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“If you insist,” Penelope says. Her phone buzzes, and she picks it up with the biggest smile I’ve seen from her all day. “Great, you’re hired.”
“I’m hired?” I ask. Penelope laughs.
“On a day-by-day basis, of course,” Penelope tells me.
“Of course,” I echo before the waitress comes over to take our orders. Penelope talks through our whole meal like she usually does, and I’m content to listen. It’s what makes our friendship work. Penelope gets me to open up better than anyone, which is one of her greatest skills. By the time the meal’s over, I’m feeling a lot better than I had when I woke up this morning.
“Alright, let’s head up to Parker’s cabin,” Penelope says as we walk out the diner.
I look at her incredulously.
“What, right now?” I stop before crossing the street.
Penelope stops and raises a brow at me. “Did you have plans today?” She laughs knowing I wasn’t going to be doing anything other than sitting around in my apartment again. “That’s what I thought. Pack a bag, and I’ll get the truck ready.”
“You’re so bossy,” I tease her before going up to my apartment. I’m so nervous and have never felt this way when meeting a family, but it’s all because of the stories I’ve heard about her brother.
I pack a suitcase with a week worth of clothes, knowing I’ll need to come back to grab more things if I end up staying. I’ll use it as an excuse if things start sucking.
The drive up to the mountains takes over an hour, but it’s an enjoyable drive. The whole way, Penelope tells me everything she can about her niece, Evie, and her nephew, Jackson. As she talks, I find myself warming up to the idea of being a live-in nanny and tutor for these kids. They sound amazing, and I really miss working with kids and making a difference in their little lives. The city has also burnt me out, and the only people I really know are my parents and Penelope.
So, maybe living in the mountains will be a nice, refreshing change. I would have a place to live and kids to take care of which is precisely what I want. Penelope could come up and visit all the time since it’s her brother. I would finally get to use my child education skills too. It really does seem like a perfect opportunity, except for the mountain man who hates everyone will be my boss.
We come around a bend, and I hear Penelope sigh. “We’re here.”
Her words break me out of my own thoughts. She points straight ahead at a large cabin sitting at the top of the hill we’re chugging up. It looks really nice and homey and is surrounded by trees. It’s solitary but has a comfortable vibe to it. Penelope parks the truck along the edge of the grass and steps out.
“Auntie Penelope!” I hear a small voice scream from inside the house. I see someone dart by the window, then the front door flies open, and a little girl comes sprinting out. “Daddy! Auntie Penelope’s back!”
“Auntie Penelope!” another small voice exclaims. A little boy comes bolting out the front door, following after his sister. They look a lot like Penelope and presumably like their father. They both have dark hair. Evie’s is in a braid down her back, and her dark eyes sparkle in the sun.
“Who’s that?” Jackson asks, peering around Penelope at me. She swings her arm out and motions me forward.
“This is my best friend, Kacee. She’s a nanny. She really wanted to meet you guys.” Penelope steps to the side, allowing Jackson to look me up and down.
“Did Daddy say it was okay?” he asks, looking up at her.
The doorway of the cabin is abruptly filled by a large, brooding man. I have to tilt my head back to see his face at first, and when I do, I’m struck instantly by how handsome he is. I feel a strange, immediate attraction to him, something I haven’t felt for anyone in a long time—something I haven’t let myself feel for anyone in a long time.
“Hello,” I say when nobody speaks. I can’t stop staring at Penelope’s brother.
“Who’s this?” he asks Penelope like I’m not even here. I step forward and hold out a hand.
“Hi, Mr. Jacobson. I’m Kacee Reynolds. It’s nice to meet you,” I say politely with a smile. He looks down at it like he wishes I’d vanish into thin air. I let my hand fall back to my side when he doesn’t take it.
“It’s Parker,” he barks. He turns to Penelope, dismissing me. “What is this?”
“You need someone to teach the kids. Kacee is a great candidate,” Penelope explains. “You’re not a teacher, Parker. There are methods and strategies for teaching small children certain things and Kacee is qualified to do that for them.” She motions back to me. “She actually has a degree in childhood education and has so many certifications, Kacee could probably teach you a thing or two. She knows everything there is to know about being a nanny and homeschooling children.”
“I already told you,” Parker growls. “I’m not hiring anyone.”
I glare at Penelope, but I don’t dare say anything to get in the middle of this family feud.
“Look, Parker. It doesn’t matter what you told me,” Penelope snaps.
I fight the urge to get back into the truck and drive away without her.
“My niece and nephew deserve to have a real education. I told her what you needed and she can help. She’s qualified. I cannot overstate how qualified she is for the position.”
