Chapter 2
“This is awkward.” Lizette’s smile faded and turned into a grimace she hoped wasn’t obvious to the man across the desk.
“Tell me about it.” Shomari wore the same pained expression, which somehow offended her.
She pulled in a lung-filling breath and picked up his résumé off the desk. He was overqualified for the position she was offering, but in that moment, he was giving terrible-twos toddler vibes.
Since yesterday, when he helped her repair the bedroom window, he’d turned into someone else. She noticed the shift when she walked back into the living room and found him glaring at his phone.
Shomari opened the tool pan they brought out from the storage room, wielded a set of screwdrivers like an expert, and relieved her fears of being accused of vandalizing Eli and Zack’s house.
If the damage were permanent, they wouldn’t have let her forget it.
Her brothers could be merciless when it came to teasing her.
She left him to unpack and moved on to neaten the rest of the house.
After she finished tidying up, she checked the refrigerator and the cupboards to see if Shomari had enough food to carry him through the weekend.
She decided he’d been fine and left him to settle in, but curiosity kept her thoughts wandering back to him.
Her brothers hadn’t mentioned him more than a few times before, so his sudden appearance had her antenna searching for information.
Overnight, Zack emailed and asked her to consider hiring Shomari since she had an opening.
Rosie, one of her employees, was off on maternity leave for three months.
He’d fit in perfectly, since she’d been toying with adding information technology to their syllabus.
Neither of her two brothers had time to help her provide that additional subject.
Wintertime was a daycare facility, but the range of activities and the care provided were the reasons for its waiting list. That combination fueled the expansion she’d set her heart on achieving.
Shomari’s gaze strayed to the cartoon characters on the walls, and a slight smile softened his features.
“You like?”
He nodded and returned his focus to her. “I bet the kids love it, too. It gives Wintertime a distinctive atmosphere.”
“That’s part of the reason our children are happy here.” She flicked the sheet she held with one finger. “How long do you anticipate being at Wintertime, if I give you this job?”
“I won’t lie to you. It’s likely I won’t stick around if I find something else.” He opened both hands, which were large and had clean nails. “I didn’t spend years learning about computers and technology to end up in a daycare.”
There’s nothing wrong with a little humility, since you don’t have a pot to pee in.
Although she didn’t say the words, she was sure he read her thoughts.
His smile disappeared, and his gaze hardened as she laid the papers inside the file jacket and forced a smile.
“Life sometimes puts us in places we don’t fit.
The important thing is working your way out.
” She tipped her head to one side. “With some style and a little grace, I might add.”
A reddish tide flooded his yellow-brown skin. Shomari worked his jaw and swallowed, then lowered his head. A tide of emotions crossed his face, and when his chin lifted, he wore a blank expression, and the color ebbed from his cheeks and neck.
She wanted to apologize, but shuffled the already neat papers instead.
Her intent wasn’t to embarrass him, but he needed a reality check.
Especially if he’d be in this environment.
Maybe he wasn’t right for the job, despite what Zack said—too much testosterone and pride.
Even if Zack wanted to do a favor for a friend, she was running a business, not a daycare for rescues who didn’t have a grateful bone in their body.
The thought filled her with shame, and she shot a glance at him, as if he could hear her thoughts.
Praying for the right words, she sat back and laid both hands on the desk. “Let’s start over. I don’t know your specific circumstances, but I’m willing to assist if this job is what you need. And you’ll be helping me out, too, so we’ll be even.”
“Thank you. I suppose that works.” He paused, then shifted in the seat. “And for the record, I’m grateful, even—”
A tap at the door interrupted him.
Lizette held up a finger and called, “Come in.”
“G’morning, Auntie, and you too, Mister.” Luca, one of the older children, poked his head inside. Cheerful Christmas music followed him into the room on the airwaves. “Is Uncle Zack back as yet?”
“Hey, Luca. Wasn’t it yesterday that I reminded you he’d be back in a week or two?”
“I was checking, just in case. Mommy told me, too, but I miss my computer time.”
Turning her attention to Shomari, Lizette explained, “Zack comes in a couple of days each week and does some lessons with the children.”
“Nice. I bet they like it.”
“Thanks. Correction, the kids love it. If you join the team, we can step that up.”
Luca stood next to Shomari and asked, “Does that mean you know about computers, too?”
Shomari nodded once. “I went to college with Uncle Zack.”
With one arm propped on his side, Luca announced, “That must have been a long time ago.”
Shomari chuckled. A rich and pleasant sound that drew another smile from Lizette.
“It’s been a while, but I’m sure I can teach you a thing or two.”
“That sounds awesome.” Luca’s pitch was loud enough to penetrate the entire building.
With a smile added to soften her next words, Lizette said, “If you don’t mind, Uncle and I have business to discuss, so I’ll see you in a bit. Is that okay?”
Luca bobbed his head and ran out of the room, leaving them with Donny Hathaway’s mellow rendition of This Christmas.
“Remember to close the door.”
He returned and pulled the handle. “Sorry.”
When they had the room to themselves, Lizette straightened in the seat. “Now, about compensation. Here’s what I can offer …”
She’d considered what to pay him, given the scale on which she compensated her employees, and knowing she couldn’t offer him less than he was worth.
It wasn’t in her nature to take advantage, but at the same time, she didn’t want to be overly generous.
Especially with someone who planned to be out the door the minute he found another gig he liked better.
The phone on the desk beeped, and she glanced at it when Shomari responded. She raised one finger to stop him and picked up the cellular. “Sorry about this. Once sec.”
She swiped the screen and read the message.
Marion Worms, the consultant scheduled to discuss Wintertime's expansion plans with her, was unable to attend the meeting. The sigh Lizette released came from the depths of her soul. She’d been on this road for what felt like forever, but the journey began only four months ago.
“What’s wrong?” Shomari asked, snapping her back to their reality.
Nothing you can help to fix. She held back the words, remembering he’d said almost the same thing and how she felt. “Something I can deal with later. Now back to our discussion.”
“Yes, I’d be—”
His phone buzzed, and Lizette frowned.
Shomari looked down, then said, “Sorry. I thought I’d turned it off.”
“No worries. You were saying?”
The phone she couldn’t see pulsed again, and his gaze shifted.
“Yes, I’d be happy to …”
He chanced a look at the phone again, and she kept her tone light when she said, “Either answer or turn it off, okay?”
Massaging his forehead with one hand, Shomari said, “I’m sorry.”
He picked up the cell and scanned the screen. His eyes went wide, and he shot to his feet, which jolted her heart. She placed a hand over the logo on her chest as she watched him, hoping he hadn’t received bad news.
Sliding the phone into his pocket, Shomari spoke over his shoulder. “I have to go.”
Surely, she was in the middle of a dream, because this could not be her reality. How on earth could they finalize his employment with him running off to do only the Lord knew what? She frowned at the door, which had shut behind him. It jerked open again.
Shomari poked his head inside. “I’m sorry, but this is an emergency. I’ll call you.”
How? When he didn’t have her number. She slapped the file shut on the résumé he’d emailed her and put it aside.
She hadn’t exactly promised Zack she’d hire Shomari, but his dramatic exit didn’t bode well for the future.
Why should she hire a grumpy man who clearly had issues?
She had more than enough challenges of her own.
Shomari was another problem waiting to happen—one she could live without.
She rose and walked across the office, intending to head out front to help welcome her little clients.
It wasn’t necessary, but she liked being around the kids, and her specialty was helping first-timers feel at ease.
As she walked into the front office, where only one parent was checking in a little girl, Lizette’s gaze swept the parking lot, and her mind jumped to Shomari and his mysterious issue.
She pulled her shoulders back and shook her head.
Too much drama, too soon. Knowing the way life worked, whatever he had brewing would likely escalate.
She didn’t know anything about him other than that he currently had no place to stay and was brilliant—again, according to her brother.
That, she could well believe since the twins were tech geniuses, in her mind, but this man was bad-tempered and had problems, for sure.
And what did it say about him that he was homeless at the ripe old age of thirty-six?
While kneeling to accept a hug from one of her favorites, who insisted on bringing her a flower each day, Lizette’s mind continued whirling. On standing, she gripped the little girl’s hand and guided her to a seat in the communal activities area where one of the preschool teachers waited.
Twirling the red bougainvillea bloom between her fingers, Lizette waved goodbye to Anissa and returned to her office.
Her thoughts were still wrapped around the aborted interview.
She sat and opened her laptop, letting their conversation play in her mind.
Picturing his abrupt exit, she shook her head.
No matter what Zack said, she wouldn’t hire Shomari.