6. Penny
PENNY
“A nd there will be so many things for us to see. We’ll go up to the top of the Empire State Building.
You can see the whole city from up there.
Maybe your dad will say it’s okay to see a show on Broadway.
” There were a few shows she might be interested in that would hold her attention based on her favorite animated movies.
“I heard there’s a huge toy store there too.
And we could go to Central Park and ride the carousel. ”
I was almost breathless by the time I finished telling the little girl whose eyes lit up at me about all of the options for our trip. We would leave on Travis’ private jet around dawn, meaning I had a little last-minute packing to finish once I got Sofia tucked in.
Of course, what kid would fall asleep easily the night before such a big, exciting trip? Her eyes shone with wonder. “Do you think Daddy will come with us when we go to all those places?”
I wanted to say yes. She was so hopeful, and she loved him so much. Yet she couldn’t understand how busy he would be. “Well, we have to ask him. He can’t be in meetings all the time. But…” I trailed off, feeling a little guilty.
“But he’s busy with work.” The little note of defeat in her voice was murder.
I was almost overcome with the desire to tell her anything she wanted to hear, so long as she would be happy.
It was starting to look like Travis wasn’t the only one wrapped around her little finger.
I would’ve given the kid anything she asked for.
But I couldn’t speak for him, no matter how much I wanted to reassure her.
“I have an idea,” I whispered, crooking my finger so she would lift her head from the pillow while I lowered my lips to her ear.
“How about I talk to him tonight? I’ll find out what his schedule looks like.
See if he has a little time free for fun. What do you think?”
“That’s a good idea!” She looked much happier and more hopeful when she settled back in with her beautiful curls spread out across the pillow. I leaned down to kiss her cheek, then gave her a hug. “Now, I need you to try to relax and fall asleep.”
“I’m too excited.” She groaned. “How am I supposed to sleep when I’m so excited about tomorrow?”
“I have a thought.” I turned off her bedside lamp, leaving only her night light glowing softly.
“Why don’t you close your eyes and think to yourself about all the wonderful, fun things we’re going to do while we’re there?
Picture it in your head. Going shopping, riding on the carousel.
Really imagine it like it’s a movie. Do you think you can do that for me? ”
“I guess so. I’ll try.” She closed her eyes and blew out a breath that made me bite my lip to keep from laughing. “But what should I imagine?”
“Imagine you’re in a big, beautiful park,” I suggested in a soft voice, stroking her hair.
“And it’s such a pretty day. And there are kids everywhere with their moms and dads.
You can smell popcorn and hotdogs and all kinds of delicious foods.
And you’re riding on a carousel, holding onto the bar in front of you and going up and down, up and down…
” She smiled a little, sighing. “There’s music playing,” I continued, whispering a little more softly.
“And you feel the breeze in your hair and on your skin.”
“Are you there?” she whispered.
“Are you kidding? I’m right next to you. My horse is blue with a white mane. What about yours?”
“Pink,” she decided right away. “With a purple mane.”
“That sounds beautiful. We’re riding together and laughing, and it’s just the most fun, perfect day ever.
And out there, watching us is your dad. He’s waving at us and holding the bag we brought back from the toy store with all your new things in it.
And all you have to do when we leave is to go back to the hotel and play with all your toys before you go to sleep in a big, comfortable bed. Then we can do it all again tomorrow.”
By the time I finished, she was halfway to dreamland, breathing slow and steady as she drifted deeper into what I had created for her. I leaned down to kiss her forehead, then whispered, “Goodnight, princess.”
Her bags were packed and waiting at the foot of the bed. I was quiet as I went through her closet, putting together an outfit for the flight and leaving it at the foot of her bed. Then, after tiptoeing out of the room, I closed the door gently and released a deep breath.
Bedtime accomplished.
Now, to get the rest of my things pulled together. What had me a little nervous was Travis’ announcement at dinner tonight.
“ My friend, Spencer, has family out there, like I told you, ” he’d explained. “ They want to take us out for a nice dinner tomorrow night. There’s a whole group of them and their wives and kids. A couple of them are roughly Sofia’s age. ”
“ Are you sure you want me to come along for that? ” I’d asked with my heart in my throat. It was a little overwhelming, not to mention unexpected. I figured I would be hanging back with Sofia most of the time while he did his business and connected with his friends.
“ Sure. ” He’d shrugged it off like it didn’t mean anything. “ You’ll probably be the only nanny there, but I’m the only single parent. You know what I mean? I know Sofia will behave, but I can’t watch her every second. ”
He didn’t seem to get it, so I didn’t bother making an issue out of it.
I would be the only one there as an employee besides the people serving the food and clearing the plates.
But would I ever get the chance to eat at a fancy New York restaurant otherwise?
Probably not. If he thought it would be all right, it would.
That didn’t mean I had anything to wear.
I wanted to look nice. One of the few dressy dresses in my closet might work.
I hated wearing black, but everybody always said a woman had to have a little black dress.
It was simple, nothing flashy. Understated.
It would have to be enough. I had a nice pair of earrings Mom and Dad bought me for graduation, and I might be able to duck out with Sofia to grab myself a decent pair of shoes.
So long as nobody expected me to walk in heels, it would be fine.
It wasn’t like I had never worn them, but I didn’t get many opportunities as a nanny.
Was this my life? I had to laugh at myself a little.
Here I was, Penny Anderson, flying on a private jet to Manhattan in the morning.
My parents could hardly believe it when I told them over the phone.
Once they got used to the idea, they made me promise to send a zillion pictures.
“ Everybody looks like a tourist when they’re in New York City, ” Mom had informed me when I protested. “ Do you think anybody really cares? ”
She probably had a point. It wasn’t like I’d have this opportunity again, so I might as well make the most of it.
There was movement coming from further down the hall, reminding me of what I promised Sofia I would ask her father.
I went to my door, listening for any sound telling me he was on the phone or similarly busy.
When all I heard was the opening and closing of drawers, I figured he must be packing.
My bare feet were soundless on the hall floor as I approached, knocking gently against the door frame, staying a respectful distance from the threshold.
It was still sort of weird, feeling my way through what was expected, what was appropriate. It wasn’t difficult to rub him the wrong way. The last thing we needed was any weirdness hanging in the air before taking a five-day trip across the country.
“Come in,” he muttered, sounding distracted.
I had never been in his room, and as I crept in, my heart was in my throat.
What was I so nervous about? He was still my employer, for one thing, but we did live together, and I would need to get used to sharing the house at some point.
This was the end of my sixth week, and there were still more than four months to go.
“Sorry to disturb you,” I murmured, entering the stark but masculine space. “Do you have a second?”
Rounding the door frame, I almost swallowed my tongue when I found him standing in front of an open suitcase, wearing nothing but a pair of loose shorts like the kind guys wore when they worked out or played basketball or whatever.
They hung halfway to his knees, but it wasn’t their length that made my mouth go dry and my pulse triple in speed.
It was his lack of a shirt. Either he had just finished a workout, or this was how he slept, though it didn’t matter either way. What mattered was the way my brain went blank all at once. I could hardly remember my own name, much less why I came in in the first place.
I must have been silent for too long because he turned my way, arching an eyebrow. “What is it?” he prompted, folding a pair of jeans. So maybe he was planning on spending a little downtime while we were away. The sight of them and the idea of that shook me out of my brain fog.
“I was only wondering because Sofia brought it up. Is there any chance you might have a little time to do some sightseeing with us? She asked about it, and I didn’t know exactly what to say. I thought I should clear it with you before I get her hopes up.”
That was when he did maybe the worst possible thing he could’ve done.
I could hardly believe my eyes, but it was happening in front of me, and for some reason, it was like he moved in slow motion.
He turned to face me. The stupidest, simplest thing in the world, and maybe it wouldn’t have set off a flurry of butterfly wings in my stomach if he wasn’t so ridiculously, insanely chiseled.
Like, somebody took an actual chisel to a block of marble and carved the man’s torso, chest, shoulders, and arms.