, don't mind if I do."
I'd reassure him that I wasn't going anywhere, but that would be incredibly weird to say to somebody I just met.
As Forest gathered Roshan's gigantic order, I peeked at the flyer. It was highly professional, totally different than any other babysitting service's ad. There was a line of fresh new rip-off contact strips at the bottom. For some reason, I had the urge to steal them all so nobody else could take them, but that was crazy and weird. Instead I took one and slipped it into my pocket, feeling like a thief smuggling a rare item.
"I wanna see the gold letters," Zoey said, pointing at my pocket.
Since she wanted one too, I sneakily ripped off the second strip of paper. Hey, we were two people after all.
“Ooh, shiny," she murmured, staring at the paper strip.
Roshan jogged over carrying two huge bags filled to the brim with boxes containing pastries and baked goods. He smelled like a walking personification of sugar.
But beneath that sweetness was another scent, something spicy and musky. It sent a shiver down my spine.
"Sorry to impose," Roshan said. "But I caught a glimpse of you eyeing my ad."
I nodded. "It says you're an affordable manny?"
"That's right."
I bit my lip. He didn't state his rates on the contact slip, so I'd have to ask him directly. I prepared myself to be disappointed, because if I couldn't afford any other babysitter, why would I be able to affordhisservices?
"Could you please tell me what you charge?" I asked.
Roshan smiled. "Sure."
He leaned in close enough to whisper in my ear. My heart raced like it was going to burst out of my chest. Up close, I smelled his natural alpha scent clearly. It sent a jolt down between my thighs.
What the hell?
While I was battling off weird sexual urges, Roshan whispered a number. It took me a second to register the weight of it.
"Wait. Per day?" I asked, incredulous.
"No. That's per month."
My jaw dropped. "You're joking. You can't possibly charge that little. That's highway robbery, and I'd be the robber!"
