Page 46 of Curvy Nanny for the Cougar
A grown-ass woman with responsibilities. I came here for a job, not a second round of let me moan your name into the ether while our souls collide.
Focus, Tamare.
Focus on the job.
Focus on Alex.
The world’s cutest six-year-old with curls like spun gold and a grin that could melt Antarctica.
The sweet, hilarious little boy who thinks I’m a wizard because I showed him how to make his bed without crawling under it.
Even if his room looks like a toy store exploded during a full moon.
Just the job.
Just the kid.
Not the boss.
Definitely not the boss.
Shit. I am so screwed.
“Okay, Captain Chaos,” I say with a grin, lifting a sock from the lamp and pointing it at Alex like it’s a sword. “Time to restore order to this kingdom.”
He giggles, grabbing his superhero cape from under the bed. “Yes, General Tam! But I’m hungry. Can we snack first?”
“No more snacks tonight, Alex,” I say, trying not to frown.
“Oh, man,” he moans.
“You had three tonight already, remember? I’ll make you some banana muffins in the morning, how’s that?”
“Okay! Instead of cleaning can we play operation story time?”
“How about operation tidy up, then we can work on story time?”
“Only if you sing too,” he bargains.
“Deal,” I tell him with a wink.
We make fast work of the scattered toys and laundry.
Well, I make fast work of it. Alex mostly dances around offering moral support and occasionally folding socks into sock grenades.
By the time he’s wriggled into his dinosaur pajamas and brushed his teeth with only minor protest, we’re sitting on the edge of his bed.
I help him straighten his blanket, tucking it around his little frame.
He yawns, blinking up at me with eyes too wise and golden for a kid his age.
“Tam?”
“Yeah, buddy?” I look over from where I’m folding one of his tiny dinosaur t-shirts.
Alex hesitates, biting his bottom lip like he’s thinking really hard. His little brows knit together in concentration, and my heart already knows it’s about to break—just a little.
“The kids at swim lessons,” he starts, voice small, “they go to the park after. With their moms.”
