2. Penny #2
“That’s why I need help,” he concluded. With a sigh, he leaned back in his chair, angling his body so he could watch Sofia play near the fountain.
“I’ll be in the middle of ironing out an expansion deal over the next six months,” he explained.
“I’m looking to set up operations in New York.
The next couple of months will be the most hectic, with school out for summer.
How much did they tell you about the requirements before sending you over to see me? ”
“Not very much,” I explained. “Only the most important parts. Number of children, general situation.”
“Compensation?” he asked, smirking when he looked my way. He needed not to be so hot if this was going to work. I forgot how to breathe and didn’t remember again until he broke eye contact and shifted his attention back over to Sofia and Ava.
“Yes, that, too,” I told him. Did it get a lot hotter out here all of a sudden? I needed to get a grip. How was I supposed to concentrate on keeping a child in one piece if I couldn’t stop drooling over her father?
He ran a hand through his dark brown hair, just long enough for some of the natural curls to come out. That must have been where Sofia got hers from. “I don’t have many rules, but the rules I set, I expect to be followed. That was always an issue for the girls who came before you.”
I couldn’t help myself. My pulse raced, and my insides quaked in anticipation. “Are you telling me I have the position, Mr. Knight?”
His eye roll went a long way toward dampening my excitement.
Most people would at least have the decency to look away so as not to be offensive.
Not him. “Sofia obviously likes you, and your background and education can only help. She needs a little guidance. I’m afraid she isn’t stimulated enough. I want her to meet her potential.”
Finally, he wasn’t talking to me like some grumpy, Big Bad Wolf type of guy—Mr. Business grumbling at all of his underlings.
I could even forgive the eye roll. He was a concerned dad, and he wanted what was best for his little girl.
“Understood,” I agreed with a firm nod. “We can always discuss her milestones and touch base on tactics for keeping her engaged and growing.”
“Are you always this earnest?” he asked the question like it was a bad thing. Was I supposed to be offended?
“I am,” I told him, folding my arms on the table and shrugging. “And I genuinely think you’ve got a great kid, and it would be a lot of fun hanging out with her for the next six months.”
“You don’t get to decide it’s too much to deal with and skip out the way other people have.”
“I can’t imagine how they could,” I mused. His eyes narrowed a little, and I guessed what he was thinking. He was pretty easy to see through. “I mean it. I’m earnest, but I don’t go overboard with compliments.”
“Ow!”
Our heads snapped around in unison at the high-pitched cry. Sofia was on her hands and knees like she’d just fallen. Her face was starting to crumple, and her shoulders heaved. An epic meltdown was brewing.
I was out of my chair before Travis could react. I didn’t run to her, though. “Uh-oh,” I said with a sigh as I approached. “What happened here?”
“I fell!” Sofia rolled to the side to plop down on her butt and show off her lightly skinned knees and palms.
I slid out of my backpack, examining the damage. “How does it feel?” I asked as I pulled out my travel first-aid kit.
“It hurts.” She sniffled and her little chin quivered.
“I’m sure it does. I used to fall down all the time when I was a kid.
” As I spoke, I dug out a packet of antiseptic wipes.
“Sometimes I still do. I’m a little clumsy.
But when I was a kid, we used to go camping a lot, and I was always falling and scraping myself or cutting myself.
I used to have scabs all over my knees.”
“You don’t anymore.” She sniffled again, then pointed to what I was opening. “What’s that?”
“Just something to make sure you’re nice and clean and safe.” Instead of warning her it would hurt, I touched the wipe to her knee. She sucked in a quick breath but didn’t freak out, most likely because she wasn’t conditioned to freak out before I ever touched her.
I cleaned her up, put a little antiseptic ointment on her knees, then helped her to her feet. She was already feeling better, though she did warn Travis not to hold her scraped hand too tight when they walked. “I have injuries,” she informed him, extremely serious.
Travis and I exchanged a look as he confirmed, “You’ve got the job. I made plans to work from home tomorrow. Can you be moved in by tomorrow evening?”
“Absolutely.” Would it be crazy? Yes. Would I end up throwing everything I owned into bags at random? Sure. Did I know a good thing when I saw it? Absolutely.
I was not about to give up this chance.
Even if I had to ask myself how long it would be before Travis Knight got used to the idea of me being around.
Even when the sizzle of current running up my arm when we shook hands made me wonder if I could ignore his effect on me for six whole months.