Page 24 of Delayed Penalty

CHAPTER 6

QUINN

Heofferedmea job!

There I was, about to go beg for one, then he offered it to me. I won’t lie—I panicked for a moment because it all became too real. I don’t know if I’m cut out for this. It’s going to be a lot of work. 24-7 kind of thing.

But then I thought about how much fun I was having just talking to the kid and how easy it seemed. Sure, I’m not going to like working for her uncle one bit, but I like her, and that just might be enough.

I pass George’s, sending him a wave as I walk by the corner store on the way to the address Hayes sent me. I laugh at the double take the old man does seeing me out and about this early. I check my phone to ensure I’m still headed the right way, then scroll through the messages Hayes sent me last night for themillionth time. They were so direct. Straight to the point, all business. I’m unsure if I was unnerved by that or just the thought of nannying in general, maybe a bit of both.

About half a mile up the road, I turn into a neighborhood I’ve never been in and am surprised to find it all looks so…normal. Like something out of one of those Hallmark movies I secretly love to watch. I don’t know why, but I pictured him somewhere more remote, a gated community and his house being watched by men in fancy black suits with earpieces. Maybe a little rain cloud perpetually hanging over his house, something with sharp edges and dark shutters and no front lawn.

I did not expect white picket fences and sprawling yards.

I stop at the end of a driveway where the mailbox matches the number he sent me and stare up at the expansive home in front of me. It’s unlike any other house on this street, and I don’t mean its structure or color—those are all in line with the rest of them.

No. It’s the lack of any curb appeal or sign of life aside from the fancy SUV sitting in the driveway instead of tucked safely inside the two-car garage.

But someonedoeslive here—Hayes. And Flora, too.

Flora, who I can’t wait to see again. I had fun withher yesterday in the few minutes I watched her while Hayes stepped outside. She told me about the book she’s been reading, something about a group of middle school kids whose teachers are supernatural creatures and get into all kinds of trouble. I made some ridiculous and completely unfunny joke about spiking her uncle’s coffee with garlic to find out if he was a vampire, and she laughed. I didn’t realize at the time how rare it was, or I would have soaked it up more. Maybe I can make her laugh again today so I can appreciate it this time around.

I reach into my pocket, pulling out one of the butterscotch candies I always keep tucked in there, and toss it into my mouth before pushing my shoulders back.

“Here goes nothing,” I mutter as I march up the short driveway, climb the three stairs that lead to the front door, and press the doorbell. The chime rings through the house, but that’s the only sound. It’s quiet. Almost too quiet, like nobody is home.

I wait a minute. Then two. Still, nobody answers the door.

I knock and wait again. Nothing.

I pull my phone from my pocket, checking to make sure I have the right house, even though I’m ninety-nine percent sure I do.

“Yep. This is it,” I mutter to myself, then hit thedoorbell again for good measure. “So where the hell is everyone?”

“You know, when someone doesn’t answer, that usually means they aren’t home.”

I whirl around, my heart thundering in my chest. Hayes and Flora are standing at the end of the stairs. His eyes are narrowed, and hers are full of excitement.

“Hayes.”

His gaze sharpens even more. “Quinn.”

There’s apprehension in his tone, and maybe even a little surprise like he didn’t expect me to show up on time today.

What is it with everyone always doubting me?

Flora holds up a lilac bag, one I’m very familiar with, as they walk up the steps, her bright pink rain boots clomping against the wood. “We got you a donut.”

I remember my mother’s comment about how they’re in her bakery almost daily. Even I don’t eat out that much, and I’m a terrible cook.

“You did?”

She nods frantically as Hayes punches in the passcode for the door, balancing a tray filled with three drinks in the other hand. “Uncle Adam said we should play it safe and get you a glazed donut, but I told him you needed something with sprinkles.”

I smile, dropping into a squat to match her height. “Well, you’ll be happy to know you were right. I happen tolovesprinkles. Want to know why?”

“Why?”

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