Page 10 of The Billionaire's Virgin

I led her into the apartment and shut the door. We settled in the living room, and I sat across from her on the sofa.

“Where’s your daughter?” she asked, looking around.

She was the first one who had asked after Jenna, and I took that as a positive sign. “She’s napping at the moment,” I replied. “She should get up soon. You’ll have a chance to meet her before you leave.”

“Excellent.” Taylor nodded, and she looked enthusiastic.

“So as I mentioned in my profile, I’m looking for someone who can take care of my daughter. That’s the primary focus, but I will expect you to do the cooking and a little light housework. I have a maid coming in a couple of times a week, so if you get the job, you won’t have to do anything heavy duty.”

“I understand.” Taylor nodded. “I can cook pretty well, and I have no problem doing the housework.”

I nodded. She seemed confident and unafraid of the job I was asking her to do, and that put me at ease a little.

“This is not a live-in position,” I continued. “But you will be on call. There are times I might need you to stay later than usual with Jenna if I have to work late.”

“I understand.” Taylor nodded again. “And I’m prepared for that.”

“If you’re hired, I’ll need you to be here by seven o’clock every morning… seven-thirty the latest. I’ll need you to get Jenna ready for school and then make sure she has her breakfast before taking her to Cedar’s Grove Elementary.”

“I know the school,” Taylor replied. “It’s not far from here, is it?”

“It’s a seven-minute walk,” I replied. “School starts at eight-thirty each morning and lets out at three in the afternoon. I’ll expect you to be there a little early to pick her up.”

“Of course.”

“The school has a daycare annex next door with a separate staff, which is where Jenna usually spends the rest of her days and weekends. But since she’s no longer willing to be in daycare, my only option was to look into hiring a full-time nanny.

“I get home on weekdays around eight in the evening,” I continued. “Sometimes later, depending on the day and my workload. I’m usually home in time to put her to bed, but if I’m not, you’ll need to put her to bed by eight-thirty.”

“Okay.”

“I mentioned in my profile that the nanny I hire will need to work weekends,” I said. “With the exception of Sunday afternoons.”

“I’m fine with that,” Taylor replied.

“You should know that Jenna’s mother died in childbirth,” I said, and I saw Taylor’s eyes go wide for a second. “It’s just been her and I for the last four years.”

“I… I’m sorry to hear that,” Taylor said awkwardly.

I nodded, trying to think of a question to ask her to wash over the uncomfortable silence, but I kept getting distracted by her eyes. They were unsettlingly light, and they reminded me of the ocean on a downcast day. Luckily, I was spared from having to think of what to say when Jenna poked her head into the living room. She still looked a little drowsy, but her eyes were curious.

“Hey, you,” I said, and Taylor turned towards Jenna. “Come in here for a moment, please.”

Jenna padded over to me and climbed onto my lap. She rested her head against my chest, but her eyes were trained on Taylor.

“Ariel is my favorite too,” Taylor said, addressing Jenna directly.

I frowned and looked at Jenna, who seemed to know exactly what Taylor was talking about. “Really?” she asked, and she raised her head from my chest.

“Definitely.” Taylor nodded. “I always wanted red hair like hers.”

“Me too!” Jenna said, and her face lit up with a bright smile.

“Who is this Ariel?” I asked Jenna.

Jenna jumped off my lap and turned to me. Then she pointed at the sweater she was wearing. It had a picture of a red-haired cartoon mermaid on the front. “This is Ariel,” Jenna replied.

“Oh, right.” I nodded. “Yeah, I know her…”