I dab my nose with a tissue. “That seems excessive.”
He shrugs. “I’m paying what I think you’re worth. And the bottom line is if I don’t find a nanny, I can’t go on the tour, which means I’ll be letting down my bandmates and manager. I’ll feel like a major fuckup if I blow this.”
“So no pressure or anything.”
He chuckles, and I crack a smile. Layla starts to get fussy, and he leans over to pick her up. “No pressure. Swear to God, my family won’t give you shit if you decide this isn’t your thing. You have a degree and a career, and I can’t imagine your dreams include wanting to hang out with a baby while we crisscross the country.”
I stare at the beautiful child, and she reminds me of a dream I used to have. Back before Hayden broke my heart and my stepsister betrayed me. But that’s a scab I don’t want to pick at right now, so I pivot. “I only have an associate’s degree.”
“That’s one more degree than I have.”
Layla holds out her hand, and I grab it and smile at her. “I was lucky I got this job. You usually need fancier degrees to be a librarian, but no one applied, so the city council agreed to consider candidates with my qualifications. The mayor’s line about me not being ‘the right fit’ probably means they found someone with a master’s degree. Plus, she seems to think I should have better prepared the building for the storm. What was I supposed to do? Wrap it in titanium?”
“What an asshole.”
Chuckling, I glance at him. The way his green eyes sear into me reminds me of all the reasons I swore I’d never spend timewith this man, but they manage to pull a confession from me. “What do I do if I’m not a librarian?”
“I feel you. What do I do if I fail at this band thing?”
I chew the inside of my cheek. “We could start a club for flunkies. We can’t be the only two people in town who suck at life.”
I mean it as a joke, but the words are barely out of my mouth before his shoulders slump. “Yeah, I’m in touch with that at the moment.”
I give him a sympathetic smile. “I wish I could help you, but I don’t think I’d be a good fit. I’m really not what you’re looking for.”
He looks down and nods slowly. “I’m sorry you lost your job. I’m sure you’ll find another librarian gig. Paige raves about how great your Saturday story hour is. Ella loves it.”
He gets up, straps his daughter in the car seat, and heads for the door. “What about you? What are you going to do?” I call out.
When he gets to the door, he sighs. “What I should’ve done a few days ago. Call my bandmates and tell them I can’t go on tour.”
Questions zip through my mind while I stare at the closed door.
What if I can’t find another librarian job? Will I have to move back home?
Will Jace’s music career really be over if he bails on this tour?
How will I afford another apartment if I have no income?
Will I find somewhere to live before I get evicted in two weeks?
But the thought that sets me into motion is the expression on Jace’s face when I called us flunkies. Something about those words hit too close to home, and I feel like a jerk for saying that.
Hoping I’m not too late, I fling open the door and race down the hall and out into the parking lot. When I spot his truck, I wave at him like a broken windmill, arms flailing.
Only my legs get tangled in my robe, and I go down with a scream because my fluffy house slippers have no traction.
Son of a mountain goat!
I’m lying on the pavement when I hear a door shut. “Shit, Rory. That looks like it hurt.”
“Yeah. It did,” I grunt. “Just leave me alone. I need to unearth my pride. It’s here somewhere. Maybe beneath your tire.”
He helps me sit up and dusts me off. Squatting in front of me, he hangs his arms on his thighs. As he studies me, I try not to squirm when he gives me one of those crooked grins. “You have a nice way with words. They’re poetic.”
That’s not what I expected him to say. “I read a lot,” I explain like a giant nerd as I fix my glasses. “I like books.” There’s nothing like stating the obvious.
He chuckles and sighs. “What do ya say, bookworm? Wanna blow this popsicle stand and go on tour with me? Maybe I can keep you from taking another tumble, and you can keep me and my kid out of trouble. I’ll make sure you’re always fed, and I’ll pay you as much as I can to keep you happy.”
