AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We play for almost an hour, and I’m sure my hair is a mess. Rebellious strands stray from my high ponytail, and sweat slicks my cheeks, neck, and arms.
Sebastian, of course, is the picture of perfection. His dark brown hair is barely damp, and the little sweat he broke only makes his T-shirt cling to his sculpted muscles. This man is delicious and precisely the type of exquisite food I can’t afford to sample.
“It’s bath time,” he says.
Shivers roll down my back as I look at him. Images of that impressive man joining me in a huge bathtub populate my mind.
Then Brynlee squeals, and it dawns on me that he means her. His daughter. The kid I’m supposed to watch.
“Let’s go, sweetheart,” I say, blushing.
He smiles at me. “I’ve got her.”
He picks up his daughter and tickles her, and I wave at no one as he disappears from view. Taking a deep breath, I grab the ball and put it away in the shed. I may as well grab the baseball bat and have a go at my head with it. Why am I so distracted? It’s weird. I’ve been working for him for months and usually keep my cool around him. What’s changed?
Shaking my head, I reach into the pocket of my skort and fish out my phone. I clear my notifications center and see an interesting one…
You have one new view.
It’s from Sugar & Silk. I joined their agency months ago but only went on two dates, and neither worked. One guy was way too stuffy for me, and I didn’t jibe with the other. I joined for fun. I figured someone would pay for dinner for me in exchange for some attention, which seemed like a good idea. Those two experiences fell short, and I decided not to waste my time.
But, hey, a new view? Someone saw my picture and clicked on my profile. Maybe this time they won’t be a complete disappointment.
I log on to my account, excited.
When I click on the visualization, my heart skips a beat. This man looks a lot like…
I gasp, clapping my hand to my mouth.
My boss!
3
Kendall
“Can you tell me a bedtime story?”Brynlee asks as I dim the lights in her room.
Her bedroom is a mix of soccer fanatic with a splash of princess vibes. She has a couple of posters of female soccer players, but her shelves are still stacked with plushies and a few Disney princesses. “This time, maybe the dragon is also a coach. And the princess needs new cleats or something.”
“Oh, I love that.” I start with a new story out of nowhere as I smooth her hair. I lean over and turn on the white noise machine when her eyes grow heavy.
Even though my sister is only three years younger than me, I put Sylvie to sleep many times when we were younger, especially when I wanted to give Mom a break.
Spending time with Brynlee brings back some of those tender moments. She’s soon fast asleep, and I tip-toe out of the bedroom. As I leave, a different emotion weighs on my shoulders: concern. I’ve been nervous since I discovered that Sebastian had looked at my profile a few hours ago. Restless. Unsettled.
I need to talk to Sebastian. It’s eating me up inside. What if he judges me? What if he thinks I’m a weirdo and lets me go as his employee?
I can’t lose my job.
He clicked on my profile for a reason. Of course, he wasn’t interested in me. It’s easier if I come clean. Sure, he was on the website, too, but I need him more than he needs me. He can find another nanny, but I doubt I’ll be able to match this salary elsewhere.
Besides, this job is perfect. I live with them rent-free and crash at Mom’s on weekends while I help pay off Sylvie’s credit card. Once the debt is cleared, I can save to open my own daycare—one day.
I go down the stairs and see Sebastian scrolling on his phone. He’s on the terrace with a glass of red wine in his hand. I draw in a breath, gathering every bit of courage I can muster. I walk up to him, my knees a bit wobbly, but somehow, I make it through.
He lifts his eyes to me. “Everything okay?”
No. Everything is not okay. Not since I saw his profile showing a few pictures of him in a way I’d never seen before… like a man on the prowl.
