Page 7 of Love Is…?

“So, you’re probably wondering about the subterfuge.” He chuckled. “I’m so sorry, but it’s a necessary hassle. Paparazzi and all that.”

“That’s fine.” What else was she going to say? She clasped her hands over her knees. “I thought I had some competition this morning.”

Tom frowned, then pointed to the door, raising his eyebrows. “Jayde? Oh! No, Jayde’s a journalist, so there’s no competition. You’ve got the job.”

Tessa blinked. “Really? So this..?”

“This is a formality.” He tipped his hand over. “The Parkers are close to Abby, so their recommendation was all she needed. Today’s meeting is just to go over a few details and give you a tour of the house.”

Tessa blinked again. This was the fastest job offer she’d ever received. “Thank you so much. This is amazing.” Then her eyes widened in realisation. “Oh! Um, Abby?”

Tom smiled. “Yep. Welcome to team Taylor-Markson, Tessa.”

“Oh!” she repeated inanely. Tom was probably wondering why he was offering a job to a person with such a limited vocabulary. “Uh, like Abigail Taylor.” Tom nodded at Tessa’s raised eyebrows. “And that means Samantha Markson.” Another nod. “Which means Grace Taylor.” A smile was added to another nod.

“Yep.”

Tessa blinked.Oh my God. Okay. Be professional. Freak out later. “Well, thank you. Again. I think I should ask questions.”

Tom recrossed his legs, and leaned forward expectantly, his angular face positively radiating interest and happiness. “Shoot.”

“Okay. So I’m obviously looking after Grace, although I did leave the Parkers because they thought the twins were old enough to not need a nanny.”

Tom hummed. “True, but you’re not going to be a nanny. The position is for a teen chaperone.”

“Right,” Tessa said, and congratulated herself on graduating from ‘oh!’.

Tom clasped his hands over his knee. “Tessa, teen chaperones are common in homes where a well-known family or couple are surrounded by security and PR people et cetera.” Tessa nodded. She knew this. “But all those security people and the others aren’t strictly there for the child, particularly if the child is a teenager, so a chaperone is needed. A really good one.” He pointed, and winked. A friendly wink. A wink of assurance. Not a wink that might be delivered by a woman at a bar who wastelegraphing her interest. Tessa shook Jayde Ferguson out of her head.

Tom continued. “You’ll basically be Grace’s personal assistant. She’s very busy and I can’t handle Abby Taylor’s daily activitiesandGrace’s. Therefore, you.”

“Samantha?”

Tom laughed. “She’s going to ask you to call her Sam, by the way.” He shrugged. “Sam’s still not used to all the trappings of celebrity. She sees me as more of a friend rather than Abby’s PA.” A head shake. “She refuses to hire someone, because she says she’s got amazing admin staff at the Melbourne Theatre Company.”

“Well, that’s fair enough.”

Tom smiled. “It’s very Sam. Anyway, you’re here because Abby’s working a lot and so is Sam, and it's really important to them that you’re in the house when Grace comes in from school, or you’re with her in the car or going with her to the after school activities.”

Suddenly, fifteen kilograms—based on Tessa’s quick estimation—of very enthusiastic, caramel-coloured fluff careened into the room and launched itself at Tom, who collapsed under the weight into the back of the chair.

“Theo! Don’t lick my eyeball! Down!”

The instruction had absolutely no effect. Tessa looked on as Tom, not much taller than her, flailed about. Time for bossy Tessa.

“Theo!”

The dog’s head shot up and its body froze. The imaginary thought bubble above its head was almost a Google Slides presentation: unknown authoritarian voice, if I pretend to be invisible then the human with the voice will not see me, I might like the human attached to that voice, I should investigate the human.

Using Tom’s stomach as a springboard, Theo leapt towards Tessa, who quickly stood, then, working on an assumption gleaned from nowhere that any dog owned by the nicest couple in the world, according toPeoplemagazine, would have a modicum of training, glared at Theo.

“Down! Sit!”

Theo planted his bum on the floor, tail brushing the carpet.

“Good dog.” Tessa presented her hand, then, having been duly inspected, patted Theo’s head. She looked up to catch Tom’s slow smile.

“So, not allergic to dogs. Awesome. Also, a person who doesn’t take any crap from wild animals.”

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