AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sure, thanks,” I mumble to his back. He seems like an asshole, which makes me nervous about living here.
I walk into the room he said was mine. A queen-size bed sits on a large gray upholstered frame. A white duvet covers the bed with a mix of light pink and fuchsia throw pillows. Everything in the room is coordinated and matching. From the two nightstand tables to the beautiful pink and gold lamps sitting on top. Above the bed is a large picture of an oversized flower with pink and fuchsia swirls.
“This is really nice,” I mumble to myself. It’s been a hot minute since I stayed in a nice place like this.
I continue to walk around the apartment. Syd’s room is very pink and pretty. It suits her. We each have our own bathrooms with a tub and shower, which is huge.
I walk down the hall and it leads me to a main room with an off-white couch and a light wood dining table. The throw pillows on the couch are floral and pink. It makes me giggle because Connor doesn’t seem like a hearts and flowers kind of guy so this must all be for his daughter, which says something about him. Next, I venture into the beautiful kitchen with the black stainless-steel appliances and gray cabinets. There is a beautiful black marble counter that has tiny white veins running through it. This place looks like it’s out of a magazine and I feel so happy I’ll be able to call it home, considering how my life was just upside down only hours ago.
I finally make my way down the other hall that he said leads to his bedroom. One of the rooms is empty and then I reach his door.
My heart picks up pace. He’s handsome but he’s mean, and that scowl he constantly wears makes me blanch.
I knock lightly. “Come in.” His voice is harsh and to the point. Can’t he be nice even for a moment?
I blink. This is fine. I have a place to stay, food to eat, I’ll be making money, and Syd is sweet. Now I just need to repeat that like it’s my motto.
“Hi,” I say. He’s still standing, looking like he’s in pain. “Can I help you?”
“Looks like I don’t have much choice,” he barks.
I pinch my lips. This is fine. “Tell me what to do.”
“I can sit on the bed but I can’t use my lower abdominals, so I need you to lift my legs on the bed,” he explains.
“Not a problem.” He passes me the crutches and when he sits on the bed, his eyes squeeze shut, which gives me a moment to take him in. He’s built, which is obvious. His hair is a light brown, I even notice some lighter blond streaks. His nose is sharp and his cheekbones are defined. His lips are full. He is hot. A hot single dad I am now working for. A hot grumpy single dad. I lift his legs and as I do, he uses the muscles in his arms to shift himself up in the bed. I slowly place his legs down. Sweat is prickling his forehead. I take in his fresh soapy scent. “I’ll go get you some water.”
“You don’t need to. I’m. . .” I don’t know what else he says because I run off to the kitchen and quickly open different cabinets until I find one with glasses. I fill it up with cool fridge water and then I run back to his room.
“Here you go.” I pass him the glass.
He gulps the water like he really needed it, his shoulders rising and falling rapidly. I begin to think it’s the pain that’s making him an ass. He places the glass on his side table.
His blue eyes pop when they land on my chest.
Shit. I’m sans bra and my nipples look pert enough to cut glass.
I try to be cool about it.
He clears his throat.
“Your place is beautiful. I love all the pink décor.” I grin because I have nothing better.
“I had a designer decorate the place when we moved in. I told her to ask my daughter for input. The result was a lot of pink and flowers everywhere,” he explains.
“I love it,” I say. “It’s so girly.”
His lip twitches. Did he just smile? Probably not.
“We should go over logistics,” he says, his gaze drops to my chest then back up to my eyes.
“That would be great,” I respond. I’m not sure if I should cross my arms over my chest but I decide to keep them by my side.
“You should get to know the place and feel comfortable. I need you to cook meals for Syd. I forgot to ask if you know how to cook.” He watches me like that was a question.
“Huh, oh yeah, I can totally cook,” I lie. I’ll have to search Pinterest for some ideas to feed a six-year-old. “Does she have any food preferences or aversions I should know about? What about allergies?”
“She’s pretty easygoing with food. She loves pizza but she can only have it a couple times a month. I like her to eat healthy. She dances ballet once a week. She doesn’t really like it, but I can’t find something she does like so I registered her again. Exercise and staying active is important. She speaks but not very often. There are only a few people she speaks to,” he explains.
