Page 11 of Falling for the Bear Dad

When Benji finished his sandwich and milk, Mya wiped his face and hands. “You have to brush your teeth again,” she said. “Don’t forget.”

“I won’t, Mya.” He climbed off the chair and offered her a smile. “Will you help me? Sometimes the cap sticks.”

I followed them upstairs and sat on the rocking chair in his room, listening to the comforting sounds of a little boy having his teeth brushed by someone kind and soft and feminine. Dang. I’d missed that. But it wasn’t Jeanine. I couldn’t put more behind this experience than it merited just because I’d been lonely.

When he was tucked into bed, I followed Mya out into the hallway and downstairs to the kitchen. Together, we straightened the kitchen and loaded the snack dishes into the dishwasher. As she handed me a milky glass, I broached the subject that was on my mind. She’d be so good for Benji, as long as I could remember what I was asking. And no more.

“Mya, you’re so good with Benji.”

“He’s a sweet little boy.” She took the dishcloth and swept crumbs from the table into her cupped hand. “You’re a very lucky dad.”

“I know. But my mate—my wife passed away a while ago, and it’s hard to find reliable sitters. I really don’t want him in daycare all the time. Have you ever been a nanny?”

Chapter Ten

Mya

“I’ve never been a nanny,” I answered. The thoughts were already whirring. First, he offered me a place to stay, and now, a job offer.

“You’ve babysat before? Had a brother or a sister?”

“I babysat a lot when I was a teenager and then some in college for extra money.”

Greyson nodded. He’d put on a shirt, which was a tragedy in my humble opinion, but it did nothing to diminish his handsomeness. “Then this is just a bit more. It’s a live-in position. My family has been on me about it. I’ve had so many babysitters and daycares and sometimes my brother and sister-in-law keep him for me, but they are about to have their own baby. Benji needs more structure and schedule. Someone we both trust. Benji likes you.”

“How do you know?”

Greyson’s smile faltered and while he was lovely when he smiled, his sadness reached right into my heart and tugged. There was something so beautiful about a man who showed vulnerability.

Jacob showed zero. Thought it made him less than a man.

What actually made him less of a man was hitting his girlfriend and making sure she had nothing, not even a sense of herself.

“Since Benji’s mom died, he doesn’t really talk to women. My sister-in-law a bit and my mother but other than that, he is shy with those he doesn’t know well, and especially women. That’s hard when most people in daycares and babysitters are women. But with you…I haven’t heard him chatter on like that in a while.”

“Really?”

He nodded.

“And I would live here?”

“Yes. That would be best. Sometimes I work late or have to go in early in the morning. But if you were here, then I could do that without worrying about finding someone or waiting for you to arrive. Plus, it’s more stability for Benji. He needs a woman around.”

Benji, not him.

“How about you think about it and let us know tomorrow? We can talk more about getting your car fixed then as well.”

“Sleep on it?” I said.

“Yeah. Best thing for a big decision, I think.” He stood and towered over me. “How about we get you to bed.”

I knew he meant me to my bed and him to his, but I tucked that moment away in my memory. “Thank you.”

We walked up the stairs side by side and then he led me down the hallway. He opened a door, walked in, checked left and right, and then let me enter. He brought my bags with him.

“Checking for monsters?” I asked.

Greyson smiled. A big one. Teeth and all. “Comes with the dad thing. Is there anything else you need?”