Page 21 of Sven

“Gave it away, did I? I’m from Alabama. I just moved here recently with an old college friend. My accent can sneak out sometimes when I’m a little nervous.”

If Natalie wasn’t mistaken, it would seem he was a little nervous himself.

“Please don’t be nervous. I’m easy to get along with, I promise,” he said with a nod. He ran his hand through his soft blonde waves and blew out a breath. “Well, I’ll fill you in a little on what’s been going on, but can you promise to have an open mind?”

She cocked her head.Well, that was worrisome. “My mind is wide open, sir.”

“For starters, you can stop with the sir stuff. Just call me Sven.”

“Yes, si—Sven. It may take me a while. It’s kind of ingrained in you in the south,” she said with her easy charm.

“So... you asked about my wife. I don’t have a wife. Right now, it’s just me and Winnie.” He broke his eye contact, and a look passed over his face she couldn’t quite read.

There was more to this situation.

She was sure of that; she just wasn’t sure what was going on.

“I’m looking for someone to watch her while I’m at work when I’m in town. But since it is just Winnie and I, and I go on so many road trips, I would need someone to watch her full time. I have a pool house you could stay in, but if you’re living with someone you, maybe you could just stay in a guest room while I’m on the road...”

When his eyes finally met hers, she could tell there was something else he wasn’t saying. He was a single dad. A hot, single dad. This situation kept getting more and more interesting.

“When are you looking for someone to start?” Natalie asked, clinging to her professionalism.

“Oh,” he said like he hadn’t even thought of it. “As soon as possible. I got time off for the current road trip, so I’m home for four days, but after that, I have to get back.”

She nodded. “Can I ask what you were doing for childcare before?”

“Well... this is that part I needed you to have an open mind for.”

She nodded and waited for him to continue.

“I just found out Winnie was mine a couple weeks ago. Her and her mother showed up on my doorstep, needing help. That was when I found out I had a child. They both stayed with me for a while, but her mother... Ummm ... had to leave for a trip,” he said as he broke eye contact. “I’m thirsty. Are you thirsty? Can I get you something to drink?” He got up and went to the fridge.

“No, thank you,” she said politely, taking notes of his obvious nerves.

He made his way back to the living room and sat in his chair. “Right now, it’s just Winnie and me.”

Natalie nodded. “I understand. How old is Winnie?”

His brow wrinkled like he was trying to figure something out.

“I would guess about seven months.”

She would just keep moving. While the fact that he didn’t know how old his baby was and that there was some drama with the baby mama, it seemed she could ignore those red flags. He seemed nice enough.

“When I was in college, I nannied for a family with a six-month-old, a four-year-old and a seven-year-old. So, I do have some experience there.”

“That’s wonderful!” he said as his face lit up. “So, you have experience with this age.”

“I do. Are you looking for a live-in nanny? I know you mentioned a pool house.”

“I would love a live-in nanny. My schedule is all over the place during the season. It would be nice to have someone I trust to take care of Winnie.”

Natalie nodded again. “When will her mother be back?”

His brow crinkled again as he shifted in his chair, and a cry sounded from the monitor next to him.

“I’ll be right back,” he said as he stood and left the room.

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