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“Any grandparents?” I ask.
“My parents had me when they were older. Mom got sick my senior year of high school. Dad died less than a year later. I met Sybil, that’s Syd’s mom, in high school. I wasn’t thinking and got her pregnant,” he offers.
Whoa.
“Overshare,” I say with wide eyes.
“Are you always this snarky?” he asks, but now I think his lips really do tip up.
“Around prickly people I am,” I confess. “My hackles are up.”
His lips pinch and his brows draw together, then he opens his mouth. “I’m not always this grumpy. I’ve been in a lot of pain. This injury is taking its toll.”
“I’m sorry. I want to help. Just tell me what I can do for you.”
“Treat my daughter like a princess. That’s all I ask,” he says. Well, damn. I would have liked a father like him.
“Done. I think we got off to a good start,” I offer to him with a tilt of my head.
“I haven’t seen her ever hug a woman. Not even her own mother,” he notes. Those words burn and hurt, yet feel so damn good at the same time.
“Then Syd and I have something in common. My mom wasn’t the doting kind either,” I admit.
He watches me carefully.
I watch him.
The doorbell chimes.
“Should I get that?” I ask.
“That’s Hazel, my nurse. She has a key. She just likes to announce herself,” he explains.
A moment later, a short gray-haired woman with glasses, wearing blue scrubs, walks into the room.
“Ellie, this is Hazel, my nurse. She comes in a couple times a day to help me out,” he introduces us. “This is Ellie, my daughter’s new nanny.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say to Hazel.
The older woman gives me a once-over and scrunches her nose. “You should be wearing undergarments.”
“I’m so sorry. I had a situation this morning,” I explain, my cheeks feeling flushed. “I usually do wear a bra, just for clarification.” I look straight at Connor when I make that statement. “Excuse me.” I duck away.
“Come, let’s give you a bath,” I hear the nurse say to him. Damn, I’d like to be that nurse right now. Connor is hot. Lucky bitch.
I head back to my room. I unpack my things into the large walk-in closet. It feels good to hopefully be living in a place where I will feel some stability and not be scared of rodents running around.
After unpacking I’m completely drained, so I decide to take a shower. The washroom is beautiful and clean. The shower is huge, with glass walls all around and a small bench. I could get used to living here. I just hope Syd will like me. When I think of some of the nannies I had growing up a shiver runs down my spine, despite the warm temperature of the water. One of our nannies was really into day drinking and she would just pass out. I remember my brothers pulling all kinds of pranks on her. Another nanny we had was super mean. I remember this story, even though I must have been only slightly younger than Syd. She pulled me down a set of stairs when I said there was no toilet paper in the bathroom. Geez, I don’t know why someone would apply to work with children if they don’t like them. After my shower, I brush out my hair and get dressed in a pair of leggings and a cropped sweatshirt. I let my hair hang loose over my shoulders, figuring I will let it air dry before I blow it out a little. I don’t unpack my art supplies because I don’t want to make a mess in here and make Connor angry. As much as I will miss making art, I figure it’s better I take a break for a while.
I head into the main room and saunter toward the kitchen. My stomach is grumbling.
“Ellie,” Connor calls.
“Yes,” I reply.
I make my way over to Connor’s bedroom. He’s lying in bed wearing a pair of black lounge pants and a fresh white T-shirt. His hair is wet and brushed back. My heart picks up pace.
“Can I help you with anything?” I ask since his door is open.
