Page 11 of The Christmas Nanny

“You do all this yourself?” When would he have time?

“I do. It’s where I can get my mind right with the world.” Slim Shady padded over to the stairs leading to the yard and laid down. “And big boy loves it.”

I watched him for a long moment while he watched Slim Shady. He really was the All-American boy. No beard, no tattoos, clean-cut, and spoke properly. “It’s impossible to get your mind right with the world.”

“Only if you conform.”

“Is that what you do?”

His brow narrowed. I’d hit a cord.

“We all do, to an extent. At least on the surface.”

“That would suggest each of us has something to hide.” He turned, eyes on mine, and I asked. “What do you have to hide?”

He shrugged, and I took it as a bad sign. “No more than anyone else.”

I nodded, deciding to leave the conversation for later. What I hid couldn’t be any worse than what he hid.

“There’s a Christmas festival tomorrow night in the Dark District. People dress up in Christmas costumes.” Jacob’s smile was hard to resist. “Are you interested? We wouldn’t have to stay long.” He waited a moment and said, “Or are you worried about what I have to hide?”

The town’s Dark District was the seedier part of the city. Lots of clubs, raves, and a bundle of other things nobody talked about. He didn’t strike me as that kind of guy. I thought back to the door we passed in the kitchen. That’s where he hid the bodies of girls who fell into his arms the way I was doing.

“I have a Mrs Claus outfit in one of my closets.” It was a little too skimpy, so I never wore it. A lot of ass hung out the back, and too much boobs hung out the front—the perfect outfit for the Dark District. “By the way, I’m not worried about what you have to hide. I can take care of myself when I have to.”

He chuckled. “The outfit sounds perfect.” He shared the killer smile again. “I have a Santa costume that would go well with yours. We can go as Mr and Mrs Sexy Claus.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I said. An awkward silence filled the air until Slim Shady spotted a squirrel. He took off into the backyard and chased the squirrel up a tree. He laid down and waited. “I think I needed this, especially before the interview on Monday. I was starting to get an anxiety attack over the whole thing. Thank you for everything.”

“You’ll do fine, I’m sure.” He called for Slim Shady. “I’ve always been told to imagine everyone in the room naked, and it will help you relax.”

I laughed. “I’ll give that a try.”

Chapter four

Jacob

“It’s getting dark,” I said, “I should get you home.” I motioned at Slim Shady. “You okay if he tags along?”

“Yup. I think my crotch is dry now.”

I pursed my lips and held back the derogatory comment working its way to my lips. It was too soon, and she seemed spooked about whatever she thought I was hiding. I wanted to tell her hiding things is what people do best.

We passed through the kitchen, and Christine stared again at the door leading to the basement. The lock prevented visitors from going where they shouldn’t. Not everyone would understand what I had down there. People were always happy to judge others while their backs were against a closet full of skeletons.

“It’s nothing important,” I said, acknowledging Christine’s curiosity.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t be nosy. I’ve never seen a lock like that inside a house.”

Slim Shady stopped at the door and barked. The dog loved to get me in trouble. “You’re not allowed down there, and I don’t think she’d be interested.” I pointed to the corner of the kitchen. “Go get your leash.”

Christine backtracked from entering the living room. “I might be.”

Did I want to take her down there? Of course. But there was a very good chance she’d run out of the house screaming, calling an Uber and the police, the police because she probably wouldn’t understand what she saw.

“It’s kind of crazy,” I said. “Emily hated the basement, so there’s a lock on it. She didn’t want us having company and the company wandering down there.”

“If there’s no more Emily, you should remove it.” She cringed and bit her lower lip. “Sorry, that’s none of my business. We can go if you like.”

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