Page 7 of The Unconventional Nanny
Bee shakes her head. "It's such a shame when your body betrays you like that. I remember your mama as a young girl, twirling around this place. She would perform for anyone who was in here, whether they wanted to watch or not. I thought for sure she was headed straight for the big stage."
"That had been her dream." Until rheumatoid arthritis took it away from her.
"Sometimes dreams change." The faraway look on Bee’s face says more than words ever could. "Anyway . . ." She shakes herself out of whatever daydream took over and smiles at me. This one is a little creepy. Almost like the Cheshire Cat after he got his way. "Care to spill the beans about the new shop coming in down the road."
If Bee had followed her regular routine and met me at the table with a drink like normal, there's a good chance I would've spit it across the room at her transition to the new topic. Instead, I'm left to choke on my spit. "Subtle, Bee. Real subtle." I shake my head at her amused expression.
"Does that mean you plan to tell me the mystery behind the sale? Everyone's been talking about it, but not even the infamous newspaper journalist seems to know the details."
Jo, Bee's granddaughter, chooses that moment to slide up to the table and drop a sweet tea in front of me—my preferred drink of choice anytime I come in to eat.
"Grams, are you harassing our customers again?" Jo sighs.
"I'm just tryin’ to get some information out of him. We all know he's the only contractor in town, so he has to have the information we need. That damn reporter ain't telling us nothing for once."
Jo rolls her eyes and I can't keep the smile off my face. These two have the best family relationship.
Jo is quick to change the subject. "The special for you today?"
I glance at the board next to the front door, but my eyes are drawn to the woman walking on the sidewalk outside. Her raven hair cascades over one shoulder, and because she's looking down while she walks, I can't see her eyes that I know are the color of the Caribbean Sea. I could get lost in those eyes if she let me. I wonder what her shirt says today? Something inappropriate, I'm sure. I won't have to wait long to find out. She's moving into the in-law suite tonight after the kids go to bed.
"Well, well, well." Bee snickers. "Looks like the new girl has caught our boy’s attention."
I can feel the rise of my temperature along my neck. "Just watching out for my new tenant, that's all." I drag my gaze back to Jo and Bee. The two of them wear matching smirks that scream they don't believe a word I say.
Jo is at least nice enough to let me off the hook pretty quickly. "So, the special, right?"
"Yes, please." I don’t bother to see what it is. I have yet to find one of Bee's club sandwiches I don’t like.
Jo rushes off to place my order, but I'm not lucky enough for Bee to follow. Instead, she continues to look at me with that weird smile.
I sigh. "Go ahead and say what you want."
"I think it's nice you're going to rent to our newest resident."
I scoff. "It's not like I'm doing it out of the goodness of my heart. I've had that for rent sign up for a while. I only took it down for a few weeks while I helped Mama get settled and then put it back up once we knew she wasn’t coming home. If it wasn't for me trying to get my mother into a home while I finished the renovation on The Golden Manor, I would've had someone renting it out long before now."
"Sounds like fate to me, son."
I look heavenward and pray for some patience. I love Bee. Everyone in town does. She's practically a grandma to us all. But sometimes she drives me batty. I'm regretting my decision to stop in for lunch today. What was supposed to be a peaceful meal before checking on the jobsite is turning out to be so much more.
"Can we please change the subject?"
"Would you prefer we went back to discussing the new shop coming to town?"
Lord give me strength.
"I don't make a habit of gossiping about my clients," I say through clenched teeth.
"So you admit youaredoing the work."
Yup, definitely regretting my stop for lunch today.
Thankfully I'm saved by Jo dropping my food off. "Here you go." With a stern look at her grandmother, Jo grabs Bee's small arm and practically drags the old woman away. "Time to let Ang eat in peace."
"We aren't done with this conversation," Bee yells back, and I shake my head. I never for a second thought we were done, but at least I can eat my lunch without disruption now.
And with thoughts of a certain dark-haired beauty on my brain.
