Page 7 of The Summer Arrangement
Oh, trust me, Dianne. Our paths have crossed.
Cameron’s silence speaks volumes. Obviously, he doesn’t want his mother knowing that he does indeed know me—intimately at least. We never quite made it past our carnal needs to go far beyond our casual flirting that led to our one date.
Focusing his attention on the resumé in his hand, he asks, “So you’re a student at U-P. You’re double majoring in psychology and elementary education?”
Okay… so we’re doing this.
Clearing my throat, I straighten to meet his eyes when they return to me. “Yes. I’ve got two more quarters of classes, then I’ll be placed for student teaching in the spring.”
“Clearly, she’s got a talent for working with kids. Just look at how attached Emilia is to her already,” Dianne chimes in.
Crap. Looking down, I realize she’s still holding my hand. There’s no way I would drop hers, even if my instincts say to do so. I can’t do that to an innocent child. Her grandmother told me she doesn’t warm up to people easily, so I’d never purposely push her away.
However, her getting attached to me could be disastrous in so many ways if shit goes sideways between her dad and me. Not only could it mean I never get this job, but even if I did, could I handle working for someone I’ve slept with?
Fuck. I’m so confused.
Yes, I wanted to run into him again. But I never in a million years expected it to be today.
Glancing back to Cameron, his expression remains stoic.
I thought I could read him so well in our weeks spent flirting. But hell, I didn’t even know he had a kid. Clearly, I don’t know him at all.
“Tell me about your experience as a nanny in previous summers.”
Taking a steadying breath, I force myself to relax.
“I’ve worked for a variety of families. I was on call whenever the agency needed me. I did everything from being a glorified Uber driver for preteens to staying overnight for families who worked or had other commitments. I’ve watched kids from as young as four months old to teens who just needed someone to hang out with them to keep them out of trouble with so much time on their hands. You name it, I’ve probably done it. I’ve been babysitting since I was twelve.”
Narrowing his eyes, he asks, “And just how many years ago was that?”
Before I can answer, he holds up a hand and shakes his head. “Wait. Don’t answer that. You’re obviously experienced in this field, and I won’t discriminate against you by asking.”
“I… uh… respect that.” The words fly out of my mouth before I can think better of it.
There’s an obvious age gap between us, so he likely wants to know on a personal level as well as professionally. But it says a lot about his character that he’s trying to remain professional.
This can’t be easy on him either. Finding me here certainly wasn’t on his bingo card.
“Look…” he starts, but his mom interrupts.
“I think we’ll leave the two of you to finish this interview…”
Suddenly, she’s beside us, reaching for Emilia. I’ve been so distracted by seeing Cameron again, I’d forgotten she was even in the room.
Reaching out, she pats Cameron on the chest, before she calmly says, “It’s time for Emilia to get ready for swim lessons.”
“Swimming?” Emilia’s excitement fills the room. “I go get my soup.”
And just like any three-year-old, she runs as fast as she can down a hallway and disappears.
Chuckling, Dianne shrugs. “I’d better go help. It was great seeing you again, Lizzy.” Glancing between the two of us, she adds, “I hope everything works out as it should.”
Cameron and I watch his mother disappear down the same hall as his daughter. Within seconds, we hear the sound of feet, and Emilia comes running back to us. She flings herself into her dad’s outstretched arms, who has somehow gotten to her level and crouches to envelop her in a hug.
“Bye, Daddy. I go swim with Gammy.”
“You be good and listen to your teacher,” he warns lovingly.
