Curvy Nanny for the Nerd

4. Toni

Chapter 4

Toni

“ A re you sure this is where I’m supposed to be, Serenity?” I sat in my car and stared up at the expansive brick mansion that was humongous but not ostentatious. Every detail I could see was functional and well-made, built for utility not for glamour. “This place could be a replica of my last placement.” And that was the last thing I wanted to think about. Ever.

Serenity laughed, the sound husky yet feminine. “I’m sure. He’s desperate and I think you are just what they need.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not what anybody needs, but I’m good at my job.”

“Be that as it may,” she responded in that maternal voice that kept all the nannies in line, “Brady and his niece Layla could use someone with your particular skill set. And the address I gave you is accurate.”

“Perfect. I’ll let you know how it goes.”

“I have no doubt this is the placement you’ve been searching for.”

The smile in Serenity’s voice put me on edge, and I blew out a long breath. “Anything else you can tell me? What he does for a living? What kind of hours I should expect?”

“Brady works at home so he will be there most days, but he’d rather keep the details under wraps.”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes once again. “As long as whatever he’s into doesn’t put me in any danger, it’s fine with me.”

“You’ll be safe, Toni.”

“All right, then. Wish me luck.”

“Who needs luck when I have you?” Serenity ended the call and I sighed, staring at the oversized mansion until I gathered my thoughts enough to step out onto the long driveway and up to the imposing staircase.

It shouldn’t be imposing, not when it’s not as large as my own childhood home, but it felt like it was here for the sole purpose of intimidation. I didn’t like it one bit, but I knew better than most how harmful it could be to judge a book by its cover. So I inhaled deeply, let it out slowly and rang the ornate brass doorbell twice.

Two minutes later the door opened and I really wished it hadn’t. In fact, I wished I hadn’t drank anything last night, because now I wasn’t sure if the person standing before me was the person interviewing me or a whiskey induced fever dream.

He was gorgeous. No, that was too tame a word for the sight of the man standing in front of me with thick chestnut brown hair and silver-blue eyes that were equal parts stormy and dreamy. He was tall, well over six feet, yet built. His corded forearms and strong hands said he was a man who took care of himself, but the disheveled wavy hair and steel-cut jawline gave him a roguish quality that I found irresistible.

Staring at the beautiful man made me happy that I’d dressed to impress. My red leather jacket hugged my body perfectly, and the black t-shirt, blue jeans with the skinny red belt, gave me the confidence boost I needed to go up against another so-called master of the universe. I tapped my red knee high boots impatiently and met his gaze head on.

“Are you Brady?” Please, dear god let this be a brother or cousin and not the man I’m supposed to be working for.

“Excuse me?” His dark brows furrowed in confusion.

I sighed deeply. “Brady. Is that you?”

He blinked until his beautiful icy blue eyes focused on my face. “Who are you?”

“My name is Toni. Serenity sent me for a two o’clock interview.” I could already tell this was a man who didn’t bother with niceties or details. He worked hard and that was it. “Are you Brady with no last name?”

He nodded absently, looking over my shoulder. “The interview isn’t until two.”

“Yeah, I know. It’s ten minutes until two.”

Brady stared at me with knitted, dark brown brows. His pale gaze looked me up and down, assessing me carefully before his gaze landed on my face. “Okay.”

“I’m here for the nanny position. Only the nanny position.”

His lips twitched. “Come on in, Antonia.”

“Toni,” I corrected and stepped inside, ignoring the way his subtle, masculine scent worked its way into my nostrils before settling into my brain.

“Antonia is such a great name. Regal. Royal.” He nodded for me to follow him and I did.

But I did not admire his long, lean runner’s build. And I absolutely did not notice that his jeans fit as if he was sewn into them this morning. In fact, the moment we entered his office, I barely noticed him at all. The room was decorated in dark wood, black and brown leather with brass accents. It was a man’s room, loaded up with books and computer equipment. “If you like the name, I’m happy to call you Antonia.”

His lips curled into a grin. “Maybe the living room would be better,” he said before turning and exiting his office, leading me back the way I came into the sparsely decorated living room. “So, Toni. Your qualifications are quite impressive.”

Duh. “Thank you.”

“How soon can you start?” His question was abrupt, and if coming from someone else, I might have felt suspicious, but I suspected he was just an abrupt kind of guy.

“Soon, but first we need to chat a bit more, don’t you think?”

“Why? I need a nanny and you are a nanny.”

I nodded slowly. “Parents who don’t care about who takes care of their children, generally end up as problematic employers.”

“Excuse me?”

I flashed a toothy grin, happy I’d gone for my bright red lipstick today. “What do you need from your nanny, Mr., ah Brady?”

He wanted to argue with me but thought better of it. “I need someone who knows children, someone who can work with a troubled little girl who is brilliant but struggling.” He outlined her problems at school with a bully as well as her attitude towards her teachers. “She’s a smartass, but only because she’s incredibly smart. She’s tough, and honestly far too mature for her years.”

My smile softened. “She sounds incredible.”

“She is, I think. But I’m not used to children and she needs help. I need a nanny who can help work on her social skills as well as her anger, but I also want to make sure she doesn’t fall behind when she’s allowed to start school again. It will require a one year commitment.”

That was as close as a girl got to job security in this line of work. “Okay.” Wow that was a lot of information in a short amount of time. “That’s no problem. Anything else?”

“That about sums it up. Are you up for the challenge?”

“Sure. Can I meet her?”

He nodded, raking one hand through his thick, dark curls. “Layla.”

A little blond girl appeared wearing black jeans, combat boots and a black and pink t-shirt that proclaimed her a clown wrangler. “You’re the new nanny?”

I liked her right away. “Maybe. Depends on how we get along. You ever had a nanny before?”

“Nope. I went to school and hung out with my parents.” She looked away at the mention of her parents and my heart ached for the little girl. Her gaze met mine again after a while. “I like your jacket.”

“Thanks, I like your bracelets.”

She smiled sweetly. “Can you cook?”

I shrugged. “Enough to get by. A big place like this doesn’t have a cook?” It seemed odd but it wasn’t my place to judge, at least not overtly.

Layla glared at her uncle with a look that clearly said, “I told you so. “

“I told Uncle Brady the same thing. He can afford it, but he said no.” Layla sighed like a long-suffering wallflower and I couldn’t help but smile. “He won’t be happy until I burn the place down.”

Brady let out a strangled noise that was difficult to decipher.

I bit back a laugh. “I’m nobody’s version of Iron Chef, but I can teach you a few staples to avoid repeat visits from the fire department.”

“Yeah?” Her silver-blue eyes shone with hope.

“Yeah, sure. It won’t be fancy but it’ll taste good and get the job done.”

Layla studied me carefully, looking so much like her uncle minus the golden blond hair. “I like her,” she declared and left the living room with a hint of a smile.

This was the strangest interview I’d ever been on, and I’d had tons of them over the course of my life, but it seemed like it was done. Brady stared at me before he wiped his hands on his thighs and stepped back.

“Can you start today? I’ll double your rate for an entire shift if you say yes.”

I resisted the urge—again—to roll my eyes at yet another rich dude who thought money was the only language they needed to know. “My normal rate will be just fine, Mr…Brady. But I will need to take a day off to pack up a few things sometime soon.”

“Yeah, sure,” he nodded but I could tell that his attention was already on whatever work he needed to do. “No problem.” He stood, towering over me as he held out a hand to me.

I accepted the handshake, but I wished I hadn’t when the jolt of electricity flooded my veins. It was visceral, the connection that swirled between us, which was ridiculous since I didn’t even know his last name.

It’s just physical, I told myself as I quickly shook his hand and yanked mine back, far out of his reach.

Far away from that uncomfortable feeling he evoked within me.

Far away from the urge to do something reckless. Something stupid.

Something dangerous.