Page 20 of Shattered

“Sure is different. I think I got a crash course from Keeley, but somehow I feel like she didn’t tell me everything.”

“Probably won’t, either,” he grunted.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” She glanced up at him.

“It means, somethings around here, you need to experience for yourself. It’s just how this place is,” he answered.

“Oh...” She nodded. It made sense. Keeley and the others couldn’t spoon feed her all the details, she had to have the want to know it for herself. “You’re right.”

“So, what have my brother and mated sister set me up for now?” He placed the glass of tea in front of her then went back to the counter where he’d left his cup.

“I’m new to town,” she admitted.

“Figured, never seen you around before, and I knew everyone in the pack and town until the party.” Mackenzie took another sip of his coffee, while watching her over the lip of the cup.

Aurora sighed. “Fine, I’m just going to jump into this with both feet. Mackenzie, I need a babysitter to watch Abby while I work the night shift as a dispatcher at the Sheriff’s Department.”

Mackenzie leaned back against the countertop, his long legs crossed at the ankles as he cradled the mug between his palms. He looked calm, cool and collected, but somehow, she realized it was all a façade. This man he ran hot, and deep, and she’d bet he rarely, if ever, opened up to another living soul. Even his siblings. It made Aurora feel nervous and safe at the same time, which didn’t make a lick of sense.

“Listen, I know this is completely crazy, but Keeley and your brother suggested you as a possible candidate to watch Abby for me while I worked.”

“Jesus,” he mumbled.

“I thought it might be a bad idea,” she admitted. “I’m only here because it’s a last-ditch effort to find someone to watch Abby. I let Keeley convinced me this was a good idea. I should’ve known better. However, you have your own issues to sort through, and I don’t want to be a burden to you or your family.”

She stood then. “I appreciate the tea and your time. I’m sorry for intruding.” Aurora started toward the front door. She’d have to tell Kalkin she couldn’t take the job if she was going to be on night shift. He probably didn’t have a daytime position, so she’d have to quit. It was a blow to the gut for her, but they’d survived worse. Maybe, the grocery store would take her back. The pay would be shit. But she could swing it, and they could stay.

“She’s five, right?” he asked.

Aurora stopped midstride and faced him. “She’s five and she’s currently in kindergarten with Mikey.”

“How often would you need me to watch her?”

“Three days a week.”

He nodded.

“The days will change from week to week, and sometimes, the days I work will fall on the weekend.”

“I know how the shifts work at the Sheriff’s Department, star.”

Aurora’s cheeks heated with embarrassment at his endearment.What the hell?“Right.” Of course, he did. His brother was Sheriff, and his other two brothers were deputies in the department along with Royce, his son. “I’d be willing to pay you.”

He snorted. “How much?”

She frowned.

What an idiot. She hadn’t even thought about how much she’d have to pay someone or more to the point, him, to watch Abby. “Ahh. Hundred bucks a week.”

“You want to pay me under three dollars an hour to watch your kid? That’s slave wages, lady.”

She shrugged. The heat infusing her cheeks intensified at her faux pau. “I’m sorry. I’ve never done this before. I’m not sure what the going rate is for something like this. I didn’t mean any disrespect.”

“You’ve never had a babysitter?” Disbelief filled his tone.

“Well, yeah, Abby’s had a babysitter before. Mrs. Glasgow, the elderly woman in our apartment complex, used to watch her for me. She never took money from me. To pay her back, I made sure her fridge and cupboards were stocked, and on the weekends, when I’d do laundry, I’d do hers with ours because she couldn’t walk up and down the basement stairs. I’d also take her to doctors and hairdresser appointments on my days off. I’m not really sure if this arrangement would work for you.”

“Yeah. I’m very capable of doing all those things, and more by myself.”

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