“Yes, right. Hi!” Like a dumbass, Sloan stood too fast and realized a bit too late that she was trapped by the low table. Luckily Rafe didn’t laugh at her as she squirmed out of the booth. She swallowed and smoothed down the front of her outfit before holding out her hand. “Rafe. Hi. Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.” His fingers gripped hers in a firm, but brief handshake.
“The girls are just playing. I thought we could talk for a few minutes and then you can meet them.”
“That sounds good.” God, his voice was sex on a biscuit. “Let’s sit,” he said, motioning back to the booth.
“Where are you from again?”
“Woburn, Mass. Near Boston.”
“Yeah, okay. I’m from Rhode Island. Providence.” Sloan needed to chill.Hervoice was doing that high floating thing it did when she was nervous. She hadn’t made those wheezing, squeaky sounds since she met Drew. She was going to ignore that inconvenient fact and get right on with her day. “Your accent is making me homesick.” Sloan watched Rafe as he supressed a smile. Sloan tried not to read too much into that.
“I tried to get rid of it, but I’ve been spending time with my dad. When I’m around him, it comes back.”
And there it was. An awkward silence. Then Sloan knew, there was no mistaking it. He’d realized she was checking him out.
“So,” Rafe said.
“So, right. How are you feeling about this? I know it’s extremely short notice. Ideally—well, not ideally—but, I’d like you to start tomorrow if we feel like things will work out. Sunday would technically be your day off, but you can get moved in and the girls can at least have a sense of you being in the house before you’re on your own on Monday.”
“Why don’t I meet Avery and Addison? Let them be the judge.” His tone was even, but Sloan could hear what he was trying not to say.Slow the fuck down, lady. I haven’t agreed to this yet.Sloan felt herself slipping further into the jackass hole. That was the point of them meeting today—to see if they even fit, not for her to make heart eyes at him in a semi-crowded fast food restaurant. The part of her brain that was actually inhabited by a smart, professional, self-possessed woman got her ass in gear and gestured toward the indoor playground.
“After you,” he said. Sloan nodded with a tight smile, then led the way. She took a deep breath as she went. She used the fact that he wasn’t checking her out to recalibrate her line of thinking. Rafe Whitcomb was drop dead gorgeous and that didn’t matter one bit. She entered the play area and narrowly missed stepping on a feral toddler as it ran by.
“Hey, love bugs. Can you please come here? I have someone for you to meet.”
“Is it Rafe?” Avery yelled as she emerged from the base of the slide. She took one look at him and froze.
“This is our neighbor, Stacia.”
“Hi.” The nineteen-year-old’s eyes nearly popped out of her head as she offered a shy, little wave.Same, kid. Same, Sloan thought. Only Addison seemed to be completely unbothered by Rafe’s hulking presence. She hopped off the jungle gym, walked right up to him and tapped his helmet.
“Do you have a motorcycle?”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Rafe,” he said in response. Meanwhile, Avery was inching closer, her mouth still hanging open.
“I’m Addison and that’s Avery. We don’t model.”
Rafe glanced at Avery, then back at her sister. “Good to know. Nice to meet you, Avery.” He got nothing in response. She was still in shock, and Sloan didn’t push her. The girls sometimes took turns being the bashful one. Avery would come around, especially when she felt that Addison had tested the waters enough for them both.
“Can I hold your helmet? Please?” Addison asked.
“Yes, you may. And I appreciate the please. Thank you,” he said. “Here you go. Use both hands, it’s heavy.” Addison held up her open palms and let Rafe place the black helmet in her grasp. Sloan knew her child so well, she knew exactly what she was going to do as soon as her little nose scrunched up, but by the time she said, “Don’t sniff it!” it was too late. Addison had already pressed the seam where the interior lining met the hard outer shell right into her nose.
“It smells like sunscreen. Can I wear it?”
“Maybe later.”
“Okay,” Addison replied, She handed his helmet back, dreams crushed.
“Thanks.” Rafe looked over at Avery. “Do you want a go?” Avery stepped behind Stacia and shook her head. “Well, you let me know if you change your mind.”
“So I thought Rafe could hang out with us. We’ll go to Jo-Ann like I promised, and then we can go home and you can do some arts and crafts with Rafe while I get lunch ready.”
“Can we go in the pool, too? I’m so hot,” Addison whined.
“I don’t know, baby. I forgot to tell Rafe we have a pool. I don’t think he brought his swim trunks with him today.”
