Page 38 of Gabriel & Skye

I need to focus on something else and not how good she looks, or the skirt she wears, or her long legs in the heels. Or that she smells like peonies.

None of that matters… Her college degree in nursing and early childhood education is what I’m here for, and the fact my daughter made an impression.

“I’m fine. In fact, Georgia invited me to have a coffee after the interview,” she says.

I can only bet. GB will have her nose in no matter what, she can’t help herself.

I’m surprised I even got her to leave.

“She seems very sweet.”

“Well, you obviously don’t know Georgia.” I smile to myself. “She means well, and yes, she can be sweet. But she has a tendency to poke her dainty little nose into people’s business around here. You oughta be careful. You won’t know who she’s paired you up with until it’s too late.”

What the fuck am I even saying? What do I care who my sister is pairing her up with?

Her musical laugh has my eyes back on her again. “Indeed.”

“I mean, she loves all that woo-woo shit..” Clearing my throat, I ask, “Are you here with a partner or anything?”

Her eyes go wide. “Uh.”

“I only ask because I don’t allow people I don’t know around my daughter.”

“Understandable. But no, it’s just me. I’m single. No crazy exes or serial stalkers.” She laughs and then bites her lip. “Sorry… probably not the right thing to say.”

I try not to chuckle. She’s nervous. And why I feel relief in my chest about her saying she’s single is ridiculous.

My nanny is allowed to have a partner… but I’d prefer it if she didn’t. And I meant what I said about any strangers being around my child.

“That’s good to hear…” I think I should have slapped myself long ago. “And don’t be sorry. Listen…” We should address the elephant in the room. “About the cafe.”

She waves it off. “Really, it’s fine. I’m bad at serving, and I’m really just helping Aunt May until she can get someone more suitable.”

“So if I give you the job, it means you’ll be hanging up your apron strings?” This woman is bringing out a playful side in me I didn’t think I had anymore. The truth is, I don’t want her to hate her new boss. Because that’s technically what I am.

I can’t tell if she really means it; forgiving me for being my usual self that day in the cafe. But she’s perfect for the job, I know that much.

“I guess it does.”

“Did you have any questions about the position?” I haven’t really said too much about it, but I think it goes hand in hand.

“Yes, just if you need both before and after school care?”

“Mainly after school, but could be a morning here and there. Trin goes to kindy now three full days a week and one half day. I’m fine for getting her there most days. If you can do the pickup and after school care until I’m home from work, and the full day here when she’s not at kindy. I’m fine for the weekends because she can come into the office with me on a Saturday.”

“It sounds perfect,” she says. I hope she means it.

“Maybe you’d like to come over to the house and check it out? Then you can see what you’d be doing when Geraldine is here on Wednesday?” I say. “She looks after Trin Monday to Friday at the moment, as I’ve been swamped at work. I’d be happy for you to start straight away.”

Her eyes widen in surprise. “Oh, did I get the job then?” Her laugh is playful.

I tap my pen against the blank pad. I planned on writing notes, but there really was no point. She outlined everything perfectly on her three page resume. Including the work experience she undertook at an early learning center in Pembroke, and an internship she did at a nearby primary school.

She has everything I’ve been looking for in a nanny, and having already met my little girl, I think this is going to work out perfectly. It’ll get me through the next few months until I can find someone more permanent.

I reach my hand across the desk to shake on it. “Yes, you did. Welcome to the family, Skye. I’m sure this is going to work out well for the both of us. Geraldine runs a tight ship but she’ll walk you through the routine.”

Here I am, the hotshot CEO of BBB Distillery, and I can’t even string my sentences together properly to the hot nanny.

---