Page 19 of Teasing

“I guess that makes sense. But I wasn’t digging for information. Ryker told me about your cousin watching Rosie for the summer because your nanny bailed. I guess I thought that would mean you’d be able to go out with friends. You smiled when you mentioned them. Sounded like you wished you’d been able to go. That’s all...”Oh-kay, verbal vomit. Time to shut up, Emmie.

“Sounds like my brother has a big mouth.” He blows out a breath, and my eyes get stuck on the way his chest expands under his soft-looking tee. Oh my... This man wears a shirt like it was made to fit his body. Models should be jealous. Heck, they probably are.

“We were talking the other morning after yoga,” I try to defend Ryker, not having meant to throw him inadvertently under the bus.

“Yoga? Ryker doesn’t do yoga,” he grumbles, and I quietly laugh.

“He’s been doing sunrise yoga with me a few days a week. He said it’s good for his flexibility.” I don’t tell him how much I’ve enjoyed having someone to do that with, or how much I’veliked our chats over coffee afterward. “I’m surprised you haven’t noticed. We do it in my backyard by the creek in the mornings.”

Maverick grumbles something I don’t quite make out over the staccato beat of the rain on the copper roof above us. “Anyway, if you ever need a night out and your cousin can’t help, I could watch Rosie for you.”

“Why?” he asks sharply. “What would you get out of watching my daughter so I could go out?”

“My goodness, Cujo.” I lean up on my knees, giving me a better line of sight to his untrusting eyes. “Haven’t you ever had someone do something for you just to be nice?”

“No,” he answers quickly, while every muscle in his body tightens. “They’ve always wanted something.”

“Well, I don’t want anything. Rosie seems like a sweetheart, and I’m typically home anyway. I wouldn’t mind helping.” I lean back into the corner of the couch and kick my legs out along the length of the cushion, not missing the way Maverick’s eyes catch on my bare skin.

Hopefully, he doesn’t notice the goosebumps his gaze gives me.

“You want to help? I need someone to find me a nanny. My cousin was supposed to be working for me for the summer, or at least until the agency was able to find me a permanent replacement. She just bailed, and training camp starts next week. I’m fucking screwed...” he trails off and runs a rough hand through his hair. “I haven’t found anyone good enough yet.”

He cracks his neck and leans his head back against the pillow, exasperation pouring off him in thick, heavy waves.

“I could do it,” I offer before I think the offer through.

Maverick’s head swivels slowly.

He obviously wasn’t expecting that answer.

Me either, Cujo.

Maybe I could do this for him, and as a bonus, I could show him not everyone has an ulterior motive. Even though I guess, technically, that would be mine.

“Why...” When I open my mouth to answer his question with the same answer I gave him earlier, he holds his hand up in front of me. “Don’t you have a job?”

“Yes. I have a job. I already told you I teach for Hart & Soul.”

“And...” he pushes almost aggressively, and my back goes up.

“And . . . what?” I ask defensively.

“Come on. You expect me to believe you live in that big house,alone, and you’re doing it on a part-time dance teacher’s salary?” Can glares be sexy? Because the way this man glares is so sexy, which is unfortunate, considering he’s a jerk.

“No. The house was my father’s. I don’t pay rent. And I also teach a few art classes in town, and take a few classes online, but I do that when I can’t sleep.” Maverick tilts his head like he’ll be able to see a lie, and if it wasn’t raining so hard that I can barely see ten feet in front of me, I’d consider leaving.

“What classes?” he questions pointedly, like he doesn’t believe me.

“I’m working on my master’s in psychology,” I sigh as I hold back on mentioning I could do a whole case study on him. “Life is short, and I want to enjoy it. I do what makes me happy. I also don’t lie. So if you don’t believe me, that’s ayouproblem. Not ameproblem.”

“My schedule is going to suck.” His words leave no room for doubt. He’s trying to scare me off. Poor, silly man. I don’t scare that easily. “Early mornings. Late nights. If you’re still doing this during the actual season, there’s games where I’ll be gone overnight. We’d need to figure that out.”

“Sounds like fun,” I tell him, and it may sound a little too cheery, but it does sound like fun to me.

“You’re insane. Has anyone ever told you that before?” he grumbles, and I can’t decide if he’s serious or not.

“My sister,” I whisper, and he nods like he’s not surprised.

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