Page 30 of Secrets, Lies and Love

“I know. I didn’t say I didn’t want you here.”

“Wow, what a relief. Now I will sleep more peacefully because I have your acceptance, sir. Thank you for telling me that.”

I hide a smile at the sarcasm. Yes, she’s a cactus, but she’s so hot that I wouldn’t mind having to deal with the thorns.

I can see that she’s trying to act natural, but her face and neck are covered in an intense blush. Cecily can’t hide how attracted she is to me.

As a test, I move even closer.

Her pupils dilate, and for the first time, I catch a glimpse of her pink tongue as she runs it across her lower lip.

“My son liked you.”

“Unlike his father, who thinks I’m suicidal or, at the least, reckless.”

“Aren’t we past that already?”

“You tell me. That was your argument when you said I wouldn’t be suitable as a nanny.”

There are other reasons why I shouldn’t hire you, Cecily, but it’s in my nature to like playing with fire.

“I want to try something,” I say.

“What do you mean?”

“For two weeks, you’ll stay at my house at night to see if this arrangement works.”

“I already have a job.”

“But you don’t like what you do. Elina told me that your business is children, much more so than books.”

She opens and closes her mouth, and I think she wants to deny it for the simple pleasure of challenging me, but she seems to backtrack. “Does Elina know that you came to propose this to me?”

“She does, but I need you to understand that it’s atrial.”

“I have to think.”

“What?”

“You just told me it’s a trial. If you don’t like me as a nanny, I’ll be without a job. I have to talk to Elina and find out if she would give me my place back if everything goes wrong.”

“I’ll double your salary,” I say, since I never negotiate to lose.

“And what good would it do me if I were sent away? Nothing times two is nothing.”

“Are you refusing my proposal?”

“No. I really want to work as a nanny, even more so now that I’ve met Joseph, but I need a plan B.”

“I’ll talk to Elina and make sure you’ll have your position back if we don’t work out, Cecily.”

“No. I appreciate this opportunity you are giving me, but I prefer to talk to her myself. I’m not a baby. I can solve my own problems.”

“Don’t you want to know how much you’ll earn?”

“You already said you will double my salary.”

I smile internally. She is smart and a good negotiator too. “If you stay with me”—and shit, I like how that sounds—"you’ll sleep at my house. Of course, you’ll have a night off each week.”

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