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I glance at Hale who gives me the slightest nod, so I pick up Ollie and pull him against my chest. He has the sweet smell only a baby does. “Hey there, Ollie. I’m Ivy, and you’re a handsome little man.”
He opens his mouth. His scowl seems to grow even more pronounced. He really is related to Hale.
“I want you to be his nanny.” Hale’s words startle me. I never expected him to show up on my doorstep today, much less to declare that he wants me as his nephew’s nanny. Before I can answer, Hale adds, “It pays well, and you’ll get full benefits plus free lodging with me.”
Hale must know about my previous experience in childcare. That would explain why he’s showed up here to offer me a job. Still, I haven’t done this before and I want to be honest with him about that. “I’ve never been a nanny.”
“You have plenty of experience with kids,” he points out. “I can’t run my gym and keep up with the little tyke. There are too many hazards at my work.”
What he’s saying makes sense. A gym isn’t exactly a great place for a baby to be, and it’s not like I don’t need the job.
Ollie reaches for a handful of my hair and wraps it around his pudgy fist. He gives a sharp tug.
I make a funny face at him to distract him as I carefully remove his hand from my hair. I baby-talk to him until he’s giggling, relieved when I see his smile. He’s not nearly as grumpy as he pretends to be. Maybe Hale is the same way.
I glance up to find he’s watching both of us, and his eyes have gone darker than usual. Did they go that dark when he was watching me on the pole? Did he leave the gym that day with his body thrumming with sexual awareness the same way I did?
He shifts in his chair, the old furniture creaking under the weight of his big frame. “Say you’ll do it.”
“I’m keeping my apartment. I don’t want to be a live-in nanny,” I tell him, mainly because I’m not so sure about the idea of staying under Hale’s roof. I’m not sure it’ll be good for my self-control.
He scowls at me. “That part is non-negotiable.”
I start to pass Ollie back to him. “Well, good luck then.”
Ollie’s expression falls at the same time that Hale’s frown deepens. “I have medical problems. It would be in Ollie’s best interest if I had another adult present who could care for him.”
I want to ask about what type of health issues, but I can tell it took a lot for him to admit that. Given my past, I understand how people look at you differently once they know of your medical struggles. That’s why I work to keep my voice neutral. “Are you dying?”
His lip twitches but he doesn’t smile. “I said medical conditions, not terminal illness. You’d be doing me a favor on such short notice. There’s no one I would trust more.”
Some part of me is delighted that he trusts me with his little nephew. I blow out a breath and sigh. “Only for a little while then we’ll figure something else out.”
Hale nods, but something in his gaze tells me that he’s not going to let me go that easily. He stands. “What needs to go?”
I blink at his question, unsure of what he means. “Go?”
“With us, back to my place.” He’s scanning the room with his hands on his hips. I can only imagine what it looks like to him. He’s so orderly and organized. He never has a hair out of place and his beard is always impeccably trimmed.
“You want me to move in right now? You can’t be serious.” This man is making me crazy. Up until today, he’s never had more than a word to grunt to me. Now we’re about to be living together.
Ollie sniffles like he might start crying, and I bounce him in my arms.
“He’s probably hungry again. Do you have a place where I can heat his bottle?”
I point to the kitchen, and Hale takes the diaper bag in there. He fumbles with it, pausing to read the formula can. It’s obvious he doesn’t know what he’s doing, and part of me feels for him. He isn’t like other dads. He hasn’t had months to prepare for this. He was suddenly thrust into the role of single dad without warning.
“Here.” I pass Ollie back to him and reach for the supplies. Within a minute, I have a warm bottle ready for the baby. I take him back in my arms and settle him with it, smiling down at his little face. Those chubby cheeks and bright blue eyes completely melt my heart.
“I need time to pack up,” I tell Hale. I can’t believe I’m giving in so easily. But there’s something about Ollie. I feel a fierce and overwhelming urge to protect him, to care for him.
Hale blows out a breath. “I get it. It’s just…” He takes a seat in the armchair and scrubs a hand through his hair. “I’ve never had a baby, and I don’t know what to do.”
I cross the room to put a hand on his shoulder. He sounds so defeated, and I can’t begin to imagine how overwhelming this must all be for him. “I know. It’s OK. Let me pack up.”
5
HALE
