Page 47 of Exposed

Matt reaches for Simon with the prepared bottle. “Please, Pepper. I work 10-hour days on the weekends when I do weddings, and I work during the week, too. Simon needs a reliable nanny, and I can’t expect my parents to watch him while I work a full-time job. I'll pay you double what you were making with the catering job. You’ll make the money you need twice as fast. And I don’t need you to pay me rent.”

The catering job doesn’t pay that well, but they didn’t blink an eye when I gave them my fake ID. “I can’t ask you to pay me when I’m staying at your house for free. And you’ve already bought me shoes and clothes. And dumbbells.”

“Taking care of my son while I work is a huge weight off my shoulders. Compensating you generously is the least I can do.”

“I’ll pay you back.”

“Don’t pay me back. Pay it forward to someone else who needs it,” he insists while he feeds Simon.

“I’m supposed to work tonight,” I sigh.

“I’m sorry to ask you to quit. Actually, I’m not. Nannying Simon is a way better gig.”

“Since you’re working from home today, I’ll work tonight as my last shift and quit,” I suggest.

“Good. That company always has plenty of servers. They’ll be fine. I only have oneyou,” he urges.

“Wow. Way to guilt trip me.”

“Is it working?” He grins.

“Yeah.” I’m ecstatic I can be done with that job.

A tooting sound erupts from Simon’s backside, followed by a potent odor.

“Good push, little dude. Let’s get you cleaned up,” Matt chuckles as he carries him to the changing area he has set up in the living room.

Before I take this job, I have to share the secret I’ve been hiding from him. It’s only fair, because he may not want me watching his son after he knows.

While Matt is changing Simon’s diaper, I gather the determination to go for it. Ripping the band-aid off is the best way to do this.

18

COMING CLEAN

MATT

Ican sense Pepper behind me when I turn around with Simon’s dirty diaper.

“There’s something I have to tell you before you agree to me being your nanny,” she says with a brave face. She obviously had to work up the courage to tell me this, so I’m not going to point out that I’m holding a diaper filled with stinky filth.

“Lay it on me.” I leave Simon on his back on his blanket, throw the dirty diaper away and wash my hands.

“I’m a fugitive.”

I freeze as the stream of water pours over my hands. Of all the things I thought she was hiding, that possibility never crossed my mind. I’m flabbergasted, but I try to hide my shock.

“What are you on the run from?” I turn off the waterand walk back to sit next to Simon. I rub his tummy, because touching him calms me and makes him happy.

She lets out a deep breath. “I was framed for stealing money and selling trade secrets. There’s a warrant out for my arrest. My ID is fake, and the real me disappeared two months ago.” Her voice sounds defeated and void of her usual feistiness.

What she said in her dream makes sense now. “The first night you were here, you had a nightmare. You were crying in your sleep and saying you didn’t do something. When you wouldn’t wake up, I held you and told you I believed you, and you finally stopped crying.”

“You’re the reason that dream ended differently,” she whispers.

I pat the blanket in between my spread legs, and she sits. “We can make the real life ending a good one. I believe you didn’t do it.”

“Why do you believe me?” Her gaze finds mine again, and a tear breaks free to run down her cheek.

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