Deception (Mafia Ties #1) by Fiona Davenport Page A

hardly appropriate for an interview with its spaghetti straps and low neckline. All of which I wasn’t able to cover up with my sweater before the door flew open.
    A tall, dark-haired man with a neatly trimmed beard stood in front of me. His black, button-down shirt was drawn tautly across his muscular chest because one of his arms was pulled behind his back as he held the door. His dark gaze swept over me from head to toe, and I felt my skin heat in response to the flare in his eyes as they landed on my chest. He whispered something under his breath. It sounded like it might have been Italian. I hurriedly put my sweater on and buttoned it up, well aware that his gaze remained on me the entire time. When I lifted my head once again, his lips were tilted up in a smirk that somehow made him even more attractive.
    “Anna Martin, I presume?” His voice was deep and slightly rough, a perfect match for his looks.
    “Yes,” I replied, my voice quivering at the end as he lifted my hand to his lips instead of shaking it.
    “I’m Niccolo DeLuca. Nic,” he introduced himself, tugging me into the house and keeping possession of my hand to lead me into an office in the back.
    I should have known, but he was much younger than I had expected. Most likely still in his early twenties. Holy heck, the recruiter wasn’t kidding when she said he was hot. If anything, she’d understated it. After my experience with the dad at my third interview, I’d been understandably nervous about the idea of working for a single dad. But if Nic DeLuca wanted to sexually harass me, I wasn’t sure I’d complain.
    “Please have a seat,” he gestured to a small, brown leather couch.
    After he helped me get settled, he dropped down onto the matching chair which was diagonally opposite from me. His legs were long enough that my bare calf brushed against his dress pants.
    “Thank you for agreeing to meet with me on such short notice.”
    “It wasn’t a problem at all. I had a meeting at the agency this morning, so I was already out and about anyway,” I assured him.
    “My mother fell and broke her arm about a month ago, and it brought my attention to just how much she does for Sophia and me. Unfortunately, her doctor has decided she needs surgery because the break isn’t healing the way he’d like. So, the need to find a suitable nanny for my daughter is more urgent than ever.”
    His eyes softened when he talked about his mom and daughter, making him even more attractive than before. I mentally shook myself, trying to overcome his magnetic pull. “I’m sorry to hear about your mom.”
    “Thanks.” He flashed me another smile before getting down to business. “The agency sent your resume over. I noticed that up until a couple months ago you were studying to become a physical therapy assistant. Have you decided not to continue with that? Because the hours I’d need you to be available aren’t conducive to a full, or even part-time, course load.”
    “No, I decided that it wasn’t for me so I won’t be going back.”
    “What made you decide to try nannying?”
    “I love kids,” I blurted out awkwardly. “I mean, I’ve always been good with children. I started babysitting when I was twelve, volunteered at the church’s day care all throughout high school, and had planned to focus on pediatric patients as a PTA.”
    “You only spent a year at college. I’m hoping whomever I hire will stay for at least several years. Sophia is only six and will most likely grow attached to her nanny. I don’t want to make any unnecessary changes to her routine once it’s settled.”
    Finding the right words to explain was difficult. None of my friends or the few boys I’d tried dating in high school understood where I was coming from. It had to be done, though, so I forced the words out of my mouth. “Leaving school the way I did probably makes me seem flaky, but I swear I’m not. It just wasn’t right for me, it wasn’t what I’m really