Page 7 of King of Malice
“What sort of hours are you looking for?”
“I work a great deal, often at odd times, so I’d like a live-in nanny.”
I frown. “Those are tough to find. There are overtime regulations and?—”
“The pay is of no consequence.”
I’d picked up on that. “Would you be open to two different people in the role?”
“I’d strongly prefer one.”
If I were less professional, or less attracted, I’d suggest he consider marrying again. What he really wants is a mother. “I’ll see what I can do.”
I finish up my questions, placing the forms back in my bag. “Would it be possible for me to see Anna’s room?”
“Of course.”
The bedroom always gives me a good idea of what the caregiving parent values.
“I can also show you the nanny’s room.” Dimitri stands, setting Anna down as he takes her hand and starts leading her out of the living room.
She toddles next to him, her entire hand wrapped about one of his fingers.
Honestly, it melts my heart to see it, and I have to keep a sigh from escaping my lips as my heels click on the floor behind them.
We pass a large and well-appointed dining room on the way to ahallway with several doors. He opens the first, showing me a beautiful room for a little girl, decorated in pale pinks and dark wood furniture. It’s pretty, yet serviceable, with books and sensory toys that are age appropriate. The room speaks of taste, sophistication, and careful parenting. “It’s a beautiful room,” I say with a smile.
Dimitri nods. “Thank you. The designer made certain to work some of my furniture tastes in while ensuring it was appropriate for a little girl.”
Noted. Any nanny I choose, should be sophisticated enough to blend into this house and all the support staff that come with it.
We step back out, entering the room just across the hall. It’s a large room with a walk-in closet and an ensuite bath. “This will be the nanny’s room.”
My brows lift. This is for hired help? I briefly wonder what the main bedroom looks like. “Very nice.”
“I tried to hire a woman from my home country, a friend of a friend, but it did not work out,” Dimitri offers with a grimace. Anna lifts her arms to her father and Dimitri bends over to pick her up, his face coming close enough to mine that I catch a whiff of his cologne. He smells like fresh winter air and pine. I draw in a deep breath, wondering how the scent is even possible in the Vegas heat.
He swings Anna into his arms, settling her on his hip as he straightens back up.
“I’m sure we can find you and Anna a good fit.” Anna holds out a hand to me, her fingers opening and closing like she’s reaching out for me.
It’s so sweet, my chest gets tight as I slip my thumb into her palm, her fingers wrapping around it. My fingers close as I lightly stroke the back of her velvet hand. “With a little girl this adorable, it’s going to be easy as pie.”
“Pie?” she asks, perking up.
I laugh, giving her fist a light shake.
My gaze drifts from Anna to Dimitri where my heart stops in my chest. The way he’s looking at me, it’s…
I freeze, fighting the urge to back away.
There is an aggression in his gaze that makes me want to run. Hide. I drop Anna’s hand, my gaze dropping too, as I draw in a deep breath through my nose and then out my mouth, attempting to control the panic.
It’s ridiculous and unprofessional. I will my voice to work, to come out of my throat sounding normal. “Let me take a look at the candidates and see who might be a match. In the meantime, I’ll contact Gertrude, an older woman who does short-term placements but isn’t interested in long term work. She’ll be a great interim fix while we’re interviewing. I should hear back from her by this evening or tomorrow at the latest.”
“Thank you,” he rumbles. “Your competence and professionalism have been most appreciated.”
His words help me relax as I shake off my reaction and walk back out of the room. I know I’m acutely sensitive in this regard.
