“One week andI’mthe one who decides if we keep him. Got it?”
I nodded.
I followed Everson out and sat next to Shayna who’d been giggling and already having a great time with Jamie. Everson went through his whole spiel about a one-week trial to see if Jamie was really a good match, while I took a good look at the male nanny. Maybe a certain quarterback kept me from assessing Jamie’s appearance or if I did do it, then it had to have been subconsciously.
Upon closer inspection, I had to admit Jamie was a little on the gorgeous side: tall, fit, a nice smile, dark hair and eyes. There may have been a hint of a Tom Hardy resemblance going on and a British accent that would have melted a certain amputee’s panties in a pre-Cage lifetime.
“I’m not a big fan of American football, but I look forward to watching you play this fall.”
I cringed. Jamie needed to just leave before he got any more strikes against him. It was clear from the way Everson’sbody tensed that he didn’t like someone making it sound like there was any kind of football other than American football—thefootball.
“So, Jamie, thanks for coming by, it appears you and Shayna are going to get along just great. Tomorrow at eight?”
Jamie smiled. Yeah, he was a cutie.
“Great! Bye, Shayna, see you in the morning.”
When the door closed, I leaned back against it. “Shayna, did you like Jamie?”
She nodded really big with a smile to match. I smirked at Everson whose face sustained a permanent scowl. It appeared as though I would not get to see his blinding smile anytime soon.
When I returnedto my apartment, I took care of my first order of business.
Lake:“No. Fucking. Way!” Really? Please tell me you didn’t base a person’s nanny qualifications on a photo.
Cage:Getting ready for an interview. TTYL
Just as I blew out a breath of frustration, there was a knock at my door. A new type of knock, based on my knock expertise.
The peephole revealed a woman with long, red hair who moved in way too close, squinting one eye, attempting to look in my peephole from the other side. I jumped back. That was a first. So not cool on her part. I opened the door.
“Hi, are you Lake Jones?” she asked with an easy southern drawl.
Why did a stranger asking for confirmation of my name seem like a test?
“Who wants to know?”
She grinned a lovely smile that accented her soft, translucent blue eyes. They looked far less creepy than they did through the peephole. “I’m Penny Weiss, your new neighbor on the other side of the elevator. My husband and I moved in last week.”
I peeked around the corner then nodded. “Oh, yeah, that place has been vacant for a while.”
She wrinkled her nose. “The view’s not great, but we don’t mind. Anyway, I just wanted to introduce myself. We moved here from San Antonio, empty nesters now. My husband’s parents are moving to an assisted living facility close by, so we decided to move here at least for a couple of years. Once our kids decide to marry and give us some grandbabies, we’ll be out of here.”
I nodded. Penny didn’t look old enough to be a grandma. She looked maybe thirty-five, thin, with a silver arm cuff just beneath the bicep of her left arm, various sliver rings on her fingers, and large silver hoop earrings.
“Anyway, that’s all. Just wanted to make the introduction. The apartment manager told me we might be a good fit. We left a great neighborhood, and I’m sure apartment dwellers don’t socialize like homeowners in the burbs, but I’m old school. You drink wine?”
“I do.” I smiled because chatty Penny was nice and unpretentious. Lord knows I needed a friend in my corner with all the testosterone in my life. No offense to Trzy.
She glanced down. “Wowza, never seen a leg like that before. Rupert, my husband, lost half his finger when he was fourteen. Came out on the short side of garbage disposal roulette.
I grimaced.
“I know, right?” She nodded slowly.
“Mine was a car accident. If Rupert ever needs an extra finger,”or eight“I know a guy.”
Penny laughed. “I’ll tell him. He doesn’t know what to do with the nine and a half he has, so I don’t think it matters.”
