Cedar laughed. “Even when I named myprice?”
Teo nodded. “Worth everypenny.”
Cedar took another sip of her lukewarm tea. Okay, earning five hundred dollars in five hours might be a miracle for her too, considering the money filled in the gap between her checking account and the rent, but she wasn’t willing to give him the satisfaction of beingright.
Teo brushed crumbs to the floor. “So you’re unemployed and I need an employee—not a coincidence.” He paused, considering her. “It payswell.”
Cedar waved him off. “Shh, let me think for aminute.”
Teo reached for the diaper bag and searched for a moment, pulling out a clean shirt for Akoni. Using the wipes, he did his best to clean the kid and then slipped the shirt over his head, covering the dirty one. Cedar was about to protest when she realized he could remove both shirts and not get the slimy goo in Akoni’s hair. Teo might be smarter than she gave him creditfor.
Maybe it wouldn’t be that bad to work for him. Today had gone well—not that she’d seen him all that much. But when they talked, there was a certain level of respect betweenthem.
“For how long?” sheasked.
“How longwhat?”
“How long do you need a nannyfor?”
Teo considered Akoni. “Um, until he’s fifteen. Or until I retire—whichever comesfirst.”
Cedar blew her bangs off her forehead. “I can give you a month, maybe two, while I look for a job. That would give you time to find someone to replaceme.”
Teo frowned, his whole face taking on a shade she would calldangerously handsome. “I was hoping you’d get us through the season—atleast.”
Aghast, she said, “That’s, like, six or sevenmonths.”
He shrugged. “I don’t make theschedule.”
Cedar couldn’t commit to that timeframe. There was a whole world out there just waiting for her to conquer it. She stood and dug her purse out of the diaper bag where she’d stuffed it so she didn’t have too many items to juggle. “I’m sorry,really.”
“I’ll take the two months,” Teoannounced.
Cedar looked down at him. With him sitting and her standing, she was just a little taller, but man, he was big. Massive enough to make her feel petite, and she was five foot six. For the briefest of moments, she wondered what it would be like to be held by a man that large. “You don’t even know me. I could be a witch or believe in unicorns orsomething.”
He leaned closer and whispered, “Doyou?”
“No.” She smacked his shoulder. Pausing, she considered him. “After this slipshod interview, I’m tempted to take the job because I’m worried about who you would hire to care forAkoni.”
His face grew stony, serious, and he pushed her vacant chair out with his foot. “Why don’t you sit down, Miss Bell, and tell me why you want to be ananny.”
Cedar rolled her eyes and plopped into the chair. “I don’t.” She blew out a breath. “I want to start small businesses, make them profitable, and then sell them for astronomical gains.” Tostart.
Teo’s eyebrows shotup.
“But if I were interviewing for this job, I would tell you that I love children, always have. And I worked as a camp counselor from the time I was sixteen until twenty-two when I got my bachelor’s. I worked for a few years before deciding to go back and get my master’s, which I am finishing upnow.”
He leaned forward, resting his corded arms on the table. “Why do you want to startbusinesses?”
Cedar matched his posture, drawn in by his open interest in her. His attention was complete, even though there was a gray-haired grandma in the corner giggling like a teenager every time she looked at Teo. Cedar could only imagine the thoughts running through the woman’s head. She was having a few of those thoughts herself. “I have so many ideas—way more than I could ever do. I need to chase down this restlessness, get it out of my system. If I ever can. My dad says I have career A.D.D.” She cringed. “Probably shouldn’t have said that in a fake interview for a job I don’twant.”
Teo laughed, a sound that was as deep as the ocean floor and as warm as a Texas breeze. Her eyes dropped to his chest, wondering if the laughter rumbled through his muscles and what she’d have to do to findout.
He quirked up one side of his mouth in a crooked smile that made her heart thump as quickly as her fingers couldtype.
“Whatideas?”
Cedar wagged a finger at him, unable to stop the smile that spread across her face. Teo was all too easy to blab to. “Oh no. This is a nanny interview, not an investment presentation. Stick to the topic.”And not one so close to myheart.
