“Thanks,” he says, but he’s standing behind me.
I jump and nearly spill the coffee. “I’m getting you a bell.”
He laughs and nods toward my phone. “Keep me posted.”
“Yeah, the sooner we can get it arranged, the better. I can’t stay on helping forever.”
I drop my phone into my purse and look at him—really look at him—and when I do, I suddenly see more than the gorgeous hockey player who is always out to score, on and off the ice.
“You got this, Jonah. I promise.”
“You do?” he asks, like my answer is the most important thing he’ll ever hear, like it could make or break him.
I touch his arm, then rub Daisy’s back. “She’s in good hands. I mean that.”
“Thank you,” he says, and lets loose a breath of relief.
“Okay, I’m off. You know my number, just call or text if you need me.”
He walks me to the door, and he turns Daisy in his arm, waving me off with her hand, and my heart jumps into my throat and lodges. I climb into my car and make my way into the city. Forty minutes later, I squeeze my car into my parking spot and head inside.
When I do, I’m bombarded with questions from my co-workers and my best friend, Tina.
“Are you really staying with Jonah Long?” Carrie askes, all wide-eyed and dreamy, like I’m playing house and getting banged by the Body Checker.
“Has the Body Checker checked out your body yet?” Tammy asks.
“It’s not like that.”
Oh, it’s like that. They just don’t have to know it.
“Why not?” Tina asks. “If I were you, I’d be tapping that.”
I laugh and shake my head. “You’re not me. I’m just helping him out.”
I turn to Carrie, the daycare director, before Tina can read the lie on my face. I’m just not ready to share the details with anyone, not even my best friend. “This nanny you recommended. Can I get her information?”
“Sure, come on.”
“If you start tapping that, I want all the details,” Tina says, and I just roll my eyes at her. “Text is fine too,” she adds with a laugh.
Carrie sits at her desk and rifles through her papers. “She’s my neighbor’s daughter. She just received her early childhood education certificate, and wants to start with in-home care.”
I take the girl’s name and number and drop it into my purse. “Thanks,” I say. “I’ll be helping Jonah with the interviews, but he has last say, so I can’t promise anything.”
“Fine by me either way. I can do a little more searching and find you more candidates if you like.”
“I’d appreciate that.” I’m about to leave when Carrie gives me a strange look. “What?”
“It’s good of you to help him like this.”
I give a fast wave. “We go way back. He’s like my brother,” I fib.
Carrie’s lips twitch. “Brother? That’s how you see him?” she asks, like she can see right through my lie.
Heat burns through me, undoubtedly turning my cheeks a darker shade of pink, so I quickly turn and say, “Yes, that’s how I see him,” and pray to God my pants don’t catch on fire.
I take my phone from my pocket and type Jonah a text, giving him the nanny’s name and number, and suggesting he call so we can interview her tonight. My hand lingers over the send button.