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“You’re kidding me. That will pay this year’s rent. Well…almost.” Lucas had no idea what a nanny in Manhattan made per hour. Either that, or he was beyond desperate. Probably both.
“So you’ll do it?”
“I’ll let the Wilson’s know in the morning I won’t be available until…say, Wednesday? The one thing I promise to do is love the baby. She needs every bit I have after being dumped like an animal at a dog shelter.” I crossed my heart and held up my hand, honoring my words.
Tessa typed away on her phone. I assumed she was texting Barclay to tell him my decision. A reply came back quickly, and she raised her eyes to mine.
“Pack a bag for a couple days.”
“I’ll sleep there?” I’d be home alone with him in the dark hours of the night. A whisper of danger mixed with a thrill of excitement blew through me.
“It would be a crime to leave a baby alone with him for over five minutes.” She made a good point.
I stuffed some jeans and random T-shirts into a duffel bag my mother had given me. After gathering up the essential toiletries, I was packed in under ten minutes. I placed the bag by the front door.
“Tessa, I’m ready to go. I just need the address so I can order an Uber.”
She walked out of her room and looked at me in surprise. “You can’t be serious. You’re not wearing that.” She spun a finger in my direction. “It’s like asking the fox to watch the henhouse. He’ll want to eat you alive.”
I looked down at my tight dress and heels, and internally face-palmed. After realizing my Herb was Barclay’s friend Lucas, I forgot about my date tonight with Thomas. The dress I’d chosen was definitely not nanny appropriate.
“I have a Bumble meet up tonight. What time is it?”
“Eight fifteen.”
“Jeez, I suck canceling so late.”
I dug through my bag and found my phone buried under my clothes. What should I say to Thomas? He seemed like a great guy, especially after all the horn dogs I’d met so far. I didn’t want to blow it with him before it even started. I had to be realistic about Lucas. Us? Being together? I wasn’t that much of a dreamer.
Me: Hey. I’m so sorry, but I had an emergency come up and have to help a friend.
Barclay was my friend. Herb—scratch that—Lucas was someone who needed a friend. Close enough. I kept the text as it was and hit send.
The bubbling of an impending message appeared on my screen. I paced back and forth for what felt like forever. Finally, his response popped up.
Thomas: I understand. But don’t think I’m going to let you get off so easy. Wednesday work?
Why was his text so sexy? Was it the “you’ve been a bad girl and I’d like to spank you” vibe? Probably.
Me: Thanks for being so cool. Wed works! Same place?
Lucas should have everything under control with the baby by then, so it seemed safe to agree. If not, I’d cross that bridge when I got to it. I couldn’t cancel on Thomas again.
Thomas: But drinks and dinner.
Me: So bossy.
Thomas: Only when it counts.
I didn’t know how to reply to the suggestive undertone of his text. I wanted to heart the shit out of it, because I loved it when a man took control…in a respectful manner, of course. Like pulling my hair so his lips had better access to my neck, or telling me he was going to eff my brains out. So I just thumb-upped it. It was the lamest emoji, but it would have to do.
Changing out of my date attire, I put on a pair of jean cut-offs—tastefully frayed at the edges versus the scraggly kind I wore growing up—then double-checked to make sure they weren’t Daisy Duke short. I didn’t want to be too suggestive…well, not right off the bat, anyway.
Next, I chose my favorite T-shirt. White with Eternal Optimist written in red. I slipped on a pair of black sequin Crocs flip-flops—a gift from my mother after she saw them on The Today Show. They were beyond comfortable, and the last pair of Crocs I’d own unless I changed careers to the medical field. I braided my hair into a simple French braid and secured it with a hair tie. A few tendrils fell around my face, giving me a messy, not-quite-bedhead look.
“Ready.” I bounded out of my room, shutting the door behind me just in case Barclay stopped by. He might wonder if a clothing bomb had detonated in there. “Where does Lucas live?”
“Six twenty Central Park South. Billionaire’s Row.” Tessa rolled her eyes. Mine widened. Wow. Our apartment building was only blocks away. I walked by Billionaire’s Row almost every day on my way to Central Park or the Apple store on Fifth. “Barclay said it’s high in the sky, but sterile. I can’t imagine where he’ll put the baby.”
