AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Lots of times, kids surprise us,” she says. “I have to tell you what a beautiful home you have.”
I smile. “Thank you. I know it’s a bit messy. The housekeeper only comes on Fridays.”
“Are you sure it’s all right for me to move in right away?”
“It would help meimmensely,” I tell her. “I’ve had to take so much time off work because the daycare didn’t work out. Eli for some reason hated the wallpaper because it had clowns on it.”
Kenna shudders. “No wonder, clowns are scary.”
I laugh and lead her to the guest bedroom, next to Eli’s room. My bedroom is on the other side, beside Maggie’s room.
“Eli often climbs into my bed or Maggie’s, so if you can’t find him in his room, he’ll be with one of us,” I explain, opening the doors to the kids’ rooms to show her before leading her to her room. I point down the hall. “That’s the master bedroom, my room.”
Kenna just nods and her blue eyes widen as she looks into the guest bedroom and the four-poster bed. “This is almost bigger than my college dorm room,” she says in awe, and I chuckle.
“We can talk about your salary now, if you’d like,” I say, and Kenna clears her throat.
“To be honest with you Mr. Ledd—I mean, Derek, I haven’t thought much about salary.”
\I nod. “I’ll have my lawyer write something up for tonight. Excuse me for just a moment.”
I stride to my bedroom and open up the safe, taking five thousand in cash out to hand to her. Kenna looks overwhelmed, and I’m not surprised. This has all gone pretty quickly, but I have work I need to catch up on, and the kids like her. I have to trysomething.
“I’m free today to watch them but I’ll have to go home and grab some of my things for the rest of the week,” Kenna says hesitantly.
I smack my forehead. “Of course. I’m sorry to put you on the spot, if you’d like to come back tomorrow—”
She shakes her head and smiles. “It’s okay.”
Kenna reallydoeshave a pretty smile. I look away, feeling my cheeks flush. This has all been work-related, business in a way, but when it turns more social, I start getting awkward. This is my cue to go.
“I’ll be home at six,” I tell her. “Please feel free to make anything out of the fridge.”
“Do the kids have a schedule for eating dinner or snacks?” Kenna asks, and I blink at her.
“Uh...not exactly,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck. Ever since Suzanna left, I’ve just kind of been winging it, but I don’t want to say that to her.
Kenna doesn’t seem perturbed. “That’s fine. We’ll figure it out,” she says easily.
I pause in the doorway of the guest bedroom. “Thank you, Kenna,” I say quietly, looking into her blue eyes, and I see the color flush to her cheeks.
“Thank you, Derek, for the opportunity,” she says just as quietly, and suddenly everything seems intense and I feel awkward again.
I kiss the kids goodbye, and for once, they don’t even cry that I’m leaving.
“Be good for Ms. Kenna, okay?”
They’re focused on Paw Patrol and don’t answer, so I reluctantly leave the house, letting out a long breath.
It feels like there’s a weight lifted off my shoulders. Despite her being related to my ex, Kenna Lodge may just be a godsend.
4
KENNA
The way Derek had looked at me right before he left still had me flustered. I definitely shouldn’t be thinking about how attractive he is, how his green eyes crinkle at the corners when he smiles. Maybe I still have a little school girl crush on him, or something.
That will change, now that he’s my employer.
