Page 30 of Crush
“Why's that so hard to believe?”
“Because you're—” Whatever Shea was about to say, he thought better of it and caught his tongue. “Well—because! It just is. That's all.”
“Wow, Shea,” I teased, “you're a real wordsmith.”
“That's why I make the big bucks playing hockey, and not writing poetry,” he teased right back.
But after a pause, the athlete decided he had more to say.
“Anyway,” he began quietly, “what I meant was, look, you're smart. You're beautiful. I don't even know you all that well, but I can tell you're fun to be around. You seem like the type of girl that a guy would crawl through hell and back to keep.”
Is Shea Ellis flirting with me?I wondered, my pulse racing in my neck.But he can't be flirting with me. I don't deserve his attention.
“Yeah, well,” I muttered, “I'd think a wife would crawl through hell and back to keep her hockey-playing husband, too.”
“That's what you'd think. Especially because, when I met her, she said she was my biggest fan.”
“That's, er, funny,” I croaked.Uh oh. Definitely can't let this guy find out about my teen crush, or he'll never forgive me.
Shea lowered his voice. “I don't like to talk bad of the kids' mom. But let's just say that was the first of many lies that she told me.”
I frowned. “Sorry to hear it. Marriage sucks.”
“Yeah,” Shea agreed. “Love sucks even worse.”
I frowned. It made me sad that he thought that way. But I guess I couldn't blame him. His wife had obviously hurt him.
“Enough heavy shit,” Shea said. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“Why'd you quit personal training?”
It was like Shea sucked the air right out of my lungs. Was I really that transparent? Could Shea see right through me, and knew to ask all the questions that cut to the core of my being? I panicked, not knowing what to say or do.
But before I could figure out how to answer, Shea spoke again.
“I mean, nanny, personal trainer—they seem like two dramatically different life pursuits, you know?”
I managed to catch my breath.Relax, Brynn! He doesn't know anything about you.
“Oh, well, you'd be surprised,” I said. “In one job, you have to hold hands with babies, teach them how to walk, and make them do things that they simply don't want to do, period. And the other job, of course, is nannying.”
Shea burst out into a fit of laughter so loud I worried he might wake the kids. “Brynn, that was savage! I love it!”
I smiled. “Glad you liked it.”
“Hey, Brynn.”
“Yeah?”
“I know I hired you to be a nanny, and not a chef or a personal trainer. But if you ever manage to get the twins into the gym and show them a thing or two—I'd really appreciate it. Of course, if you feel like you're twisting their arms to get them to pump iron, then don't worry about it. And only if you have the time to do it.”
“But wait, Shea.” I paused for dramatic effect. “I still haven't told you if I want this job or not.”
“Wha'?” he mumbled. The hockey player looked like I'd just broken his heart.
I felt terrible immediately. I put my hand on his. “Aw, it was only a joke! I was feeling feisty, I'm sorry. I'd love to be your nanny, if you still want me. And if the boys are up for it, I'd be happy to show them some things in the gym, too.”
