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I look to my left, needing reassurance from the only person in the room that I know—even though I can’t really say I know Emmett—only to find him gone. The man couldn’t get away from me fast enough.
I have no doubt he sees me as the brat he claimed Vaughn saw me as all those years ago. I smile again at Emmalyn.
“Let me show you around,” she says before lifting on her toes and pressing her lips to Kincaid’s cheek.
The man looks hard. I’d make the assumption that he was a criminal if I ran into him on the street. I would still think that way if it weren’t for the way his eyes soften when he looks down at his wife. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen that level of love on someone’s face. The unfamiliar sight of it makes me feel like I’m intruding on a special moment, so I look away from them.
“I can show you the daycare,” she says as she steps up beside me, sweeping her arm back in the direction of the conference room.
“I don’t know what Emmett told you, but I’m not pregnant.”
She chuckles, the tinkling sound calming rather than making me feel as if she’s somehow mocking me.
“I didn’t assume you were. We don’t mind you staying but everyone earns their keep around here.”
Em pulls open the door to one room, only to have to use a key to unlock the interior half door.
The room is very organized with a diaper changing area, a crib area, and several little stations meant for play. The toys range from playmats for infants to larger toys for older children.
“I’m not really good with kids,” I confess, wondering what else I could do to earn my keep.
My mind races back to walking into this place and how many men there were in the room.
I’m not one to stereotype, but if she suggests earning my keep on my back, I’ll be out the door so damn fast, people will wonder if there was a fire with how hot my shoes heat up.
“We can find something else for you, but our daycare isn’t chaotic. Only kids belonging to club members are allowed. Well, also club members’ grandkids.”
“Grandkids?” I didn’t see a guy out there old enough to have grandkids.
“Diego and I have five grandkids.”
I do my best to keep the look of shock off my face. I’d mean it as a compliment but I don’t know if she’d read it that way if I told her she looks great for having five grandkids. I opt to keep my mouth shut. I’d be a fool to even risk upsetting someone so willing to help me.
“We have several people that work here, but we could always use more help. The Cerberus family has been growing by leaps and bounds.”
I nod in understanding. “I’m not good with kids.”
It’s a repeat of my earlier words, and I know she heard me.
“I’m not trying to be disrespectful,” I rush out, not wanting to make her mad. “I just have very limited experience and babies kind of scare me.”
She chuckles, no sounds of irritation in her laughter.
“You wouldn’t be the first, but if you’d prefer to help out in other ways, there’s always something to do around here.”
“I could work outside of the clubhouse. I worked at a retail store back home. Do they have any Lucky Dollar stores here?”
I loathed that job, but it wasn’t hard work. I can’t exactly be picky about what I do.
“There aren’t,” she says.
“I could work anywhere and pay rent.”
She could easily charge whatever she wanted, and I wouldn’t be able to argue. Maybe the daycare wouldn’t be so bad, I think as I look back at the changing table. I do my best not to shudder.
“We don’t need money. We need physical help, and we don’t hire from outside of the club. We’re very strict about who we allow onto the property. It’s why so many people were on edge with that creepy guy here.”
“He was creepy,” I quickly agree, refusing to consider what could’ve happened to me.
After the trip here from Nebraska, it’s easy to see now how so many people end up missing or in sketchy situations.
“We have a luncheon for the local women’s shelter coming up. You could help with that. We also have a couple new guys arriving soon, and their rooms will need a quick once-over.”
“I could help with all of that,” I tell her with a genuine smile.
“Perfect,” Em says as we walk out of the room.
I’m not going to complain, but I don’t understand their kindness and quickness to help a complete stranger. I fully expected to show up and have to fight tooth and nail in order to even be allowed to stay a single night, but the man my parents made Emmett seem isn’t panning out from what I’ve seen so far today.
