Page 11 of I Knew He Was Trouble
After double-checking that the coffee pot is still warm, I head to the front door. I’m greeted with Kelsey’s unsmiling face. She steps past me without a word, entering my safe haven. I immediately regret this entire situation.
The only women who have been in my house are my female family members and my last serious girlfriend—but I try not to think about the woman who left me for being too dedicated to my work and my sister as she went through her divorce. It’s strange to allow another woman into my space, especially one who doesn’t like me.
Kelsey’s eyes roam around my space like she’s an appraiser trying to determine the value of my property. I rub the back of my neck as I wait for her to finish her thorough perusal.
After a minute, she turns to me and crosses her arms. “I guess I should’ve expected a doctor’s house to be orderly. I’m pretty sure I could wipe my finger on your baseboards, and it would come back clean.”
I just wiped down my baseboards last week, but I’m not about to tell her that. “I like a clean space.” I gesture to the kitchen table and Kelsey walks past me again, hitting me with a whiff of floral perfume that is just the right amount to be pleasant but not overwhelming. “Do you want any coffee?”
“I never say no to coffee.”
I pour her a cup and set it down in front of her, next to the bottle of organic vanilla creamer I already got out since I don’t know how she takes her coffee. She adds a little of it to her mug,and I make a mental note and then scratch it out. There’s no reason I need to memorize how Kelsey likes her coffee.
She takes a sip and grimaces.
“I take it back. I might say no toyourcoffee.”
I swallow another gulp from my mug. “I thought it tasted fine.”
“Coffee isn’t supposed to befine. It’s supposed to be an engaging experience, a heavenly ambrosia.”
I snort and she shoots me a glare.
“Good coffee involves all the senses. It’s the perfect balance of complex flavors, bright and sweet and the slightest bit acidic.”
“What are you, a coffee connoisseur?” My sarcasm hangs in the air.
“I’m a barista at Rise and Grind Café.”
My lips press into a firm line. Of course, she is. “Let me guess, that’s one of the jobs you might have to quit if you become my niece’s nanny?”
She nods and starts to stand. “But I’m starting to think this wasn’t the best idea.”
I reach my hand across the table, grabbing hers to stop her from leaving. She immediately snatches her hand back, reminding me of an angry cat who hates physical touch. As much as I’d love to show her the door, I need to suck up to her big time if I want her to agree to be Evie’s nanny. Just call me the world’s biggest brown-noser.
“I’m sorry. Please, just have a conversation with me before you decide anything.”
The way Kelsey’s gaze narrows has me feeling like she has X-ray vision and can see right through me. Or maybe she’s a psychic and can read my thoughts. Either way, it has sweat beading at my temples.
Thankfully, she sits back down. “Fine, you have ten minutes. Convince me, Doctor Evil.”
I raise a brow. “Doctor Evil?”
“It’s one of the many names I call you in my mind.”
Lovely. Looks like we’re off to a great start here.
“Well, uh, thanks for meeting me.” I clear my throat. “You mentioned last night that you have four jobs?”
“Yep. Like I mentioned, I may be able to quit one or two of them depending upon how much you’re offering.”
“What does your work schedule look like with the jobs you want to keep?”
“I’d want to keep my dog-walking clients, but I could change up the times I walk them to be outside of my nannying hours.” She fiddles with the sleeve of her maroon sweater. “I also would like to maintain my activities coordinator position at an assisted living facility. I coordinate all of our volunteers, so I should be able to do that outside of this position as well. There may be an occasional event on Thursday afternoons I need to attend, but Mallory already said she could have your niece hang out in her classroom while she tutors on those days.”
“But you’d quit your barista job…and?” I ask, not knowing what her other job is.
“I’m a virtual assistant for an author, but I have a few friends in the business I could send her way to replace me.”
