Her eyes stay fixed on mine, and when her tongue slides across her bottom lip, I swallow hard.
"And how long do you think you can commit to this job?"
She's smart, and there's no way I'll pretend that this job is a forever thing. I don't want to lie to her, anyway.
"If you take me on, I'll stay until the end of school year, that's a promise," I tell her. "But I've had an interview at Saltford Bay Middle School. Mrs. Harriman is retiring next fall and if I’m offered a position, I’ll take it."
There's a pause and Rika seems to be absorbing this information. I wish I could promise her that I'll stay with her family forever, but it's simply not the truth.
"Okay, this could work," she says, almost in a whisper. "I assume you're familiar with the town and where the schools are?"
"I was raised right here in town," I say. "My grandfather worked for the police department until about ten years ago. I know this town like the back of my hand."
"Perfect."
Her lashes sweep down over her cheeks as she inhales, her chest rising with the breath. She looks away, but I can't. I'm captivated. It's been a while since I've wanted a woman this completely, and man, do I want Rika.
Which is wrong. So damn wrong.
"I get home around seven most days," she continues. "So you'll need to give the kids dinner. I try my best to come to Matthew's soccer practice and Zoe's dance classes, but I can't always make it, and after that, I have to get back to work. In the morning, I leave around six thirty, meaning you'd have to give the kids breakfast and get them ready for school."
"That works for me."
"Well, if you're okay with those hours, and you still want to work for me, I'd really like to hire you right now." She clears her throat and stands. "You can bring some things over Sunday night and I’ll show you the apartment downstairs. You can start on Monday morning, if that's okay with you."
"Great!"
Rika lifts a hand like she wants to temper my enthusiasm.
"It won't be easy. Zoe is hell-bent on torturing anyone I hire."
I scoff. "Don't worry about Zoe. She's a great kid."
I smile at her, but she doesn't smile back. She looks pained as her gaze meets mine again.
"I really appreciate your willingness to take us on," she says.
"The pleasure is all mine."
Rika blinks at me, and I wince.
Yeah, that came out lower and rougher than I meant it to, but it's too late now.
I'm not usually unprofessional. I take my work seriously, and I intend to take this job seriously too. But I've never been attracted to my boss before.
I probably shouldn't take this job. It doesn't offer the hours I need, and I'm way too attracted to Rika.
But these kids need me. And I feel like their mom does too.
And boy, do I want to be needed by Rika Everdeen.
Chapter 7
Rika
It'sFridaymorningandI feel like tiny gremlins are crawling inside my skull and doing demolition work from the inside. It hurts that much.
I push my chair back and massage my temple, then I close my eyes and count to ten. Then twenty. Then I give up counting and just focus on breathing.
