Page 8 of Their Stolen Kisses
It had a T-rex on it, because dinosaurs had been a big part of the movie. How lucky was that?
Noah perked up his head just enough to peek over his arm again, a little curiosity replacing the shyness.
“But I don’t know what it is.” I feigned confusion and flipped the ticket around comedically, looking at the thin edges and peering closely at it upside down - after I made sure he got a good look at it, of course. “What kind of dinosaur could it be?” I started mumbling dinosaur names.Come on...No kid I’d ever met could pass up the chance to tell an adult something new.
Noah might be shy - much shyer than any kid I’d babysat before - but he was no exception. “T-rex.”
I looked up from the ticket, heart bubbling with triumph and pride for Noah. His head was hidden again, but that little voice couldn’t have come from anyone else. “Yeah, that was it. Wow, thanks!”
Cameron bent his knees and set Noah down gently, his eyes smiling at me in approval. “Can you play with your T-rex, Noah? Diana and I are going to the kitchen.”
I felt his gaze on me until we reached the kitchen. “He seems like a nice kid,” I said, watching him lay on his stomach in his tiny Chicago Bulls jersey and clash two plastic dinos together.
“He is. I can’t believe he spoke to you, honestly. Usually, he just hides or stays completely quiet when strangers are around.” Warm happiness filled Cameron’s voice. “I really felt nervous about leaving him alone overnight, but... if you still want the job, I’d love to hire you. It would make me feel a lot better if I knew you were here with him.”
“I’d love the job,” I assured Cameron immediately, ecstatic.
“Great. I did some research on rates, and I was thinking $250 flat to stay each night, and $20 per hour during the day? Noah usually sleeps pretty soundly, once he gets to sleep. He might try to sneak in and sleep with you,” Cameron admitted. “He’s afraid of the dark and he climbs into bed with me fairly regularly. You might be able to carry him to bed once he falls asleep.”
“It’ll be fine either way,” I promised. Noah was starting to sound more and more like one of my little nieces who had also been afraid of the dark around his age. “But $250 a night? Are you… are you sure?” I’d also done a some research, since it had been so long since I nannied. $100 to $150 had seemed fairly standard... I hadn’t seen anyone who charged $200 at all, let alone $250.
“I added a little extra for the inconvenience since you already have a full-time job. And a little more for food, in case you decide to do any shopping. Although, I went shopping yesterday,” Cameron added hastily. “I didn’t mean you need to shop. Just, if you want to. Or if you want to take Noah for chicken nuggets or ice cream.”
Or if I needed a little extra money to help with the bills, and Cameron could provide that because he was a billionaire. I wasn’t going to argue with that. And Cameron clearly cared a lot about Noah. He could have left the shopping to me. I didn’t doubt that the CEO’s job was a little more intensive and busier than that of a simple secretary.
He wants to care for his son and do it properly. And he wants me to be able to take care of my mother.
Cameron gave me a few more details. Everything seemed simple enough, and the pay… well, great seemed like an understatement. We both smiled at Noah as he played, then shook on our deal. Cameron’s grip was strong, sure, and confident, and his fingers seemed to linger in mine a heartbeat longer than they should… A wistful touch as Cameron escorted me to the door after I said goodbye to Noah - or so I imagined.
* * *
Three dayslater after work on Monday, it was time to say hello to Noah again. I stepped over the threshold of the beautiful-
Brownstone! That was it. I knew there was a name for this kind of house, I just couldn’t remember it yesterday. Reddish-brown, almost like clay but not nearly so red - this was definitely a brownstone.
Anyway, I stepped over the threshold, this time carrying a suitcase of clothes, makeup, and whatever else I would need while I stayed here. Since I would be needed nearly as soon as I got off work, there was no point in going home during the three nights I would be here.
“Thanks again for doing this,” Cameron said as he led the way to a spacious guest bedroom with a king size bed. “I left a third of the money on the counter in the kitchen, and I’ll pay you the rest when I get back.”
“That’s very generous, thank you.” I managed to almost feel guilty about how much he was paying me, even though I needed the money… badly.
“Let me just say goodbye to Noah, then I’ll be on my way.”
After a couple more minutes of moseying around the room to give them a little time alone, I made my way into the living room. Noah had his arms wrapped around the shoulders of Cameron, who was trying to convince the boy to let go. “Daddy needs to leave,” he explained, not a single note of impatience in his voice. “Just like for work, okay? I’ll be back soon.”
Finally, Noah let go and went back to his dinosaurs - but he only bounced them up and down, pretending to play while he kept an eye on me.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got this. I brought some help. Other dinosaurs,” I added, the worry creases around Cameron’s eyes telling me this wasn’t the time to be cryptic.
“Oh.” He visibly relaxed. “Take care of him. And call me immediately if anything is wrong. Anything at all.”
“I will.” I’d never meant words more. Cameron’s fond smile in Noah’s direction told me that his boy was everything to him, and my own heart melted just a little because I was someone he trusted with his care.
In all my fantasies, somehow, I’d never expected the determined CEO of Pinnacle Real Estate to be such a loving, doting father.
The door swung shut behind Cameron. I locked it, as instructed, and jogged to the guest room to grab what I hoped would be the key to Noah’s heart. While he played, glancing up occasionally at the kids’ show playing on the large, flat screen TV, I walked around the room, preparing my little game.
I plopped down beside him. His wide, surprised, nervous eyes fastened on my face. “I see… a dinosaur!” I announced, staring hard at the far wall.
Noah’s eyes followed mine to the Pterosaur on the shelf next to a blue vase. He hopped to his feet to go and grab it. But I planted a kiss on top of his head before he could stand up. The surprise and shock on his face turned quickly to suspicion, and he trudged over to the plastic figurine and snatched it up. Despite the scathing glances, he came back… and sat down right where he’d been, just within reach.
“I see… another dinosaur!” This time, I pointed at the mantle above the fireplace, where I could just see the sail of a Dimetrodon peeking around a photo frame. Again, before Noah could run to grab it, I sneaked in a quick kiss.
And he came back again. And again. And again. Kids were smart, and if Noah didn’t like the affection, he would sit down further away or show me in another way that he wasn’t having fun. But he kept coming back and letting me sneak in those quick kisses to the top of his head, even though each time, he gave me a pouty look.
Too soon, the game was over; Noah found every dinosaur. He sat down for the last time, and we both played happily; dinosaur noises and laughter filling the warm living room.
