Perfect, Danika thought as she noticed Robin and Mallory slip through the patio doors.
Danika and Holly followed suit and settled outside, hips kissing the railing as they stared out at the course. While much of the Club’s decor was outdated and traditional—all classic, patterned carpets and dark wood paneling—Danika would admit the golf course was stunning. She loved how the patchwork quilt of green and moon-white sand traps extended for miles to the east, slipped into the lake to the west. The way all the vibrant colors turned silver in the dimming light. It was peaceful, quiet. You could barely even hear the party inside—or the pool out front. Still, Danika could picture it perfectly: her boys and their new nanny swimming about, getting in their last cannonballs before heading toward their towels at the seven o’clock close. Yes, it was almost showtime.
Danika studied the horizon, feeling Zen and ready—yet, as she looked toward the top of the deck’s stairs, she realized it might be better to move farther down the railing. This way, when the boys and nanny arrived, they’d have to weave through more people to find her.
“Let’s scoot down a little.” Danika touched Holly’s elbow. “The idiot.” She nodded behind her toward Joshua Mike—the rich, handsome, drunken asshole everyone despised. Even now, he held a bourbon in each hand while slurring Danika’s name. At least this time his presence worked in her favor.
Danika took a few sideways steps through the crowd with Holly on her heels, but as she glanced over her shoulder to make sure Joshua Mike was not following, she collided with someone. It happened so fast, she barely registered the tray of glasses crashing to the ground, the girl in the white-and-black uniform exclaiming—the cool liquid splashing her neck. She scoffed as the liquid began collecting in her cleavage and seeping to her navel, leaving a dark line down the front of her jumpsuit.
“Oh, shit,” Holly said as she pushed a single cocktail napkin to Danika’s skin, which was growing red with rage.
Danika glared down at the girl. She was crouched beneath them now, picking up large pieces of broken glass. Her dark brown ponytail swung to the ground like a broom.
“I’m so sorry,” she said as she glanced up. Her face was pained and sweaty, but her eyes were a brilliant aqua blue. They were so bright, Danika paused before her anger rushed back in.
“Why don’t you watch where you’re going.” Danika rounded her shoulders and pulled the silk away from her body.
“I’m so sorry,” the girl repeated as she stood, her tray filled with chunks of glass. Danika noticed a trickle of blood running down her left index finger and, on instinct, she thought,Good.
“It’s just water,” she said. “I’ll get you a towel.”
Danika felt people staring now, but she couldn’t bring herself to look. This was not how the evening was supposed to go. Still, her seething was cut short when—right on cue—her phone rang. She flicked her hand at the girl, dismissing her.
Danika’s chest seized as she turned away to answer. But within seconds, she loosened—the conversation unfolded exactly as hoped: first, the nanny apologized, then explained that while the boys were dressed and ready to go, the keys to the Range Rover were nowhere to be found, and did she happen to have a spare?
Danika felt a little bad inciting any panic in her new hire, but stealing the keys from the pool bag had simply been necessary.
“Oh, please don’t worry.” Danika pushed the phone against her ear, its screen clinking her diamond stud. “It happens, and yes, I do have a spare. It’s no problem. Come find us around back. Yes, follow the walkway to the pro shop and up the deck stairs. We’re alreadyoutside.” She tilted her chin toward the lowering sun, the sheen of gold across the lake. “See you soon.”
As she hung up, Holly squinted at her, but Danika kept her head down. She tucked her phone into her bag, strummed the keychain with her fingers.
“Oh, it’s nothing, just the new nanny,” Danika said as she finally returned Holly’s gaze.
Minutes later, she heard them before she saw them: First, Chat’s low, raspy laugh as he said, “Giddyup, hold the railing!”; next, Max’s sweet, goofy cackle; and lastly, Cooper’s voice as he yelled, “Race you to Mom! Mom? Mom?” She felt their presence, too—the hungry love she held for each of them.
Then, there they were, spilling out onto the deck in a flurry of colorful pool bags and floaties. The boys were tanned and blond, just like Danika, and Max sat in Chat’s arms while Cooper clung to his side. And Chat, beautiful Chat, stood tall in his dark-hair, six-four, megawatt-smile glory. Danika softened as she looked at him, shaken back to an old version of herself.
“Sorry to interrupt,” Chat said as they bumbled toward her. There was no way not to notice this trio—as expected, every head turned—and Danika felt buoyed by the attention. Soon, this seed of gossip would take off, planting and spreading through all of The Lake Club. “Did you hear?” people would say. “The Crawleys hired a nanny. A male nanny! A twenty-two-year-old living with them for the summer! Can you believe it?”
Danika would once again be different and intriguing. There’d be a new, shining charm on her bracelet. Everyone, in their heart of hearts, would be jealous.
“This is fancy.” Chat unabashedly surveyed the party, nodding in approval.
Danika laughed and folded the keys into his hand, letting her palm linger on top of his knuckles. “Oh, no, it’s nothing. But thank you so much, Chat. I’m sure the other set will turn up. Don’t worry about it.” She squatted to kiss Cooper, the smell of chlorine and sunscreen clinging to his skin, and rose to fake bite Max’s chubby hand. “We’ll see you at home. I’ll call a car soon.” She leaned in. “This is wildly boring.”
“Whatever you say.” Chat flashed another perfect smile as he looked out to the party, up at the string lights. “Enjoy yourself. And thanks again.” He raised the car keys, jingling them in the air. “I’ll protect these with my life.”
Danika felt like she was floating as she watched them go, and she couldn’t wait to turn and face the crowd—but then, someone else appeared in Chat’s place: that clumsy waiter. She pushed a white monogrammed towel toward Danika.
“Apologies,” she mumbled before scurrying away.
Holding the towel, Danika felt irritated all over again. Her jumpsuit was dry. What was she supposed to do with this prop now? At this point, it felt like one more barrier between absorbing into the party and fielding question after question about Chat, her new male nanny—hermanny, she’d tell them. They’d eat that up.
Danika moved to drape the towel over the deck railing. Yet, as she glanced down the banister, she tilted her head, surprised to see Chat still standing at the top of the stairs. His eyes were locked on something—or someone—at the party.
Danika felt a strike of panic. Did heknowsomeone here? She had only allowed herself to hire him because he had zero ties to the community—well, zero idea about any ties to the community or their shared history. She intended for it to stay that way. She’d even made him sign a slightly unorthodox contract, citing horror storiesabout other nannies as an excuse: He’d agreed to withhold details of their private life (Danika valued anonymity); to remain extra alert when at the Club (Danika had told him about losing Cooper and the other mothers’ judgy eyes); and finally, not to bring any significant others around the boys (the Clines’ daughter really had walked in on their nanny and her boyfriend, and Danika didn’t want any distractions). He’d brushed it all off, said he was good at secrets, that he’d be on alert 24-7, and “Don’t worry”—he’d laughed—“I haven’t had a girlfriend in years.”
Now, though, as he raised his hand in a wave, it was obvious he was trying to get someone’s attention. Danika bobbed her head, desperate to see over the tops of people and find who he was looking at—but, a second later, Cooper yelled to Chat from the bottom of the stairs, and he was gone, rushing down the steps and out of sight.
