“Oh, thank you. Thank you so much.” Annie got to her feet. She still held the child in her arms as she stepped toward him.
Vanilla. He couldn’t help but detect the subtle hint of her perfume, and it was sweet, making his mouth water. He offered her a smile, when all he wanted to do was press his face against her neck and breathe her in. There would be plenty of time for that.
“Here’s my address,” she said.
“I will bring all the relevant documents over with me, and when you’re in a much more comfortable environment, we can go through them.
“Thank you. Thank you so much.” She looked down at the baby in her arms. “You hear that, Tara? He’s going to make sure I don’t mess this up.”
“Her name’s Tara?”
“Yes.” She offered him a smile. “Thank you.”
“Look, I can’t promise anything. Being a nanny is not easy, nor is being a parent. I can only offer you the basics in taking care of her.”
“That is more than fine.” She pressed her face against Tara’s and he watched as she gave her a kiss on the cheek. “What happens now?”
“I’ll gather all the relevant documents and meet you back at your place, Miss Wells, and we can go through the finer points of my employment.”
“Awesome. Okay. I will meet you back at my place.” She grabbed the bag she’d put on the floor beside the chair. “I really do appreciate this.”
He nodded. Moving around his desk, he followed her to the door and opened it for her. Escorting her all the way to the elevator, he waited with her.
“You must think so badly of me, asking for help.”
“Not at all.”
Annie turned toward him. “Seriously?”
“You’re asking for help because you want to do the best possible job in raising her. That is not something to think badly of.”
She breathed out a sigh of relief.
“How long have you had her?” Caleb asked.
She cringed. “Two days.”
He chuckled.
She started to talk but the elevator doors opened and she stepped inside.
“Don’t worry, Miss Wells. I’ll help you wherever possible.”
“Annie,” she said.
“Pardon?”
“That’s my name. You can call me Annie.”
The elevator doors closed.
This was bad news.
Stepping away from the elevator, he made his way back to his office and reached for his cell phone. He dialed the only man he trusted, his best friend, Ryan.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Ryan asked, on the first ring.
“I think I’ve just fucked up and made a big mistake.”