Page 6 of Worthy

“You’re the prettiest person I’ve ever seen. Are you smart, too?” she asks me.

“I’d like to think so, but I hear I might have some competition in that area.”

Penny giggles. “Yeah, but Uncle Stanky says I’m ‘only book smart, not street smart.’ Can you teach me to be ‘street smart,’ Anna?”

I glance over at the offending person, and Swank gives me a one-shoulder shrug. “What? It’s true. She’s privately tutored and doesn’t go out except to our home games. Angela took her to the park a few times, but she just played by herself.”

“That’s because kids my age are in school. Dad says if I go to school with kids my age, I’ll be bored. If I go to school and have classes that challenge me, I’ll be like a fish out of water. Did you know that freshwater fish can live up to ten minutes without being in the water, while saltwater fish can live three times that?” she asks.

I cross my arms and nod, accepting the challenge presented before me. “That’s correct. However, several species of fish can live in both environments. Did you know that lungfish can breathe oxygen from the air and the water?”

Penny bobs her head in approval. “You’ll do.” This time, I can’t help the laugh that escapes me.

Martha dries her hands on a dishtowel and comes to stand beside me. “I’m Martha Shaw. It’s a pleasure to meet you in person. I appreciate you coming on such short notice.” She surprises me with a motherly hug instead of a handshake.

I return the gesture and give her a genuine smile. “Anna Blackwood. And the pleasure is all mine, especially since I get to take care of Penny. Something tells me she’ll keep me on my toes.”

Martha and Swank both laugh.

“She’ll do more than that! She’ll have you wrapped around her little finger in no time,” Martha jests.

As I look around the room, I notice one person is absent. “Where’s Mr. Shaw? I assumed he would want to be here to set his expectations.”

Martha grins, and there’s an impish twinkle in her eye. “He’s in his suite changing. The boys have practice in an hour.”

After their game yesterday, which I managed to listen to while driving down the highway, they’ll need it to win the next two games and clinch a spot in the playoffs.

Swank grabs another biscuit and tosses it in the air. “I doubt he wanted to greet the new nanny wearing fuzzy slippers and his robe. What kind of impression would that have made?”

I imagine Aiden in pink bunny slippers and a flannel robe, and I have to admit the picture in my head is quite appealing. Not wanting my thoughts to show, I fire back, “Why would it matter? Didn’t you already call ‘dibs,’ Swank?”

He blushes, having been unaware that I heard him. “Uhhh.”

“There will be no calling dibs on anyone in this house,” Aiden says with a deep, rich voice that sounds smooth as silk. Then he goes and ruins it by opening his mouth further.

“Swank, you keep your hands off the help. She’s here to do a job, not date the likes of you,” he says, raising my hackles. Martha notices and asks Penny to go play in her room. I wait until she’s gone before I say anything. I’m sure I’ll be out of a job by the time I’m done.

“Mr. Shaw, no one tells me who I can or cannot date, especially my employer. I am not ‘the help.’ I am the nanny and my own person, free to do what I please. Do we have an understanding?”

“This one’s got teeth. I like her!” Swank adds unhelpfully.

“Son…” Martha begins to say when Aiden raises a hand to stop her. His gaze meets mine, and his eyes are cold as ice.

“No. We do not have an understanding, Anna. It’s important to me that Penny is your primary focus. I have certain rules in this house, and they will be followed. My team is off-limits.”

“Mr. Shaw…”

“You can call me Aiden,”

“Mr. Shaw, Penny is my priority. I don’t date athletes, so you won’t have to worry about that from me. It isn’t any of your business anyway what I do in my free time. However, I will be respectful of your rules on the condition that you show me the same respect in return. If you can’t manage that, then I suggest you start looking for another nanny with my skills.” The last line was meant more for Martha, the one person in this room who knows exactly what I mean when I say the word “skills.”

Swank nudges Aiden, “I guess that takes us both out of the running. Grab your bag, and let’s go. We’ve got an example to set!”

Aiden grabs his duffle bag that’s sitting by the stairs before turning to me, “I can agree to your terms, Anna. My mom will be here today to go over your job duties. I should be home no later than six tonight. We can talk more then.”

I watch as the two men leave. It’s not until I hear the sounds of their engines revving that I turn to Martha. “Well, that didn’t go as I expected.”

Chapter four

---