Jeez. These guys.
“You know what, Sully, I may actually have someone for you,” I hear August say as he looks me over, scowling.
Dahlia glances at him in alarm.
“You do? Are you thinking Maria? Anastasia?”
“Sully, let me get back to you, all right? End of day work for you?”
August thumbs the front of the iPad and lets it drop to his side. He looks down at Dahlia and they spend a few seconds wordlessly yelling at each other, obviously hashing something out silently.
“So, yeah, your baby? You want him?” I ask Dahlia. “I think he’s hungry?”
Dahlia automatically slides her arms toward me so I can deliver the child to her. I wouldn’t mind a little bit of eye contact, but she is not looking this way.
“Yeah, sure, I’ll just bring him right over for you,” I mutter. Knox glances up at me as if in full agreement.
As I hand the baby over, August and Dahlia finally break eye contact. August takes a deep breath.
“You’re awfully good with him,” he remarks. “He usually won’t go to anyone but us. That’s why we don’t have a nanny.”
“Well of course he’s not going to reject his Aunt Bunny!” I say in baby talk, tickling his shoulder as he nestles against Dahlia, smacking his lips hungrily.
“Bunny has almost zero experience with children,” Dahlia announces.
I put my hands on my hips. “Well, check him over, Dahlia. I changed his diaper too. He seems to have survived the ordeal, as you can see!”
August places a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Maybe you’re underestimating her. She seems to be a natural.”
“Yeah! I’m a natural!”
Dahlia shakes her head and looks down into her son’s eyes as she tugs her top to the side and modestly prepares to nurse him. I get the feeling I’m about to be offered the job of nanny for Knox. That sounds awesome. I stand up straight, automatically putting my hands in the pockets of my waitress uniform, which I suddenly realize I still have on. I probably look a little silly.
“Would you really consider that?” Dahlia asks, squinting.
“Nanny? Well, sure! I mean, what could be better than that?”
A video montage flickers through my imagination. I could just tag along on all their global adventures, keeping little Knox safe as Dahlia and August thwart international bad guys. Maybe I could thwart a bad guy every once in a while too. You never know. That could happen.
“Yes, this seems to be a good fit. All you have to do is pass the interviews, Bunny. And if you don’t mind taking a little bit of advice from me, you probably want to really get your… game face on. If you know what I mean.”
I pause, staring at him in confusion. “Interviews? Like… this doesn’t count? Right now?”
“No, in Chicago,” August continues cryptically.
I try to smile, but the gesture seems rigid and forced. “Do you send all of your nanny applicants to Chicago?” I ask in a strained voice.
They glance at each other again.
“The nanny position isn’t for us, Bunny,” Dahlia smirks. Knox nurses noisily so I try to just maintain eye contact with her.
“What do you mean? It’s not? What are we talking about here?”
August rocks back on his heels, crossing his arms over his wide, muscular chest in that patronizing way that he has. I can’t believe I used to think this guy was sexy. If I wanted a lecture from my dad, I would just go home.
“Some associates of mine. They had a nanny in place and she is… now indisposed. You’ll have to interview with all of them. Pass the interviews and the job is yours. Seems pretty clear-cut.”
“All of whom?” I ask, wondering if maybe I got myself in over my head. At first this all seemed like a real stroke of luck; now it seems like something else. A bunch of warning bells go off my head, danger, danger.