Page 12 of Double Fault

Sabrina shrugs. “Maybe. I hope so.” That last part is spoken so quietly I would have missed it if I weren’t good at reading lips.

“I’ll walk you out.”

Sabrina straightens at the sound of my voice. I find myself standing taller too.

“I have to grab my purse.”

I jerk my head in a nod and follow her back to the dining room.

She swipes her purse from the table, hefting it over her shoulder. The thing looks heavy. What does she have in there? Ten tubes of lip gloss and a bowling ball?

“You don’t like me,” she states plainly. “I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because you find me attractive.”

I open my mouth to argue, but she holds up a finger to silence me.

“I’m not stupid. I know when a man is checking me out. But I’m here about a job. I’m here for that little girl in there. That’s all I care about. If you can’t set your attraction aside and do what’s best for her, then there’s something wrong with you.”

Anger steals through me. “Who are you to tell me what’s best for my daughter?”

“I’m not saying I’m the answer to your problem. I’m telling you that if won’t hire me because you find me attractive, it says way more about you than I think you’d like to admit.”

“Fuck you.”

She bats those long lashes. “Only in your dreams, Noah.”

A growl rumbles in my chest. “Get out.”

“Gladly.”

I follow her to the front door, and when she’s stepped outside, I shut it carefully behind her rather than slamming it like I want to.

Fisher steps up beside me, his focus fixed on the dark-haired beauty who’s climbing into a 4-Runner that looks like it’s one firm gust of wind from entirely falling apart.

“Not this one,” I hiss. “Anyone but her.”

He frowns, his brows knitted. “Dude, she’s by far the best candidate.” He points out the window at the decrepit SUV disappearing down the driveway. “Your daughter is already halfway in love with her, and the woman has a damn teaching degree. She’ll have no trouble keeping Maddie on track while you’re on the road. She’s single?—”

My stupid fucking heart takes off at a sprint.

I hold up a hand and glower at the man I thought was my best friend. “What the fuck does that have to do with anything?”

Fisher bites back a laugh, his eyes full of mirth. “I just mean there’s nothing tying her here. She won’t up and quit because she misses her boyfriend.”

At the mention of some fictional boyfriend, I bristle.

“No.”

Fisher sighs, arms crossed. “She’s the only one candidate who already has a passport.”

I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose.

Fuck.

Thanks to pure dumb luck, Sabrina Howard just landed this job.

CHAPTER 4

SABRINA

---