My entire body must show that nothing about that sentence feels normal. Especially as his tone is so simple.
“Why would I do that?” Because seeing him a bit more than I should feels kind of dangerous.
“That favor you owe is the reason. You can pick up Lori and Harry at school for me once in a while, maybe even do a few drop-offs. I need to find more permanent help, but I have to find a new agency that doesn’t know the history of the employment turnover in my house.”
I’m nearly dizzy from shaking my head. “No.” I continue to shake. “I’m not a nanny, and that’s more than one favor.”
“You owe me, and we’ll count this as the IOU,” he repeats.
Returning to a normal stance, I hold my hand out low. “Here’s you helping me buy alcohol when I would have charmed my way with the bartender anyways.” Then I bring my hand up high. “And here’s you asking me to drive your kids around. Not exactly even on the favor front.”
Holden tsks. “Lexi, if you could have charmed the bartender, then why didn’t you?”
“Because it wouldn’t have been as enjoyable. It is by far better to say a 27-year-old pro-hockey player bailed me out. My sorority sisters had a thing for you.” I’m maybe too honest around him.
“Well, you did rely on me, so a favor owed is where we are. Plus, with all the redecorating happening, then I could use all the extra rooms I can get for guests, and not to mention that your dear old dad mentioned you were once an au pair in England. See? You love kids. There are many reasons why this isn’t a big deal. I might even throw extra budget your way for redecorating and give you a reference for an upcoming hotel deal that I might have.”
My eyes widen, and my hip tips out with my arms crossing over my chest. “Bribing me now?”
“Call it extra incentives for following through with your favor. So, what will it be, Lexi?”
Hearing my name on his tongue seems to swirl desire, and everything about him in this moment is a turn-on. I don’t need that. My brain even bypasses his mention of extra budget and references, which is an added bonus for my dream job. I desperately need a clear mind to get out of this situation.
But that’s not in my cards today. Instant clicks with people are a weakness to me and always sink me into full commitment mode.
Because I blurt out, “Fine.”
What the hell? I’m free-spirited, but this? I clearly don’t have the backbone to use a one-syllable word that begins with N.
My finger comes up to point to him, as I feel the need to justify my impulsive decision. “I’m doing this because I’m a good Samaritan to civilization and a caring, thoughtful person. Not to mention I hate being bored, and I doubt that happens here.”
He claps his hands together with an overdone smile. “Wonderful. You just dropped into my life when a hotel refresh is essential and I still need to balance my little heathens, aren’t they cute?”
My fingers come up to rub my temples. “This is…” I have no words.
That exhilaration inside of me bubbles again, especially when Holden steps once forward and it closes our space. “Totally not a good idea, but I’m kind of out of other options right now.” He’s straightforward, at least.
“Wonderful. Bad ideas,” I deadpan.
His grin is full of accomplishment and trouble. “I love how you are very agreeable.”
“Well, I aim to please.” I’m being sarcastic, but it’s too late. I close my eyes at my choice of words. This is, oh no. I blow out a breath and open my eyes to find Holden eyeing me up and down, which isn’t helping me keep my body from crossing all the wires.
“Duly noted.” He tilts his head before he turns and heads straight to the garage, and I trench behind.
Duly noted.Yeah, let me just add a warning in my head and between my legs to that list.
3
LEXI
“Poof.” I gesture with my hands. “All normal human logic just vanished in a few seconds.”
As I explain my situation, Summer smiles weakly at me. We’re sitting in Jolly Joe’s, the local hotspot that fills our needs, from coffee to burgers to ice cream. A throwback to a soda shop, complete with a jukebox in the corner. And Summer? We’ve been friends for years, and whenever I visit Lake Spark, I head straight to her.
“Remember when you were in Austria and you met those two backpackers, then later that day you ended up paragliding? You’ve always been spontaneous and impulsive,” she reminds me.
I sigh as I stare at the menu to keep myself occupied. “I know, it’s just… This is on a different level. Damn, I haven’t seen Holden in a couple of years, and suddenly in the span of 24 hours, I’ve nearly drooled at his hot dad look and complied with his ridiculous demand.”
