3. Lucy
Chapter 3
Lucy
“ S orry about the wait, Lucy,” Serenity sighed, placing her stylish green-framed glasses on her petite glass desk. “Thanks for sticking around.”
I shrugged and kept a smile on my face. I liked Serenity; she was a good employer and made sure we received good wages. “Not like I have anything else to do.” I kept my tone lighthearted, so she’d know I understood she was doing what she could to find me a placement.
“That’s what took so long,” she explained. “I had a family lined up for you, and you can still interview with them, but I just received a call from a very frantic father who needs a nanny immediately. I think you might be a better match for this family.”
“A single father?” I didn’t have a problem with single fathers in general, but those who used this service could be hit or miss.
“Yes. But don’t worry, one of his main requirements was that you don’t try to, and I quote, ‘worm your way into his bed.’ So,” she sighed and flashed a friendly smile, “you can see why I thought you might be perfect.”
I felt my face heat with embarrassment at the reminder of my first year with Elite Nanny Service. “I’m much better now,” I said defensively. “But I do admit that there might be a hint of bias towards wealthy single dads.” Seriously, how hard was it for a rich, moderately good-looking man to find a woman to warm his bed? “And the child?”
“A four-year-old girl who reads at an eight-year-old level. Loves princesses, unicorns, and watching the cloud shapes roll by. Some educational games are required, and it’s full-time. Live-in.” Serenity watched me carefully, and I kept my expression blank while I mulled it over.
“You think this is a better fit than the original family?”
“I do, but the choice is yours.” Her lips twitched, and I arched a suspicious brow across the desk.
“What?”
“He’s, well… let’s just say grumpy and leave it at that.”
Grumpy? “I can handle that, since hopefully I won’t have to interact with him much, right?”
“That’s exactly what I knew our resident optimist would say. Everyone seems grumpy next to you, so I doubt you’ll notice anything except your growing bank account.”
“Fair point. When’s the interview?”
“He wants you to start ASAP. I’ll send you a message after I contact the dad. Just please, don’t dress sexy.”
My head fell back, and laughter spilled out of me. “I doubt I even have any clothes that anyone would consider sexy.” I haven’t been on a date in more than two years, and that was just fine with me.
“With those curves, most things look sexy on you,” Serenity said sincerely.
“Thanks, but my last date told me, on our first date, that I’d be pretty if I lost a little weight.”
Serenity’s eyes widened in horror. “He didn’t!”
“He did. And I’ve spent too many of my twenty-five years hating my body and wishing for something unattainable, which God gave my beauty queen older sister in spades.” My shoulders sagged at the mention of my older sister and my parents, who practically worshipped her. “Anyway, no worries about me dressing sexy. I’ll have on a different version of this,” I motioned to my jeans and t-shirt.
“I said don’t dress sexy on the job, but you’re still young, and too young to give up on love.”
I arched a brow at her well-meaning advice. “How old were you when you gave up?”
“Point taken,” she said around a smile. “But you still have everything it takes to be a good partner and parent with the right man. It would be a waste of all your sunshine not to share it.”
“I haven’t given up,” I finally admitted. “But when the right man comes along, he won’t mind my curves, casual clothes, or my optimism. Until then, I’m focused on my career.” And this pay bump might allow me to save enough to start my life by buying a small house, then I could accept full-time nanny assignments that don’t require me to live on site.
“That works out well for me, and I plan to take full advantage of it.” She set the tablet containing the family’s information on the desk and sighed. “I’ll hold off on the other family until after your interview with Grumpy Dad. Their nanny is leaving in two weeks, so they’re more flexible.”
I laughed. “Is that what we’re calling him?”
“Not to his face,” she said with a wink and a conspiratorial smile.
“Thanks, Serenity.” I tried not to get my hopes up, but the truth was, I was already tallying up my savings after one year on the job.