Page 24 of Single Mom's Daddies
“I was.”
“She speaks highly of you.”
“I’d hope so,” she says. “I’ve taken care of her through three breakups and a flat tire in the middle of a snowstorm.”
I almost smile. “She said you’re dependable. Organized. Patient.”
“I try to be.”
“And you know who we are.”
“I do.” No hesitation. No sugarcoating.
I exchange a glance with Nikolai. He gives the faintest shrug, his version ofinteresting.“You’re not worried about working for the Bratva?”
“I’m worried about a lot of things,” she says evenly. “You’re not at the top of the list.”
That does make me smile. Just a flicker. “Why not?”
“Because you’re up front about what you are. That makes you less dangerous than most.”
“And what do you think we are?”
She meets my gaze without flinching. “Structured. Protective. Willing to do what needs to be done.”
Nikolai lets out a breath like a laugh, but not quite.
I shift slightly in my chair. “We’re still considering candidates.”
“Of course.”
“But we wanted to meet you before we went further. You have a child, correct?”
She nods once. “Daughter. Ivy. She’s eight.”
“Come with me.”
She rises smoothly, following without question as I lead her through the main corridor of the house. We pass the sitting room, the staircase, and the dining hall where Alex once tried to launch a dinner roll across the chandelier. The hallway to the playroom is quieter—still full of light from the tall windows, but padded with the sounds of childhood.
When I open the door, Mila looks up from her book like we’ve interrupted something sacred. Alex is building a LEGO castle and scowling at one of the towers like it insulted his mother.
“Kids,” I say, “this is Saffron.”
Mila blinks. “Like the spice?”
“Yes,” Saffron says. “Like the spice.”
Alex grins. “That’s cool.”
Mila narrows her eyes. “Are you a new maid?”
“Nope,” Saffron replies. “I’m a maybe.”
“What’s a maybe?” Alex asks.
“It means I might be your new nanny.”
“Oh,” Mila says, like she’s still deciding if that’s a good or bad thing.
