Page 2 of Playing with Fire

Keeping my distance, and her out of my mind, would eventually solve the problem. Because there was no fucking way I was turning out like my father. Having a failed marriage on my resume was one step closer to being exactly like him, and I refused to add screwing someone over a decade younger than me to the list of similarities.

Izzy Mitchell was off limits. And after tonight, avoiding her was my only option.

Chapter Two

IZZY

“How about thecoffee shop in town?” Nicole said and took a bite of her salad. “I saw a sign that they were hiring.”

Two months into taking over the apartment from my sister Angie after she moved to a small town in Massachusetts, it was apparent I needed to get another job. I loved my position in medical billing at the hospital, but, as I was job sharing with Nicole, it was only part-time. She was the one who got me the job when her coworker quit a few months ago.

It was great that I could use my medical billing and coding degree, but the limited income wouldn’t be enough for long. School loans I’d started paying off stacked up atop bills I hadn't even considered when I’d signed the lease on the apartment. I’d taken for granted the meals my mom cooked, and the internet provider I’d never needed to pay for. Gas and electric. Even a freaking water bill now.

Not that I would admit any of this to my parents or siblings. And have them tell me they told me so? Nope. I wanted—needed—to prove I could do this. That I was an independent adult now.

“I'll look into it.” I took a bite of my own food before shaking my head. “But they probably want someone during the day. Maybe I'd be better waitressing somewhere.”

Working at the hospital two to three days during the week, I needed a job I could do on nights and weekends. I was learning how to stretch a budget and was doing fine making ends meet, but I blew through my savings to provide the first and last month's rent when I leased the apartment. So now I had no cushion and little to no extra in that budget.

A second part-time job would give me a chance to build back up my savings and have a little extra. I hadn't even been out with friends in almost two weeks, doing my best to not spend anything that wasn't necessary. I missed that part of my life.

“Yeah, but you and I could always figure out a schedule if you needed to work somewhere else on specific days.”

I appreciated how flexible Nicole was with our schedules. And, since she was in her last year of nursing school, my hope was that I could take over the billing position full time when she became a nurse.

“Thanks. I'll let you know if anything pans out. It's on my list this week to apply to a few places.”

We finished our lunches and said our goodbyes on the sidewalk of the small eatery. I made my way back across the street to the hospital and through the lobby, waving at the ladies at the reception desk.

“Hey, Izzy,” Paula called.

I turned toward her, and she waved me over. Maggie, one of the hospital's pediatric surgeons, was standing there. She was also the ex-wife of Logan Murray, one of the firefighters my brother Jay worked with. I’d known him for years, and we’d always coexisted easily, but recently, all he did was glare at me. Even his posture would change whenever I was close. He’d stiffen and act like if I touched him, he would burst into flames. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out why. Did I offend him at some point and not realize it?

“Are you still looking for a part-time job?” Paula asked as I stopped in front of the desk.

I nodded. “Yeah, why?”

“How are you with kids?” Maggie jumped in excitedly, a pleading look I didn't understand.

“Um…” I wasn't sure how to answer that. “Fine?”

I mean, I was a camp counselor as a teenager. And did my fair share of babysitting, too. But I really needed more context before I could truly answer that.

“I might have a job for you.” She waved toward the coffee bar that sat in the corner of the lobby. “Let me buy you a coffee and I'll tell you about it. If you're interested, you can start as soon as tonight.”

Tonight? Was she serious? This was already sounding too good to be true.

Once we were seated with our coffees, I listened to Maggie explain what amounted to a pretty amazing nanny gig. Before and after school hours, plus nights and weekends that wouldn't interfere with the hospital job. And I tried to hide my excitement, and relief, when she said how much they would pay me. It became clear very quickly that this was perfect for me.

“That sounds great.” I smiled and nodded.

Her head tilted as her brow furrowed. Like she’d suddenly remembered a detail that had been lost in the excitement she’d originally felt when we started talking. “The schedule might be unpredictable at times. With our jobs, it's hard to predict when we'll be home.” She took a deep breath before continuing. “So it might be difficult to plan personal time around the hours since they're not set.”

It wasn't like I could afford to go out right now as it was, and I definitely didn’t have a super active social life.

“Ideally, we want someone who can cook and clean up behind the kids. Maybe some light tidying around the house and the kids' laundry once a week.”

I nodded again. “That's totally fine.”

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