Total pages in book: 146
Estimated words: 137077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Riley nods as I recite my own list, then asks, “And you?”
“Me, what?” I say as my brows furrow together. She looks at me like I’m stupid, which I don’t appreciate in the slightest, and I frown hard. It’s then I realize what she’s asking. “Oh, me?” I wave a hand dismissively because I don’t matter here. Grace does. “I’m a C-level executive at Blue Lake Assets, the family business. I work long hours, in the office and at home, but Grace is my priority. Always. I want her to receive the best care because she spends a fair amount of time with her nannies, so having someone she meshes with is important to me.”
She smiles approvingly, making me feel like a toddler who earned a cookie with his obedience. I scowl at her, hoping she shuts that shit down before I have to. It’s only when she purses her lips that I realize her approval might’ve actually been for my commitment to finding a good fit for Grace, not because I dutifully answered her question.
Well, fuck. Guess I’m earning my reputation as an asshole today, same as every other day.
“Long hours,” she repeats. “What does that mean? What does a typical day look like for the two of you, and where would I work into that?”
Who’s interviewing whom here?
I know what the answer should be, but I suddenly realize that I haven’t asked her a single question. She’s volunteered information and asked me questions, but I haven’t countered one of them, which irritates me more than it should.
I’m used to being the most powerful man in the room. I sweep into boardrooms and people quake, wanting to either impress me or remain invisible to me, depending on my mood. My presence commands respect, my bearing is that of authority, and most don’t dare to challenge me, much less cross me. Even at home, I don’t truly relax very often. I’m a man of seriousness and routine, two things I get the feeling Riley Stefano has never been in her life.
Despite her setting me on edge, I answer, “I wake up early, work out, and check the markets. Grace wakes up at six thirty on school days, gets herself ready, and comes downstairs for breakfast, which the nanny usually makes for her, but it doesn’t need to be anything fancy. She’s been on a frozen pancake kick here lately,” I confess. “Around seven thirty, the nanny drives her to school and I leave for work. During the day, you could do your own thing, although there are household things I’ll need done—grocery shopping, laundry, getting school supplies, things like that. Grace gets out at four and will definitely try to talk you into taking her to Starbucks, which you can do twice a week. She does homework, or goes to the barn and then does homework, and after that, she has free time for TV, friends, or whatever. Sometime in there, you’ll make dinner, and when I get home, which is usually around seven, I’ll relieve you of your duties so that Grace and I can eat, spend time together, and do her bedtime routine.”
It doesn’t escape my attention that in listing everything out, I began using a generic ‘the nanny’ but by the end, I was flat out saying ‘you’, meaning Riley. I guess I’m more desperate than I thought. But I don’t think I’ve ever listed out our days quite so literally, and by the end of my recitation, I’m exhausted. And in truth, I’ve been living it, day after day. Great days, but long ones, nonetheless.
Riley has been listening closely and now nibbles her bottom lip as though considering all I’ve said, but before she can say anything, Grace and Janey come running back into the living room. Well, Grace is running. Janey is walking along behind her with a smile on her face, like always. She’s probably the happiest person on Earth at any given time. Cole says she wasn’t always that way, but since he brought her around our family, she’s perpetually smiling.
Janey keeps walking, beelining for Cole and her new son in the kitchen, and leaving the three of us in the living room.
“Did you hire her yet?” Grace asks me, nearly bouncing with excitement and sounding like this is all but a done deal.
“What?” I mutter, definitely not leaning that way. At least not yet, after only five minutes of conversation, despite Riley’s surprisingly remarkable resume. Especially given the way she’s acting a bit too in-charge for my liking.
“Do you two need a minute?” Riley offers, fighting unsuccessfully to hide her growing smile.
“Yes,” I say firmly.
At the same time, both Grace and Cole say, “No.”
“You’d be a fu-freaking idiot not to hire her,” Cole states, his apologetic gaze dropping to Emmett like the baby might be offended by his near curse. Though she stays quiet, Janey’s opinion is written on her face and she agrees with her husband.