“Fix problems?” she asked.
He nodded. “Exactly.” Voice lowered to the tone he knew would help her relax—because it worked on 99 percent of the population he’d come across—he said, “You’ve had a lot of change happen over the past months.”
Not being an asshole, he wouldn’t actually point out that most of the change had come about because her ex was a bastard.
April didn’t seem to buy in to his relaxation technique. Either that or she had a helluva poker face.
“My job is to ensure your brand thrives,” he said. “Thatyouthrive.”
There it was again. The lip nibble.
She fidgeted with her hands. Then smoothed them against her knees.
“There’s a problem.” She uncrossed her arms and smoothed her palms against her knees again.
“I’m good with solving problems.” He leaned in to the problem at hand.
She glanced away. Then pointed across the street. “You might consider a hotel?”
No. Close was where he needed to be. They were about to spend a whole lot of time together.
“I don’t think you know what you’re getting into over there,” she said. “You’ll definitely be more comfortable somewhere else.”
“It’s a rental.” He eyed the perfectly normal rancher through April’s front window. He didn’t need the Four Seasons.
“It’snotjust a rental,” she said, her gaze not meeting his. Cleared her throat then said, “The lady who owns it—Kitty—is my friend. But she’s eccentric. Very eccentric.”
“I can handle eccentric.” He’d have his own space, and he’d be spending most of his time with April, anyway. “Is there anything else you’d like to warn me about?”
She sat tall. “There are alotof kids in this neighborhood. Many of them are mine. I’m not sure you’re going to be super comfortable with all the kids, all the time.”
He probably wouldn’t be. But he’d manage.
“It’ll be fine,” he assured. “Kids love me.”
She frowned at him, apparently calling bullshit on his bullshit.
Ben said his kids loved Jack. And Ben lied only when he tried to get Jack to date Sarah’s friends. Therefore, it must be true.
“Have you ever even been around kids before?” There she was sounding all…unconvinced.
Uh, yeah, he was around Ben’s kids sometimes. Ben was there, too, or Sarah, or both. But they were normal human beings. Just of the pint-sized variety.
“I’m good withpeople,” he assured.
Again, she frowned. Clearly skeptical.
“All people,” he clarified.
She continued with the frownage. “They’re notpeople, they’rechildren.”
People. Children. Children were people, last he’d heard.
“I can handle it.” He was totally sure of this point. Mostly sure. Okay, mildly certain. “You won’t scare me away with your children.”
He’d totally handled worse.
Hell, he’d hung drywall and bungee jumped off a bridge.
