Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 98524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 493(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“Aleesa, how about a Popsicle and ten minutes of TV, princesa?” he asked, already opening the freezer.
“Yes! I wan’ watch Bluey!”
Javier nodded, carrying the Popsicle with him to the living room. He spread out a blanket for her to sit on, then opened the wrapper and offered the lime-green Popsicle. He turned on the massive TV with the remote, went to Bluey, and placed a kiss on her forehead, smiling down at her.
While the theme song played and Aleesa licked away at her cold treat, he finally faced me. He didn’t smile. I’d have been slightly intimidated, but it was hard to take him seriously with that unicorn horn still on his head.
“We can sit here.” He gestured to the nearest table, a wooden six-top table with black Scandinavian-style chairs.
Sitting opposite me, he immediately folded his arms. “So, I have simple questions first,” he said.
“Okay.” I placed my forearms on the table and interlaced my fingers.
“When would you be able to start?”
“I could literally start today if you wanted me to.”
He was quiet for a moment, taking in that knowledge. “You understand that this is a long-term commitment, right? Not something that you can do for a couple of weeks just to make your résumé look better.”
“Yes, I understand. You’re a busy man and a pro athlete. I get it.” I could tell he was trying to test me, work me up a bit, because that last part was definitely a dickish thing for him to say.
His lips twisted as he regarded me. “And you are CPR certified?”
“I sure am. I have the certificate in my car if you want to see—”
“Why do you really want to do this?” he asked, cutting me off.
“Do what? Take care of your daughter?”
“Yes. I look at you, and I do not see a woman who wants to be stuck somewhere for months, taking care of another person’s child. I have had many people want this job, only to be in it for something.”
“Well, I can guarantee you, I’m not in this for anything other than to take care of her and get paid,” I assured him, huffing a laugh.
Bluey squealed in the background as we held a staring match.
He blinked first.
“I would not want any images of her being taken,” he went on. “I would need someone who respects her privacy and mine. Someone we can trust.”
“Understandable. I’ve signed NDAs before. If you need me to do that for you, I’m more than okay with it.”
He narrowed his eyes, assessing me further. What? Was he annoyed that I was okay with everything? Homeboy could take his best shots. I’d heard it all.
He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “My issue with you is that you seem to not take anything seriously in life. It seems to all be some sort of game to you, as if you can just laugh your way through every problem and make them go away.”
I frowned at his statement. Fucking ouch.
“My daughter’s care is important,” he pressed on. “I travel a lot, so I cannot be here to hold your hand. That means I need someone responsible and dependable . . . and a part of me is not sure I can fully depend on a person like you.”
“A person like me? Not to be rude, but you don’t even know me.”
“Exactly. All I know is that you are my best friend’s fiancée’s sister.”
“And all I know is that you are my sister’s fiancé’s best friend. You could be a serial killer, for all I know, but I took the risk anyway by showing up.”
He scowled. “I am not a serial killer.”
I smirked. “Prove it.”
His scowl deepened. “How the hell does someone even prove that? What am I supposed to do, dig up holes and show you that I do not have bodies in the ground?”
I shrugged.
“How would I even have time to do any of tha—you know what? Never mind.” He flicked his hand, as if dismissing it all, but I didn’t miss the way his cheeks reddened.
Davina was right. He was easy to embarrass. Almost too easy, really.
“Would you be one hundred percent committed to the position?” he asked, sounding entirely fed up. “That means traveling when necessary, taking Aleesa to her classes and appointments, making sure her meals are healthy, and making sure she gets enough exercise daily.”
“I’m one hundred percent committed.”
“Good.” The word was cut and dried. “Because I expect and want the very best for her.”
“Yes, I can tell by that unicorn headband you’re wearing. Only the best of dads would willingly wear that.”
Confusion contorted his face, but when what I said registered, he reached up and snatched the headband off.
I suppressed another laugh.
“See, this is what I mean,” he exclaimed, but not too loudly for Aleesa to hear. “Nothing is taken seriously by you.”