Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
JACE
“I get paid for my time, not sex, but if she’s hot and wants it, I say why not? I’ll throw it in as a freebie.”
“And if she’s not hot?”
“I’ll probably still throw it in. My standards aren’t real high.”
J. Bengtsson, Fiercely Emma
S am : If you ask me the rash improves your face
Sam : No problem on covering your shift. Denice probably misses me anyway.
Sam : That mom is pissed. I got a really angry email about the petting zoo going to hell. Remind me never to use my cousin Fletch for anything again
Sam : Has Denice always been this hot? She’s already snapped at me twice. I think she likes me
I had several texts from Sam when I woke up the next morning that I promptly ignored. Late last night, I sent him several pictures of my face along with a text:
Jace: The client asked for a magician, not a clown. The face paint you provided gave me leprosy. I need you to cover my shift at the valet tomorrow. I already messaged Denice. You owe me.
Sam had previously valeted at the country club, occasionally pitching in during large events. Denice acted like she hated him, but he’s great with the customers so I knew she’d be fine with it.
After a cold shower that morning, the ghost of itching past didn’t return, and I counted myself lucky. I received a few sidelong glances at the drugstore yesterday, apparently no one had ever seen someone dressed as part man/part clown/part rash before, but the cream and medicine Polly suggested worked like a charm. I’d always been sensitive to certain shampoos, but I hadn’t had a reaction like this in years.
A few hours later, I was finishing packing up my stuff when I texted Sam back. I already texted Polly to confirm that I’d be over around three when Sam actually called me back. I answered on speaker, continuing to pack up my clothes.
“What does ‘I’m moving out of my parents’ house, and I need to store my stuff at your place’ mean?” Sam’s voice greeted me, reciting the text I’d just sent him aloud.
“Exactly what it sounds like.”
“What brought this on?”
“I got a job working with a family who needs a nanny for the summer. I sent in references, did an interview—” of sorts, Sam didn’t need to know the shirtless details— “and met the kids, who are pretty great. It pays well, and my parents might be selling their house, so I needed to move.”
My explanation was met with silence, so I continued to go through my closet to finish packing.
Ten seconds later, Sam replied, “You’re telling me that you’re some kids’ nanny and are moving in with the entire family?”
“Yup.”
“And your parents are moving?”
“Seems that way.”
He snorted. He knew my parents well. “To where?”
“Florida. I was just as surprised as you.”
After another long, presumably stunned, silence, I asked, “Can I ditch some stuff at your place for now? If my parents ask, that’s where I’m living. My parents think my lease starts tomorrow.”
“Jace, if that even is your real name anymore, this isn’t the way to move in with us. You should actually be living with us. Not pretend living with us.”
I switched the phone from speaker, holding it to my ear. “You dressed me up like a clown and sent me to a kid’s birthday party where the mother wanted a magician. You’re lucky my balls are still attached to my body. You’ll be owing me for the next twenty years.”
He didn’t need to know it’d worked out in my favor.
Sam grumbled in agreement. “Yeah, I got you. You need any help with your stuff?”
“Nah. But can I come over in an hour to drop off some boxes?”
“Sure, I’ll be around.”
While I may want to ring his neck sometimes, Sam was a good friend.
* * *
I was pulling away from Sam’s townhouse, on the way to Polly’s, when I got another call. I expected it to be my parents. Momma had cried when I left, giving me two hugs and a large picnic basket filled with food. Not wanting to show up at Polly’s house with a basket of food from my mother, Sam was all too happy to take it off my hands. Pop seemed sad when I left, too. More than I expected. So much so I insisted several times I’d be checking on their house when they went to Florida this week, just to take the worried look out of his eyes.
“Hello?”
“Jace? It’s Jackson James.”
“Hey Jackson. Thanks again for being willing to give me a reference.”
I heard a cough. “Sure thing. I wanted to make sure I understand this correctly,” Jackson spoke cagily. This was followed by another cough. Or maybe it was a throat clearing. “You really took a job as a live-in nanny?”
“Yup. I needed a place to stay. It seemed like a mutually beneficial option.”
“A place to stay? Is everything ok? Are Nick and Susan alright?” He used his stern cop voice, which made me grip the steering wheel harder.
“My parents’ are fine. They’re thinking of moving to Florida soon . . . permanently.”
“I wasn’t aware of that.”
“It’s a recent thing.”
I heard some murmuring in the background. After a pause, Jackson responded, “You know you can always stay with Rae and me. You’re always welcome.”
“I appreciate that.”
Jackson cleared his throat. “I wanted to call you and say that I already talked to your, um, new employer. In case she asks, we gave you a great reference.”
I paused a beat. “We?”
“It’s possible Rae might have gotten on the call with me.”
Well, shit. Stopping at a red light, I laid my head against the headrest. I liked Rae. Loved her, really. Like a sister. But I did not want to talk to Rae, or Sienna for that matter, about Polly. Not yet. They’d be about as bad as my sister if they found out. Worse maybe. Like the two bamboozling aunts I never wanted.
Resigned, I blew out a breath. She was clearly listening. Might as well get it over with. “Put her on,” I deadpanned.
“Oh, uh, Rae’s not?—”
“Jackson.”
“Yeah, one sec.”
I heard a little mumbling, followed by an audio change, like I was being put on speakerphone, and then Rae’s voice.
“Jace, honey! We just got off the phone with Polly Alberton. She sounded very . . . put together. I told Jackson we needed to call you as this is the first I’ve heard about you being a manny.”
“Nanny,” I clarified as I heard a snort in the background followed by a little thump.
“Right, right. How did this come about?”
I ran my hand through my hair. “It sort of fell in my lap. I’d met Polly on a few occasions when I valeted for her at the country club. And then I talked to her at the elementary school last week. She has two great kids and she’s new to town. I mean, newer. She’s actually Judge Alberton’s daughter. Do you know him?”
Jackon piped up. “Judge Alberton?”
“Yeah.”
“No.”
The light turned green and I eased my car forward. “Anyway,” I continued, “her kids needed a nanny for the rest of the summer. We kept running into each other and got to talking . . .”
Stop talking about her so much.
“It’s good money, and I said yes.”
It was silent for so long I thought the call had dropped, but it still read as active on my car’s screen. Unease prompted me to fill in the silence.
“I thought I could bring the kids to Young Wills. You should see the youngest, Ryla. She’s only six but I bet she’d be a natural onstage. Max is ten, but he’s real shy, so he might only sit in the audience. Then again, we’re always needing stage crew, maybe I could get him to join in eventually. I wouldn’t think you’d need to do any background checks on her or the kids before they join Young Wills. But feel free to do a background check on me if Polly wants one.” I paused. “Not that I need to tell you how to do your job.”
That was more words than I’d ever uttered, in one go, to Jackson. Or Rae.
I braked before an upcoming turn, flipping on my blinker. The steady ticking was probably the loudest sound on the call.
“Well, Jace,” I could practically hear Rae’s smile as she finally spoke up, “we certainly appreciate all that information. And I can’t speak for Sienna, but I bet she’ll be thrilled to have you bring the kids along.”
Damn it. I didn’t think this all the way through.
“See, nothing’s set in stone. I don’t know if?—”
“Good luck! We’ll see you and the kids on Tuesday. Can’t wait!”
“Bye,” I muttered, but she’d already hung up.
Bamboozled.