Page 11 of Cross My Heart
The smile on her face sends a bolt of sunlight straight to my blackened heart. She gives me a sly smile before speaking. It makes me feel like I’m about to be told her deepest, darkest secrets.
“Well, Dex, as you can assume, I didn’t have the best family life growing up. That doesn’t mean I didn’t have examples of healthy relationships, though. My best friend's parents became second parents to me. Actually, in most ways, more like the parents I never had, even though my mother was physically present most of the time. Maxine and Pete McDowell, my friend’s parents, took me under their wing. I don’t know that I would have been able to attend college without their help and support.”
“Anyway,” she continues, “they have a house in the Outer Banks. I have spent weeks at a time there since I was ten years old. I love North Carolina, and to be honest, I need to be here right now. I won’t lie and say I’ll be here forever, so don’t go falling in love with me, Mr. Cross.” She smirks and gives me a wink before a blush crosses her fair skin once again, then she quickly continues, “But I will sign a contract to stay for one full year.”
A lot happened to this girl when she was ten. I can’t begin to imagine what her life has been like. I should also be concerned that it irritates me when she says she needs to be here, notwantsto be here. I’ll focus on that another time. Most importantly,why did I feel sucker-punched when she told me not to fall in love with her? Not that that would ever be a possibility, I’m not giving my heart away again, ever. Period. She will stay for one year and then we will part ways.Stop thinking about why that makes you sad, Cross.
The way she is looking at me, I decide I need to cut her a break. “I don’t know the McDowell's personally, but I did study their careers when I was in law school. They are remarkable attorneys.”
She nods in agreement. “They are even more amazing humans.”
“Okay, Ms. Lanie Heart. I think we can agree you are extremely qualified, and we all saw how my children respond to you. That’s not something I take lightly. Could you just briefly fill me in on what you have been doing for the last eighteen months?”
The color drains from her face and she fidgets in her chair. Surely, she was expecting this question, right? An eighteen-month gap in your work history? It’s a reasonable question to ask.So, why do I feel like the world’s biggest asshole?
My blood runs cold at her response.
“Recovering,” she responds with a shaky voice.
“You were in an accident?” I inquired, leaning forward in my chair.
She shrugs, “Sure.”
I frown.Sure? What kind of answer is that?I can tell by her blank stare that I’m not going to get any more information from her on this. I also know I cannot hire her to care for my children without knowing. I need to buy some time for my guy Ryan from SplitVision Securities to dig into this further.
“What is your plan now that you are here? Are you interviewing with other families?”Over my dead body,the voice in my head shouts,you’re mine. I feel my forehead again. What in the ever-living hell is going on with me?
Lanie throws her hair over one shoulder. “Not this week. When I leave here, I’m driving to Corolla to stay at my friend’s beach house for a few days. I love it there.It always makes me feel at home.”
“Corolla?” I almost leap from my leather chair. “That’s at least six hours from here.” I peek at my phone.It's already 6:30.Has she been here that long? Shit, should I pay her?“You won’t get there until one in the morning!”
She stares at me, blinking slowly.
“Molly will get you a room in town for the night so you can leave at a reasonable hour,” I insist.
Lanie’s head raises to glare at me with narrowed eyes, “Wait, what?”
Oh boy, she looks pissed.
“She will do no such thing. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I will be driving to the beach. Tonight! Do you have any more questions for me, Mr. Dexter Cross?” She asserts.
What can I say? I have no control over this woman. The thought makes me smile inwardly. I have a feeling I would never have control of her even if she were mine. Mine.Cut the shit, Cross. “No, Ms. Lanie Heart. No more questions. I plan to follow up with your references and will be in touch soon. Thank you for coming…and thank you for your help. I can’t believe the girls are still sleeping. I’m not going to lie, it scares me for tonight, though.”
She gives me a small smile, and I feel like the king of the castle again.
“They are teething, Mr. Dexter Cross,” she tells me kindly. “Harper's top gums are swollen. Sarah looks like she has one on the bottom left just about to break the skin. Just give them some infant Tylenol before bedtime, that will help. If they wake up in the middle of the night, just remake the teething pouch I showed you earlier. That will help the inflammation in their gums. I would suggest you go on to Amazon and purchase some teething rings and real pouches asap, though. You’re going to need them, and I didn’t see any in my quick look around.”
I feel myself still smiling as I walk her to the door. “Thank you, Lanie.”
“You’re welcome, Dex.” Her smile doesn’t quite meet her eyes as she walks out the door.
I hear Molly’s heels coming down the hallway towards me, but I turn to go back to my office. She watches as I head to the window and peer out just in time to see Lanie pounding her forehead on her steering wheel. And I’m smiling. Again. Good, at least I wasn’t the only one to be affected by this fucked up afternoon.
“Sir?”
I turn my head to look at Molly. She looks how I feel. Then I realizeGirls Just Want to Have Funis blaring from a bright pink phone case.
“Lanie forgot her phone…and if you don’t hire that girl, I quit.”
