Page 43 of A Little Twist

Maintaining the brightness in my voice, I manage a smile. “I’ll be here at eight, then.”

“Thank you.” He’s not looking at me, and I steal one last look at his face before I disappear out the side door.

It’s an expression I’ve seen before when he’s sampling a new blend or thinking about adding a service. Problem solving.

Only, I don’t want to be a problem for him, even if I seem to keep creating them, from being his fake fiancée to being the nanny he wants to kiss… and hopefully do so much more with.

Climbing the stairs to my garage apartment, I study the diamond on my hand surrounded by angel’s wings. In all the years of circling him, I never dreamed I’d be this close to him. I never let the thought enter my mind, because it seemed impossible.

I always tried to be his friend, and now I finally understand why we never were. I turn over everything he said to me. I’m smart and curious and a little wild, and he seems to dislike Drake Redford as much as me.

A month of fun with a man I’ve seen naked and who doesn’t want to be friends. Pressing my lips together, I swallow the bubble of excitement rising in my stomach. What kind of twist is this?

* * *

“Daddy told you a secret last night.”Pinky sits at the bar eating toast spread with almond butter and strawberry preserves.

My stomach tenses, and I’m not sure what to say.

It’s just the two of us. Alex and I exchanged a brief, professional good morning when I arrived five minutes ago. He was gorgeous as always in jeans that hugged his ass perfectly and a long-sleeved, maroon Henley. His dark hair grazed his collar, and he said something about needing a haircut before letting us know he’d be home by five.

Now he’s gone, and I’m holding a cup of coffee facing his adorable mini-me, who’s waiting for a response and wearing the exact same expression I left him with last night: Problem-solving.

Clearly, she was not sleepwalking last night, and she did see us in a clutch. “What makes you think that?”

“He was talking in your ear.” Her serious expression is too cute. “Was it something about me?”

“No, um… he was actually telling me a joke.”

She takes a big bite of toast and nods knowingly. “That’s why you didn’t laugh. Uncle Adam says Daddy has no sense of humor. He’s like Marlin.”

Pressing my lips together, I almost laugh. “Don’t talk with your mouth full, okay?”

She takes another big bite of toast, and I’m not sure Alex needs to be funny. He’s sexy as sin, which more than makes up for a lack of comedic skills in my book.

“I need to run a few errands today. Want to brush your teeth so you can go with me?”

“Yes!” She drops the toast at once and hops off the stool, running towards the stairs. “We can watchNemolater!”

Something tells me I might have that movie memorized by the end of this job—more so than I already do. After a quick clean-up, I head upstairs to look through her drawers and familiarize myself with her closet.

At four and a half, she’s old enough to pick out her clothes and make her bed, so when she races into the room from brushing her teeth, I stop her.

“Let’s make this bed, okay?” Her little shoulders fall, but I’m no pushover. “Come on.”

Together we make the bed and straighten her toys. Then I let her pick out her outfit for the day. Not too bad. She pulls on a white sleeveless dress with little blue flowers all over it.

“Let’s do your hair.” I sit her on her bed and French-braid the front of her hair out of her eyes. The rest I don’t touch, and her perfect spirals hang in shiny sausages.

“I like your hair!” She spins fast with her curls flying around her shoulders, threading her fingers in my long ponytail.

“Thanks! I like your hair.”

Smiling like we’re the best of friends, she takes my hand and grabs Piglet as we head out the door.

Coffee in hand, and Pinky in her booster seat, we make the drive to Britt’s old apartment. Alex’s massive home is on the outskirts of town, closer to the beach, so it takes a few minutes to get there. “Paper Rings” by Taylor Swift plays on my phone, and Pinky sings right along with me at the top of her lungs.

“We’re lucky!” I cry as we pull into an empty parking space close to the courthouse before crossing the street.

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