Page 2 of Chasing the Sun

“A good-looking, wealthy man, but still just a man.”

Chloe’s cynicism rose to the surface again. “You forgot the other part.”

“What part?”

“The single-dad part.”

“Well, yeah, thus his need for a nanny.”

“You do realize that I’ve never nannied before, right?”

“You taught dance to kids. Same thing.”

“There’s a huge difference. I got to send them home after class.”

Elle laughed. “Just do me a favor and talk to him. If you decide the job isn’t for you, don’t take it. I’m sure you’ll look fine in a Chili’s waitressing outfit.”

“Ugh,” Chloe muttered, rolling her eyes. “Fine. You can give him my number, but that doesn’t mean I’ll take it.”

“I’ll take it!” she said two days later.

Bryce raised his eyebrows. At least it looked that way on her laptop screen. “Okay, then.”

It had been difficult to play it cool once he’d described the position to her. Plus, it didn’t hurt that he was hot (not just good looking as Elle had said), and his house looked like something out of a magazine. What she could see of it, anyway.

“I’ll have my lawyer write up the conditions of employment and send it to you,” he stated in a business-like tone.

“You mean like a contract?”

“Yes, but don’t worry. If it doesn’t work out, either of us can terminate the agreement at any time.”

She eyed him warily, wondering what he’d be like to work for. Elle seemed to think it’d be easy, but she wasn’t so sure. During the interview, he’d been polite and no-nonsense, but she wouldn’t describe him as warm and friendly. Then his little girl came bounding into the room and hopped up on his lap.

Earlier, when they’d been discussing the particulars of the job, Chloe had forgotten about asking to meet her new charge.

“You must be Molly,” she said with a smile.

The girl nodded and waved at the screen.

“Molly, this is Miss Chloe. She’s going to be taking care of you this summer.”

Molly leaned forward as if she wanted to inspect Chloe closeup.

Chloe laughed. She’d just met Molly, but she already liked her. Molly seemed sweet and friendly, unless she was just play-acting in front of her dad.

It was the first time since they’d been talking that Bryce cracked a smile, and Chloe thought it made him look even hotter. He was obviously enamored with his little girl.

“Are you going to live with us?” Molly asked.

Chloe nodded. It was one of the reasons she’d taken the job. Now she wouldn’t have to worry about accommodations while she was in Florida. According to Bryce, they had plenty of room, and she’d have the “second master suite,” including her own bathroom.

He’d been conducting the interview from his study, and behind him were floor-to-ceiling bookshelves flanking a large window that overlooked the front lawn. Elle had already described his home, and even with just a glimpse, she could tell it was magnificent.

“We have a pool!” Molly said, as if she might need convincing.

Chloe had to admit it helped. Bryce had already described the lanai with the kidney-bean-shaped pool and hot tub. He’d mentioned it off-handedly, probably because it was common for Floridians to have a lanai with a pool. Then he’d gotten all serious and asked if she knew how to swim and give CPR.

When she’d said yes, he’d looked relieved. At that moment, she could tell how protective he was of his daughter, and she found it endearing. Now she was seeing another glimpse of him as a caring dad with his daughter perched on his lap and him idly smoothing her long blonde hair.