Page 3 of Heart Strings & Hotlines
“Thane, say hello.” Kara nudges me in the back. “See, Lottie? I told you.”
Lottie’s crystal clear blue eyes sparkle more than the Christmas tree Rafe left up in our apartment year-round to mess with me.
“Thane Wilder.” I force the words through tight lips.
She holds out a hand, and I tell my body to comply and shake it.
When she slips her small hand into mine, the bubbling in my chest shoots through my veins—an electric current that transfers her calm energy into my chaos.
I release the handshake and clasp both of my hands behind my back.
No more touching.
“I’ve heard of you, Thane. And if you’re anything like your father, I’ll have to find the best nanny in the country—no offense.”
“I do take offense to that.” My father is a problem.
“Geez, Thane. It’s a joke.” Kara steps closer to my side. It isn’t until I peer down at her frowning face that I understand I’ve missed something. When she bites her bottom lip, it’s all but confirmed.
Story of my life, so I do as I always do. I ignore it and move on. That’s the joy of being the boss. I don’t have to wade through emotional shit. I pay other people to do it, and it’s worked out just fine, until Kara came to live with me.
“I’m nothing like my father.” Kara and I share his light brown hair and green eyes, but that’s where the similarities end.
Kara sighs, frustrating me further.Why would Lottie offending me be a joke?
“That’s good to know.” Lottie smiles, as if offending me is her favorite pastime.
“I want her,” Kara says, her voice carrying more loudly than her tiny stature would suggest. I think she’s too small for her age, but what the fuck do I know about teenagers?
“Oh, that’s very sweet, Kara. But I’m not a nanny.” Lottie places a hand on my sister’s shoulder. “But I can help you find the perfect one.”
“I will only accept the best for Kara.”
Kara slaps her palm to her forehead.
Until she moved in with me, we’d only spent small snippets of time together. Generally, it entailed me entering my father’s home once a week when he was out to ensure that she was safe and well cared for.
Most of the time, she would smile at me and blab on about her day while I stared at her as though she were speaking in a foreign language and I only understood every fourth word. Then I’d make a list in my notebook of anything she needed, give her a small gift, and leave.
Food. Clothing. Medical care. Spending money. Check, check, check, and check. It’s been a good system, and I live by my systems.
It was easier when she was small. She’d quietly hand me a stack of drawings she’d made, hug my leg, and I’d be on my way after checking in with the housekeeper, Ophelia.
Now all the girl does is shout, whine, scowl, and slam doors.
Bringing a thirteen-year-old girl into my home has flipped my life upside down, and only time will tell if we’ll survive each other.
CHAPTERTWO
LOTTIE
My skinstill tingles hours after shaking Thane Wilder’s hand as though he imprinted his DNA on me with a single touch.
If ever I needed a sign to stay away from a man, that would be it. Men like Thane, men like my father—and his for that matter—only lead to heartache of the soul-sucking kind.
Not to mention that he’s my client, and I don’t date clients. Ever.
And yet, here I am, hiding in the office of a kid camp I rented out because even the slightest glimpse of him has my heart rate skyrocketing.
