Page 8 of Cross My Heart
“What in the ever living fu-udge is going on?” Mr. Cross screams. I’m impressed he caught himself before hurling an f-bomb in front of his kids, but his loud, scary demeanor immediately puts me on alert. Before I realize it, I find myself standing between him and Harper, moving Sara to my other side. I know I’m shaking, but I didn’t even feel myself move in front of the babies. Some instincts never go away.
Mr. Cross stares down at me and his eyes soften. He takes a step back. Julia is right, I can’t hide anything in my facial expressions. He knows he has terrified me, so he puts his hands up as if in surrender. “Ms. Lanie Heart,” he starts much more softly.
“Just Lanie,” I interrupt him again, and I now realize that being interrupted doesn’t often happen, if ever.
He sighs and starts again. “Lanie, I apologize for my outburst.” Now it’s Molly’s turn to gasp. Apparently, apologies don’t come very often from that sexy as sin mouth, and I realize I’m smiling. Best of all, Tate is giggling again.
Mr. Cross seems to have noticed and peeks over at him. Tate stops immediately, and I see Mr. Cross’s face drop. “Let me start again. You’re like a whirlwind and I don’t know what is going on. You don’t have the job yet; we haven’t even had the interview. You do realize this, yes?”
I can’t help myself as I roll my eyes, which causes his eyes to narrow in on me. Does he look pissed? Turned on? Wishful thinking, Lanie. Wishful thinking.I settle on pissed, definitely pissed. I have to backtrack if I want this job. “Yes, Mr. Cross…”
“Call me Dex.” Molly takes an audible breath, and if I didn’t know better, I would think he is starting to blush. As quickly as it started, it’s gone.
“Alright, Dex. I know I don’t have a job. I do realize we have not conducted the interview yet. However, I walked in on a ship-sandwich and figured I would help you get things under control so you can undoubtedly ask every question known to man. I'm sure you'll want to check out my abilities to care for your children. Which, by the way, I would do exceptionally, but back to my point. You cannot ask me all these questions with babies crying and Tate starving.” I look over to Tate, who is bug-eyed and give him a little wink, which makes him crack up again.
“Okay, okay. Fine. Uh, thanks. Do you plan to do anything else, or can we start the interview?”
“Well, Sara smells like a sewer, so why don’t I change her and make sure all three are settled down for Molly?” Molly’s eyes widen in what I assume is fear. I reach over and squeeze her arm. She is definitely not a fan of kids. “It’s alright, I’ll make sure everyone is happy and quiet before I leave them in here with you.” Molly glares at me, then gives a tight smile.
“Very well,” she says, taking a seat at the island, supervising.
“Now, Mr. Cross. Why don’t you go into your office and I’ll meet you there in five minutes?” Maybe I did come in here too strongly because he looks as if he is in a daze.
“Ah, yes. I’ll see you in five minutes.” He walks backward, his eyes roaming all around the room. He bumps into the wall and rights himself. “Okay, five minutes.”
I turn away as well and go to Tate to help him open his snack. I take a quick peek at his homework and realize he does seem to have it under control. After changing Sara, I set her up in the seat next to a sleeping Harper and take out my phone. I put on baby Mozart and leave my phone on the counter.
I turn to Molly, “Are you all set?” She stares at me, bewildered, and nods her head—a lot of head nodders in this house.I laugh and head to Mr. Sexy Smirk’s office.
Dex
Chapter 4
Isit down behind my large maple desk.
What in the actual fuck is happening?And why is my dick painfully hard?
Thank god I’m sitting behind my desk. I pick up the file on Lanie Heart that Molly left, flipping through it quickly. She reads too good to be true.
“What has she been doing the last eighteen months?” I whisper. As I start reading one of her many letters of recommendation, I hear music.What the hell kind of music is it? And who turned it on?
Well, that was a stupid question. Even if I hadn't said it out loud, it could only be the tornado of a woman that waltzed in here like she owns the place…no one else would have. Then, out of nowhere, she is standing in the doorway.
“Is that…music?” I ask foolishly.
She tilts her head to the side, just like when she first walked into the house.Why does she look at me like that, and why does it make my prick respond even more?I can’t be interested in her. In fact, she should be pissing me off. She interrupted me multiple times, she also closed my damn mouth for fuck's sake. And now, she is staring at me with raised eyebrows like she is waiting for an answer.
Shit. What did she say? “I’m sorry, you are completely...unexpected. What did you say?” I ask, bewildered.
She smirks and it pisses me off—I wish my pecker would get the memo. “I asked if you were ready to begin?” Lanie Heart asks with her eyebrow raised.
Jesus, this is not how this works. She isn’t interviewing me! I need to get a handle on this and quickly. “Fucking Mary Poppins.” Her laugh startles me.Shit, did I say that out loud?
“I told you before. I’m more of a Maria,” she explains with a grin.
Fucking hell. That answers my question. What is going on? I am usually more controlled than this. She cannot come in here, tilt my world, and fuck everything up. I won’t allow it, so I scowl at her, and she laughs again.
I throw my pen down on the desk. Fuck it. This will undoubtedly be the most unconventional interview I have ever conducted in my entire life. Something tells me if I hire Ms. Lanie Heart, my life will never be conventional again.
