5. Cameron
Elizabeth’s mouth drops and for the longest time, it’s as if she’s been stunned into silence.
This situation is awkward enough, and there’s no need to prolong it.
Gathering my swirling thoughts, I go with an obvious one. “So… Seaside’s where you’re spending the summer.”
Soon after meeting, we quickly found we were both leaving Portland.
I was persistent in wearing her down to even consider a date.
We had one amazing night together. Expecting there to be no future, we both agreed to just enjoy that night—and fuck, it was one of the best nights of my existence—even though we clearly didn’t know much about each other’s personal lives.
Hell, I didn’t even know she was still in school. An image of our dinner pops into my mind. I clearly remember her asking for a soda instead of wine.
Ohmigod! I knew she was younger than me, but fuck, is she even legal?
Running a hand down my face, I need confirmation. “Uh… Let’s pause this interview for a moment.”
“Okay,” she says, pulling her lower lip into her teeth.
Sighing heavily, I realize there’s no polite way to say this. Abruptly, I blurt out, “Please tell me it was legal for me to be with you.”
Her beautiful laugh fills the room. “I’m not legal…” She pauses, and I nearly have a heart attack. But then she adds with a mischievous grin, “To drink…”
Seeing the look of horrification on my face, she shakes her head and pats me on the shoulder. “Relax, Gramps. I turn twenty-one next month.”
Sighing heavily, I nod. “Okay.” That’s a relief. Then another thought hits me. “Wait. Did you know this interview was for a job with me?”
A mixture of relief and nerves wash over me as she shakes her head. “No. I truly had no idea. I just know you as Cameron, the charming, sexy man I kept running into at the coffee shop.”
Sexy. She thinks I’m sexy. That’s never a bad thing to hear.
Fuck, man, get it together. You need her to take care of your child, not make your wildest fantasies come true.
Her cheeks darken, and she pushes her hair behind her ear before adding, “I guess… We… uh… didn’t get into many details on our date.”
“That’s true,” I admit, feeling foolish for asking. “I’m just as guilty in that respect, I suppose.”
Elizabeth closes her eyes, and her spine straightens as she braces herself for impact before she locks her gaze on me.
“Look, I’m not sure what you think about me, both personally or professionally.
This…” She looks around the room. “Well, this… is beyond awkward… I’m completely out of my depth for how to proceed. ”
“So am I,” I admit as a million thoughts zip through my thoroughly fucked brain like a hummingbird on speed.
Personally, I still think she’s the most beautiful person in the fucking world.
My attraction to her goes beyond the physical though.
She’s funny, charismatic, and has the most generous heart.
From the moment I laid eyes on her in that coffee shop months ago, she’s always had my attention. If I’m being honest with myself, that hasn’t changed. I’m still as attracted to her as the day we met.
Professionally, fuck—I’m at a loss, too.
Watching her now with my daughter before I even knew about our connection, I know without a doubt she is a great fit for this job.
It’s clear Emilia likes her.
Hell, it took her weeks to have smooth drop-offs at preschool this year. I’ve never seen her so taken to anyone. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to find anyone who’s won over my daughter in such a short time.
But given our history, as brief as it was— can I really go through with hiring her?
If everything goes to hell in a hand basket, like it usually does in my relationships, can I take the risk of hurting Milli like that?
“Look, Elizabeth,” I start, but she cuts me off.
“It’s Lizzy. I only use my government name for resumés and official documents, Cameron.”
God, I love how she says my name.
Memories of our night together flash through my mind. The way she called out my name as she fell apart was such a turn-on. The way she?—
Focus, dipshit. She’s talking.
“We clearly know each other well enough for you to call me Lizzy. But beyond that…” She looks to the window beside us as if it will give her the words she’s looking for.
“Beyond that, I’m gonna be real with you.
I need this job. When I got the call from your mom for this second interview, I was beyond thrilled to know I’d only be working with one family this year, rather than random people the agency assigns.
I already told Booked at the Beach I won’t be returning, but…
maybe they haven’t filled the position just yet. ”
She trails off for a moment, then pins me dead in the eyes and somehow manages to slay me with her next thought.
“I get it if you don’t think I’d be a good fit for Emilia, given our brief history.
But if you choose to hire me, I give you my word that I can be professional.
My focus will be on her . I’ll be the best damn nanny you could hope for. ”
Fuck… how does her conviction both make me proud and devastate me at the same time?
I shouldn’t feel this way for someone I’ve known for such a short time. I shouldn’t feel such a sense of loss for her insisting she’ll be professional.
“You’re the only person Milli’s grown this comfortable with in such a short time,” I say before I can think better of it.
But what does this mean?
Do I really want to hire someone I’m this attracted to?
Fuck, even as she stands there staring at me, I’m recalling how good it felt to be inside her. How the taste of her lingered on my tongue long after we parted. If I’d known that I’d see her again, I probably would’ve pushed for things to continue.
I haven’t felt this way about anyone since being a father became my number-one priority. Can I really push all these feelings aside?
Is it even possible to keep things strictly professional?
Can I do it for Milli’s sake?
I have always put Milli’s needs above my own. She is my top priority.
However, Lizzy’s the only one we’ve interviewed who even came close to meeting the qualifications. Not only does she have what it takes on paper, but if I put my feelings aside, I’m not the only one she’s made a connection to.
Milli freaking hugged her before she left.
Can I take this new connection away from my daughter?
Lizzy breaks my inner monologue when she asks, “What’s going on in that head of yours?”
“Where do I even begin?” I sigh.
God, it’s like I no longer have a filter around her. What the hell is wrong with me? I’m an executive at a major recording studio. I keep my private thoughts to myself.
Her expression softens, and her shoulders relax. “The beginning’s a great place. I’m sure, like me, my presence is a bit of a curveball.”
Thank God, she’s willing to address the elephant in the room.
“Truth? I feel like I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place. Hands down, even without another word from you, after talking with my mom and looking into your references, I know without a doubt you’re the most qualified candidate for Milli.”
She nods once but doesn’t say anything.
“But we obviously have a past. I can’t let that past get in the way of Milli’s care.”
Lizzy’s hands punch her hips, and she juts out her chin in challenge.
“I can be professional if you can. You and I both know I made a true connection with your daughter. I’m more than qualified to care for her and frankly, you’d be a fool not to hire me.
Don’t get me wrong, there are others you can find through the agency, but I wouldn’t be here if I weren’t at the top of your list.”
God, her tenacity turns me on.
But she’s right. When I checked her references earlier today, I knew all I needed to offer her the job. The only thing holding me back was waiting to see how her interaction with Milli went.
Thoughts of my starstruck interview pop into my head so I ignore her comment and counter with, “How are you with handling celebrities?”
Confusion crosses her features as she asks, “What do you mean?”
“A previous candidate got starstruck when I mentioned my job. As the main organizer of the music festival this summer, will I have to worry about you trying to use me to get to any of the acts?”
It seems petty, but it’s the only real reason I could come up with on the fly to ensure all my worries from the idiots I’ve interviewed set her apart.
Her brows pull together, and her mouth drops open. “Wait… you work for Smashing Waves Records?”
Crossing my hands over my chest, I brace myself for what’s coming. “I do.”
Lizzy’s beautiful hazel eyes widen as she sucks all the air out of the room. “I… uh… think we might have another problem.”