Theron had explained the children were on a high-protein diet based on their doctor's recommendation.
There were scorch marks on the baseboard by the stairs and a dark patch on the kitchen ceiling that resembled the mark made by a blowtorch. There was a section of the garden wall that was black and crumbling close to where Fraser had his plants.
Theron explained away the kitchen ceiling by saying it was an electrical issue, and he blamed the kids’ bonfire for the damage to the garden, not that I’d asked. Three young children and fire wasn’t a great combination, and I’d made sure there were no matches or lighters on the first floor or in the kids’ rooms.
That evening after the children were in bed, Theron said he was going to his office to finish work. His working hours were irregular and that was one of the reasons why he needed me.
His office was surrounded by trees and set back from the house. I grabbed the baby monitor for Skye’s room and sat on the porch, leaving the door open in case any of the kids got up.
I was reading one of my research papers by the solar porch lamps when a rhythmic flapping above me made me look up. It reminded me of wings, but it was dark and I couldn't see much. I squinted and shivered when a shadow overhead blocked the moonlight. What was that?
I picked up a smoky aroma and stuck my head in the house, making sure nothing was burning. Whatever it was above me had moved on, and the moonlight and lamps illuminated only the porch and my paper.But no way was I staying out here with a huge something overhead.
After grabbing my belongings, I scuttled back inside and locked the door, but unlocked it again, as Theron was in his office. He probably didn’t have a key because he didn’t expect his manny to be freaked out by a huge something overhead and to batten down the hatches. I peered through the glass but it was so dark, I couldn’t make out anything unusual. Perhaps this was why the other mannies left ‘cause there was something creepy in the woods.
The children were all sleeping, so I climbed the stairs to my suite and started a note on my phone. I titled it “Weird Stuff.”
The temperature, so much meat, scorch marks, bonfires, hot hands, something flying over the house.
I almost added they wore bracelets but that wasn’t odd. It was probably just a family tradition and may have been something to do with their late omega father.
My list read like the opening of a true crime podcast and I kept the lamp on all night, not that the light would help if something landed outside my window. I considered mentioning it to my boss, but in the light of day, I resisted the temptation. He might think I was scared of the dark, which I was last night.
Monday morning I got up early to get the kids fed and ready for school. It was my job to drive them, but Theron would accompany me today, as it was my first time. Like the house, the school was impressive, and as we let the kids out in the drop-off area, I noted the “fire-free zone” sign.
“The school takes fire safety seriously, huh.”
He nodded, but as he drove out the gates, I looked over my shoulder and smoke curled from behind the huge building. Were bonfires legal at any school? I’d have to add that to my list.
As my boss drove, he leaned away from me on the door, and he pulled his collar up. When he got home, he shot out the car and said over his shoulder that he was headed to his office. If I was reading this right, he couldn’t wait to get away from me, and I did the sniff test again. I watched him scurry off and went inside to do the kids’ laundry and tidy up.
Maybe it was a good thing Theron didn’t want to be around me. Being close to him had me noticing his hands and the stubble on his very fine jaw. So instead of picturing him and certain parts of his anatomy, I thought of how he was with his children.
He was patient but firm and very affectionate. Fraser climbed all over him, and he sat with the older two while they did their homework. He didn’t flinch when one of them knocked over a coffee cup, and he read to all three every night. From my observations, the kids trusted him.
But watching him with his children stirred up feelings I shoved to the back of my mind. Nope, that was a no-go area.
I called my mom after I finished the laundry.
“How's the new job?” she asked.
“Great. The kids are sweet, and the house is amazing.” Both were true.
“And your boss?”
“He’s interesting.”
“Ah-huh.”
I sensed there was a lot behind her response. “Don’t get any ideas, Mom. Ours is a professional relationship.”
“Okay.”
That’s what it was. Theron looking at me when he thought I wasn't paying attention was nothing more than him checking I was doing things right.I was taking care of his children, so it made sense he was cautious.
And when his hand brushed over mine as we reached for the same cup and he reared away, that was because I was so “cold” to the touch.
What I couldn’t explain was how him saying my name made me giddy.
