It worked well with my schedule, and the money was good. More than good. The only opportunities I’d found that paid more involved stripping—no thanks. And bartending, which didn’t appeal to me either. Being a nanny was satisfying, fulfilling.
“It pays well. And after the kids go to bed, I have time to study.”
“It gives you time to learn to crochet too,” he teased.
He had no idea the time and energy it took to care for a child day in and day out. A child who wasn’t your own, yet you felt attached to. When I’d started the job, it was because I thought it would be easy. I liked kids. I enjoyed spending time with them.
Now, I appreciated just how difficult the job was. But how rewarding it could be too. And, like I’d told him, it paid well.
“Do you know how many single moms there are?Hotsingle moms?” I flashed him a wicked grin, enjoying his stupefied expression.
His jaw dropped. “Dude,” he said, drawing out the word. “No fucking way. You’re banging the moms?”
I lifted a shoulder, leading him to infer what he wanted. I wasn’tbanginganyone, but this would get him off my back. It might not be for the right reasons, but I was tired of having to defend my job. Maybe after this, he’d finally stop giving me shit about being a manny.
Damn it.In-home childcare provider.
“Is that why you change diapers? So you can fuck mommy after the kids go to bed?”
I cringed at his crude language. Sure, some of the moms were attractive, but I was their employee. And besides, I mostly worked for Theo’s family, and his parents were married, happily so. They seemed to have it all—dog, big house, nice cars. Even a boat.
“You’re such a pig.”
He burst out laughing. “I fucking knew you were lying. You should see your face.”
I shoved his shoulder as I moved past him for my bedroom. “Fuck off.”
“Hey,” he said, snagging a piece of apple from my plate before halting with it in midair. “Maybe you should consider it.”
I furrowed my brows. “Consider what?”
“Fucking the moms. With your body, I bet you could make good money. It could be a nice little side business.” He bit into the apple slice, chewing obnoxiously.
“Okay. I’m done,” I said, going into my room and shutting the door behind me. “More than done,” I muttered to myself.
“Oh, come on. Preston,” he said from the other side of my door. “Don’t sulk.”
“Enjoy your summer. I hope you fall in love,” I called, taking a seat on the bed and switching on the TV.
“Take that back!” His tone was insistent as he banged on my door. “Take it back, fuckface.”
I smirked to myself, setting my feet on the bed. “Nope. See you in a few weeks.”
“See ya,” he called. “And don’t forget to call me if you bag a cougar.”
Not a chance in hell, I thought.
* * *
Later that afternoon,I headed over to Theo’s house. I’d been taking care of him for the past year, and I knew how excited he was that school was almost over. We’d been talking about our plans for the summer—the camps he was going to attend, the movies he wanted to see. He was only six, but he wasn’t short of ideas or enthusiasm.
I let myself in the side door, using the key his parents had given me. The house was oddly quiet; even their dog hadn’t come to greet me.Huh.
“Hello?” I called, wondering if I’d missed a message through the agency portal.
I found Theo in his room. When he spotted me in the doorway, he rushed over to me for a hug and burst into tears.
“Hey, bud. What’s wrong?” I asked.
