Page 16 of Crush
“Sounds like you've got a handful,” I said.
Honestly, I didn't think I was cut out for the job. It sounded like Shea needed someone who had experience with busy and possibly difficult kids,andcould effortlessly juggle jam-packed schedules. Could I do that? Maybe, but I wasn't exactly confident. Would Chloe even listen to me? I was only thirteen years older than her, after all. In the eyes of a rebellious teen girl, what authority could I possibly have?
“And is it just you at home, or …?” I asked, trailing off, my eyes instinctively darting to his ring finger. It was bare.
“Just me. I'm divorced.”
“Oh, I'm sorry.”
“Don't be. When I'm on a business trip, the kids stay at their mother's. When I'm home, they'll be with me, and that's when I need a nanny.”
“I see. Do you travel a lot?”
“Several times a month. Some trips are long, but most are only a few days long. So I'm looking for a nanny who's willing to live with us for about half the year.”
“Oh, wow, I didn't know you needed a live-in nanny.” He'd leftthatpart out of his ad, too. I started to think that Shea just wasn't very good at this whole 'finding a nanny' thing.
“Would that be a problem?” he asked, one brow arching.
I didn't have a good reasonwhy it would be—except for Pickles.
“Um, well, I have a cat?” I stammered, and maybe a small part of me was hoping that Pickleswouldget me eliminated from Shea's consideration.
But Shea gave a shrug. “That'd be fine. Chloe loves cats.”
“Great,” I said with a gulp. “So, it sounds like you travel a lot. What is it that you do, exactly?”
Shea waved a hand. “Oh, it doesn't matter. I'm about to retire in a few months anyway.”
Doesn't matter? Retire?
Why was this guy so cagey and weird with all his answers? And how old washe in the first place? He definitely didn't look old enough to be retiring. He must've been more successful than I realized.
But Shea butted in before I could ask any questions.
“Listen, Brynn. You seem like a nice girl.” He looked at my resume again and gave a small shake of his head. “You've got a good resume, too. But I'll be honest. I'm not sure you're what I'm looking for.”
Which was funny, because a moment ago, I thought I would've been fine with hearing that. But something about being told you don't have what it takes only makes you want to prove the person wrong.
“Why not?” I asked defiantly, suddenly determined to change his mind.
“You'd be perfect if you had experience with kids the same age as mine,” Shea said as someone walked by our table. “But the kids have never had a nanny as young as you. Honestly, I'm worried that they wouldn't listen to you, that you'd get taken advantage of—”
Shea stopped talking, because that stranger who'd went walking past our table actually came to a complete stop. He hovered right by our table, looking at Shea and listening in, until his intrusive presence had to be addressed.
Shea looked up at him, mildly annoyed. “Do you mind?”
The grown man looked and sounded jittery. “Hi! I'm sorry to bother you, Shea, but I'm a huge fan. Got time for a selfie?” The fan held his cell phone out, at the ready to snap a selfie of the two men together.
Wait a minute. What?
The wheels in my head started to turn.
Shea … Ellis. Shea Ellis.
Oh my God.
Shea Ellis.
